Having rebranded itself under the corporate slogan of ‘Drive your Ambition’ and having first unveiled it in 2017, the three red diamonds has officially made the eagerly awaited Eclipse Cross available in South Africa after a false start twelve months ago as it sorted out final specification and pricing.

No longer hiding in the shadows

The second model after the controversial e-Evolution concept to swap nameplates in that it no longer rates as a sports car like the Galant-based Eclipse that went of production eight years ago, the coupe-like Cross certainly rates as the most striking Mitsubishi to date with the combination of the Dynamic Shield front facia, upwards flowing shoulder line, long bonnet and 18-inch alloy wheels providing an aggressive yet upmarket appearance, though the rear, unfortunately, draws a number of parallels with the thankfully long since discontinued Pontiac Aztek.

Interior has premium appeal

Like its design, the Eclipse Cross’ interior is largely a success with perhaps the most modern layout of any current Mitsubishi. Topped by a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system and featuring swaths of piano key black inserts and aluminium-look inlays, the overall fit-and-finish comes across as good in spite of the somewhat cheap feeling faux carbon fibre trim around the electric door switches.

In a departure from the international models, Mitsubishi has opted not to include the Lexus-esque touchpad for the infotainment system, though it does come equipped with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a single USB port and AUX jack, as well as satellite navigation and voice control.

Despite essentially being one model with the option of either front-or-all-wheel drive, the latter dubbed Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC), the Eclipse Cross’ list of standard equipment includes automatic air-conditioning, cruise control, leather seats with the front chairs being heated, rain sense wipers, projector-type automatic headlights with integrated daytime running LEDs, front and rear parking sensors with a reverse camera, pushbutton start, up to seven airbags, keyless entry, ABS with EBD and BAS, Hill Start Assist, Active Stability and Traction Control and Mitsubishi’s rally-derived Super Active Yaw Control. Sadly, advanced safety tech such as Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning and Blind Spot Monitoring have been left out.

The drive

As an addition to the growing selection of compact crossovers, the local launch route leading out of Cape Town towards the picturesque hamlet of Darling did highlight the drawbacks of the Eclipse Cross, the biggest of which being the drivetrain.

While Mitsubishi has confirmed that the 1.5-litre turbocharged engine offered internationally will become available during the third quarter of 2019, the sole option, the 110kW/198Nm 2.0-litre normally aspirated four-pot shared with the ASX, simply lacks the required mid-range punch and needs to be kept on the boil to aid forward momentum.

Just as irksome, the six-step CVT gearbox, although typically smooth in day-to-day traffic, tends to hold on to the selected virtual ratio for too long, resulting in the customary strained engine note and constant downshifting to make up for the lack of torque. The fitment of the 18-inch alloys has also resulted in a ride that ventures on the firm side regardless if you opt for the front-or-all-wheel drive model, though oddly, this didn’t come to the fore as much on the section of gravel road on the route, where the Eclipse Cross felt composed and a touch more confidence inspiring.

What didn’t though was the lack of height adjustment on the steering wheel, the Heads-Up Display that becomes unreadable even with the driver’s chair dropped to its lowest position, the lack of rear headroom for taller passengers and the rather small boot which, in its defence, sacrifices space for the inclusion of a full-size alloy spare.

Conclusion

With a lot of expectations riding on its shoulders, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross manages to succeed from both a styling and interior perspective, though comes across as wanting in the drivetrain department despite the acceptable dynamics. Although it definitely ticks a number of boxes and deserves to sell well, in this writer’s opinion at least, it feels capable of being more and lacks the final polish to tempt buyers away from the Mazda CX-5, Hyundai Tucson, Nissan Qashqai and even the new Renault Koleos.

Warranty and Price

Standard on both models is a three year/100 000km warranty as well as a five year/90 000km service plan.

Pricing

Eclipse Cross 2.0 CVT - R399 995

Eclipse Cross 2.0 CVT AWD - R449 995