📅 Category: Car Spotlights | By: Clyde Motors KE | ⏱ 5 min read
In a market where Toyota and Honda dominate the crossover conversation, Mitsubishi’s Eclipse Cross occupies a compelling and consistently underappreciated position. Named after the legendary Eclipse sports car that defined Mitsubishi’s performance identity in the 1990s, the Eclipse Cross brings genuine styling ambition, a distinctive twin-screen interior, and Mitsubishi’s excellent Super Select 4WD system to the compact crossover segment at prices that consistently undercut the mainstream alternatives.
What Is the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross?
The Eclipse Cross is a compact crossover launched in 2017 and updated significantly in 2021. It sits between the compact ASX and the larger Outlander in Mitsubishi’s lineup and competes directly with the Toyota C-HR, Honda HR-V, and Mazda CX-30 in the style-focused compact crossover segment.
The 2021 update was comprehensive — the rear was restyled to replace the distinctive but controversial split rear window of the original, the interior received a significant upgrade, and the technology suite was expanded. The updated Eclipse Cross is a considerably more resolved vehicle than the original.
The Design — Distinctive in a Crowded Segment
The Eclipse Cross’s exterior design is confident and distinctive — the front fascia features Mitsubishi’s dynamic shield design language, the side profile has sharp character lines and pronounced wheel arches, and the rear treatment is clean and contemporary. In Kenya’s market, where the Toyota C-HR’s bold design is the benchmark for style in compact crossovers, the Eclipse Cross stands alongside it as an alternative that makes a genuine visual statement without the C-HR’s polarising elements.
Engine and Transmission
1.5L MIVEC Turbocharged Petrol: The primary Eclipse Cross engine available in Kenya’s used import market. Producing 120kW and 250Nm from the turbocharged unit, it delivers adequate performance for the vehicle’s weight with reasonable fuel consumption of 12–15km/L in Nairobi’s mixed conditions. The turbo’s 250Nm of torque is accessible from a low engine speed — making city driving more relaxed than the peak power figure alone suggests.
8-Speed CVT: Paired with the 1.5L turbo, Mitsubishi’s CVT provides smooth, seamless operation in urban conditions. Confirm CVT fluid service history before purchasing any Eclipse Cross.
The Super Select 4WD System — The Eclipse Cross’s Secret Weapon
Many Eclipse Cross variants available in Kenya’s used import market feature Mitsubishi’s Super Select 4WD system — the same sophisticated four-mode system found in the Pajero and covered in Blog #72. The ability to drive in 4H on tarmac without drivetrain wind-up gives the Eclipse Cross an everyday AWD confidence that most competitors’ part-time systems cannot match.
In Nairobi’s rainy season — when wet, sometimes flooded roads create genuine traction challenges — the Super Select’s full-time AWD mode provides a level of confidence that front-wheel drive crossovers simply cannot replicate. For buyers who value AWD capability but find the Pajero’s size and fuel consumption excessive for urban use, the Eclipse Cross offers the same core AWD technology in a compact, efficient package.
The Interior — Twin-Screen Technology
The Eclipse Cross’s most distinctive interior feature is its dual-screen setup — a central touchscreen for infotainment functions and a separate touchpad controller below it. The arrangement is distinctive and requires brief familiarisation but becomes natural quickly. The overall interior quality in the updated 2021 version is competitive with the class average — solid materials, logical layout, and good ergonomics for the driver.
Rear passenger space is honest about the vehicle’s compact exterior dimensions — adequate for urban journeys for two adults, tight for three. The boot at 341 litres is functional for daily use.
Eclipse Cross vs Toyota C-HR — The Direct Comparison
Both vehicles target style-conscious compact crossover buyers and share broadly comparable specifications.
The Eclipse Cross wins on: Super Select AWD capability. The 1.5L turbo’s more abundant torque. Mitsubishi’s AWD system sophistication. Slightly more generous interior space.
The C-HR wins on: Toyota reliability reputation and parts network breadth. The TNGA platform’s dynamic refinement. Toyota Safety Sense comprehensive safety suite. Stronger resale value in Kenya’s market.
For buyers who specifically value all-wheel drive capability and can handle the Mitsubishi parts network’s slightly narrower availability — the Eclipse Cross is the more capable choice. For buyers who prioritise reliability assurance and service network breadth, the C-HR’s Toyota foundation is decisive.
The Bottom Line
The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is a genuinely capable, attractively styled compact crossover that is consistently available below the pricing of Toyota and Honda alternatives at equivalent specification — reflecting Mitsubishi’s lower brand premium rather than any meaningful quality deficit. Buyers who evaluate the Eclipse Cross honestly find a vehicle that over-delivers relative to its used market price.
👉 Ask about Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross availability at clydemotors.co.ke or WhatsApp us on 0740635621. Financing available.