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Electrical automobiles are flying on the gross sales charts, and common hybrids are nonetheless in scorching demand. Plug-in hybrids although? They’re languishing, as Australians look previous their (barely complicated) mixture of petrol and electrical energy.
That’s an issue for Mitsubishi. It’s positioning itself as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) specialist going ahead, in a giant to snap up gross sales from individuals who need to commute on electrical energy, and take pleasure in a street journey with out utilizing Australia’s burgeoning public cost community.
Together with the flagship Outlander PHEV, the model affords the small-to-mid-sized Eclipse Cross with plug-in energy.
With a sticker value within the mid-$50k vary, the range-topping Exceed on check is costlier than in style pure electrical choices such because the BYD Atto 3, and is priced consistent with bigger collection hybrids just like the Toyota RAV4 and Honda ZR-V.
Does it have what it takes to face out amongst that crowd?
How a lot does the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Plug-in Hybrid Exceed price?
The range-topping Exceed is $55,990 earlier than on-road prices, up $1500 relative to 2022.
It’s $7700 costlier than the bottom ES, and $4750 greater than the mid-range Aspire. It’s additionally $14,000 pricier than the Eclipse Cross Exceed with a petroleum engine.
Pure PHEV rivals are non-existent. The Kia Niro PHEV is not any extra, and the Ford Escape PHEV is lifeless – and types aren’t bothering bringing new choices Down Beneath within the face of very restricted demand.
On the electrical entrance, the Eclipse Cross goes head-to-head with the BYD Atto 3 Prolonged Vary ($51,011) and the MG ZS EV Lengthy Vary ($55,990).
Within the hybrid area, it takes on the Toyota RAV4 Cruiser AWD Hybrid ($54,410) and Nissan X-Path Ti-L e-Energy ($54,690).
2023 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Plug-in Hybrid EV pricing:
- Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV ES: $47,290
- Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV Aspire: $51,240
- Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV Exceed: $55,990
Costs exclude on-road prices
What’s the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Plug-in Hybrid Exceed like on the within?
The Eclipse Cross has a beneficiant tools record, nevertheless it all appears to be like and feels a bit low-cost inside given the $55,000 value.
On the plus aspect it’s very practical, and there’s a stable quantity of area given the compact-ish exterior.
The motive force and entrance passenger sit on leather-based seats perched up excessive for a commanding view of the street forward, full with electrical adjustment. Shorter drivers gained’t battle to get comfy, tall drivers like me may battle to get low sufficient.
Know-how is the place the Eclipse Cross falls down. At 8.0 inches the infotainment show is now small alongside what cheaper rivals provide, and it’s operating software program that appears and feels not less than two generations outdated.
It appears to be like residence model, doesn’t reply notably rapidly to inputs, and encompasses a blocky font that’s not notably simple to make out on the transfer.
Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto can help you sidestep the manufacturing unit system.
There’s additionally a way it is a low-cost automobile dressed up like an costly one. The local weather management pod with its orange backlighting, haphazardly organized buttons for driver help programs, and the small journey pc – with no digital speedo – all really feel low-cost and nasty in a $55,000 new automobile.
Piano black trim dominates the transmission tunnel, and is liable to scratches, dusts, and fingerprints.
Storage areas abound up entrance, with spacious bottle holders within the entrance doorways, cupholders within the central tunnel, and a deep bin beneath the central armrest, and a phone-shaped slot under the dashboard. Twin USB-A ports are available to cost units up entrance.
Legroom is stable within the again seat, thanks in no small half to the lengthy wheelbase. It’s not on the identical degree as a Toyota RAV4 or Nissan X-Path, and is extra consistent with a Kia Seltos or Hyundai Kona again there.
Headroom is a weak level, nevertheless. The sloping roofline and panoramic sunroof imply tall youngsters could have their heads brushing the headliner, and tall adults will really feel very boxed in.
ISOFIX factors function on the outboard rear seats, and there’s a trio of top-tether factors. The outboard rear seats are heated, and the USB ports will maintain youngsters with iPads glad on longer drives… however the lack of air vents is difficult to excuse.
Open the boot and also you’ll discover 359L of area, measured to the highest of the second-row seat again, which is down 46L on the petrol variations.
The location of the battery pack means there’s no spare wheel in any way. Carry up the boot flooring and also you’ll discover some storage nooks, inside which sit a charger and the tyre restore equipment.
On both aspect of the boot flooring, there are additionally small niches. Sadly the rear seats don’t fold utterly flat.
What’s beneath the bonnet?
The Mitsubishi Eclipse Plug-In Hybrid EV is powered by a 2.4-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine, an electrical motor on every axle, and a 13.8kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
The petrol engine produces 94kW of energy and 199Nm of torque, the entrance electrical motor makes 60kW and 137Nm, and the rear one makes 70kW and 195Nm. There’s no mixed system output determine out there.
Drive is shipped via a ‘Tremendous-All Wheel Management’ all-wheel drive system able to torque vectoring.
The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV consumes a claimed 1.9L/100km on the mixed cycle, and EV vary is a claimed 55km. The gasoline tank holds 45L and requires a minimal of 91 RON unleaded petrol.
Commuting to and from work, and charging the battery at our workplace in Melbourne I noticed between 0.8 and 1.0L/100km.
However, a weekend street journey (Melbourne to Rye, driving round on the peninsula, and again) with no means to cost noticed that common blow out to five.0L/100km.
It’s very environment friendly for those who can cost it, however for those who’re not capable of plug on this PHEV is much less environment friendly than a Toyota hybrid.
How does the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Plug-in Hybrid Exceed drive?
With a full battery, the Eclipse Cross does a powerful impersonation of an electrical automobile.
The place some plug-in hybrids really feel undercooked operating on pure electrical energy, it’s capable of transfer effortlessly with the site visitors between standstill and about 80km/h with out the petrol engine firing.
It’s clean and quiet, and also you’re ready to make use of the outsized metallic paddles behind the steering wheel to dial within the quantity of regenerative braking you need – starting from none, to a degree that nearly permits for one-pedal driving.
Flatten the accelerator and the petrol engine kicks into gear with a flourish. It’s a bit gruff at first, however settles down as soon as it’s heat.
Mitsubishi has been making plug-in hybrids for longer than most manufacturers, and it exhibits. The way in which the petrol and electrical energy sources mix is impressively clean, to the purpose the place you don’t must spend a lot time occupied with what’s taking place beneath the pores and skin.
When the battery goes flat although, you’re extra conscious of what’s taking place. It is a heavy automobile at 1900kg, and the naturally-aspirated petrol must work fairly onerous to get the automobile rolling, undermining refinement.
The load of the batteries, electrical motors, and all of the related hybrid equipment additionally damages the journey and dealing with. The Eclipse feels heavy over velocity humps or dips, bouncing round in a approach the petrol automobile doesn’t, and it smacks onerous into potholes or sharp-edged bumps.
We’ve skilled what the plug-in hybrid powertrain within the Eclipse Cross can do on a snowy or a gravel street, shuffling torque round to make it deal with like a smaller, lighter automobile. It’s spectacular, nevertheless it’s additionally not all that related to the common purchaser.
They’re extra more likely to discover the steering is slower and heavier than is the case in rivals across the metropolis, making the Eclipse Cross tougher to park, or to clock the huge blind-spot that comes with that sloping roofline.
On the freeway, the adaptive cruise management is clean and good, however the lack of lane-keeping help (which can truly steer you again between the white traces, relatively than simply beeping at you) is disappointing at this value.
At the very least the automobile is quiet; the place some electrical automobiles or plug-in hybrids have quite a lot of wind and street noise at 100km/h, the Eclipse Cross has been nicely insulated in opposition to the skin world.
What do you get?
Eclipse Cross PHEV ES highlights:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Mode 2 charging cable
- Mode 3 charging cable
- Acoustic automobile alert system
- Halogen headlights
- LED daytime operating lights
- Energy-folding door mirrors
- Driver-side window auto up/down
- 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wired Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
- 2 x entrance, 2 x rear USBs
- 4-speaker sound system
- Local weather management
- Cruise management
- Electrical park brake
- Keyless entry and begin
- Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel
- Chrome inside door handles
- Cloth upholstery
- Illuminated entrance door trim
- Rear centre armrest with cupholders
Eclipse Cross PHEV Aspire provides:
- Automated LED headlights
- Automated high-beam
- LED fog lights
- Rain-sensing window wipers
- Privateness glass
- Roof rails
- Silver entrance decrease bumper
- Black entrance bumper centre garnish
- Black grille insert
- Black and insert rear decrease bumper
- Black aspect door garnish
- 8-speaker sound system
- Twin-zone local weather management
- 1500 V2L capability
- Electrochromatic rear-view mirror
- Microsuede leather-look upholstery
- Heated entrance seats
- Driver seat energy adjustment
Eclipse Cross PHEV Exceed provides:
- Sunroof
- Electrical tailgate with hands-free lock and shut (NEW)
- Head-up show
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- Ultrasonic mis-acceleration mitigation system
- Black leather-based upholstery
- Mild gray leather-based upholstery (NEW)
- Heated steering wheel
- Heated rear seats
Is the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Plug-in Hybrid Exceed protected?
The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV has a five-star ANCAP security score primarily based on testing carried out on the petrol Eclipse Cross in 2017.
It obtained 97 per cent for grownup occupant safety, 78 per cent for little one occupant safety, 80 per cent for pedestrian safety, and 58 per cent for security help.
Commonplace security options embrace:
- 7 airbags
- AEB with pedestrian detection
- Lane departure warning
- Rear-view digital camera
- Rear parking sensors
Stepping as much as the Aspire will get you security options together with blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise management, entrance parking sensors, and a surround-view digital camera.
The flagship Exceed additionally will get what Mitsubishi calls Ultrasonic Mis-acceleration Mitigation System, which is designed to cease the automobile for those who press the accelerator as a substitute of the brake at low speeds.
How a lot does the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Plug-in Hybrid Exceed price to run?
The Eclipse Cross PHEV is roofed by a five-year, 100,000km guarantee which could be prolonged to 10 years and 200,000km for those who service inside the Mitsubishi vendor community.
The high-voltage battery is roofed for eight years or 160,000km although.
Logbook servicing is required each 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first. Mitsubishi affords ten years of capped pricing servicing which is as follows:
| 12 months / 15,000km | $349 |
|---|---|
| 24 months / 30,000km | $549 |
| 36 months / 45,000km | $399 |
| 48 months / 60,000km | $549 |
| 60 months / 75,000km | $399 |
| 72 months / 90,000km | $899 |
| 84 months / 105,000km | $499 |
| 96 months / 120,000km | $899 |
| 108 months / 135,000km | $499 |
| 120 months / 150,000km | $899 |
| Whole | $5940 |
CarExpert’s Tackle the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Plug-in Hybrid Exceed
Plug-in hybrids are onerous to mark, as a result of they completely go well with a really small group of individuals.
However for those who’re principally driving on electrical energy we’re on the level the place an EV arguably makes extra sense for the cash, and for those who’re all the time utilizing the engine there are many high quality hybrids that’ll sip gasoline with out the complexity of a plug-in.
With that in thoughts, the Eclipse Cross feels misplaced.
It’s an honest dimension and possesses a intelligent powertrain able to dealing with every day duties on e-power – nevertheless it’s price trying on the Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV that’s $5000 costlier.
With a extra fashionable, spacious inside and newer powertrain, it misses a few of the luxuries from the Eclipse Cross however is a greater all-rounder.
Past the plug-in hybrid world, the Eclipse Cross is flanked by too many good rivals to be price your time. Regardless of how intelligent the powertrain, its residence model inside means it simply doesn’t really feel like a $55,000 automobile in 2023.
The BYD Atto 3 is healthier trying, options a greater inside, and doesn’t have to fret about lugging round a petroleum engine for those who do most of your driving within the metropolis.
And, for those who’re continually on the open street, a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid makes use of a really comparable quantity of gasoline to the Eclipse however has a greater cabin, and isn’t slapped with street tax in Victoria.
If you’re set on an Eclipse Cross PHEV, we’d suggest saving your cash and going for the entry-level mannequin.
Click on the photographs for the complete gallery
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