Test Drive: New (2019) Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross isn’t fast or furious

Since Mitsubishi’s halcyon days with countless Dakar victories annexed by their Pajero, the brand has been somewhat eclipsed in South Africa by the market heavyweights and by a product line-up that hasn’t set the market alight.

Sure, the latest iteration of the Pajero Sport righted the ship to a degree but a shortage of model variations of the excellent Triton bakkie blunted potential and frankly, the aged ASX has been showing wrinkles for rather too long.

Now comes a crossover which could well take Mitsubishi out of the shadows, not just because it’s aimed at the fastest growing segment on the planet – compact SUV territory, if you didn’t know – but because it has the credentials to earn lots more Rands for the brand and the dealer network.

The newcomer is the 2019 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross and it’s immediately available with a normally-aspirated 2.0 four coupled to a CVT transmission that feeds either the front wheels only or all four wheels. The latter is a relatively sophisticated programmable system that favours the rear wheels, but which can distribute torque to best advantage while combining with a braking system that enhances lateral stability.

That engine represents a rather conservative choice given the presence of a 1.5 Turbo in other markets but in fairness, it delivers the goods at sea level at least, with just enough panache to avoid feeling overwhelmed, notwithstanding the use of a CVT transmission which goes about its work relatively discreetly but which fails at times to mask the wind-up effect that afflicts all units of this type.

Certainly, those four cylinders are rarely heard or felt to any significant extent which tells you that mechanical refinement is good. Ally this to very effective wind noise suppression and good road  noise isolation, and you’re rewarded with a nice, cocooned environment aided and abetted by a ride that blends control and pliancy most effectively. The power steering will probably suit the majority, but the inherent lightness does mask feel, curiously less so in the 4X4 derivative.

That environment is aided immeasurably by a very well-appointed cabin sporting lots of soft-touch surfaces and beautifully-tailored, comfortable leather faced seats, auto-adjustable for the driver. All-round space is better than the compact dimensions might suggest, albeit that rear entry and headroom is compromised by the sloping roof line. Visibility too is somewhat impaired by a hefty window-level transverse spoiler which looks down on a rather shallow luggage area that hides a full-sized spare wheel reportedly demanded by local customers.

The equipment count includes seven air bags, front/rear park sensors with camera, adjustable head-up display, ISOFIX mountings, keyless entry/start, folding mirrors with proximity warning, electronic air con, 18-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, hill-start assist, Bluetooth with integrated infotainment system, USB/accessory ports, heated front seats, a host of brake assist systems and more still.

For sure, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross has cruised into a massively competitive segment populated by rivals such as the Toyota C-HR, Honda HR-V, Nissan Qashqai, Hyundai Kona and Suzuki Vitara. Its stablemate, the cheaper ASX, may might also compete for the same customers, but the extra cost of the newcomer is easily justified. In summary, it combines a very attractive, well-equipped and smartly-executed interior with good, if not stand-out, driving dynamics to such good effect that this new Mitsubishi will surely soon be casting a shadow over the opposition. RICHARD WILEY

ECLIPSE CROSS 4X2 SPECIFICATION

• 2.0L, 4 cyl, 110kW, 198Nm
• “6-speed” CVT, FWD
• 0-100km/h N/A , Max Speed: N/A, 7.9l/100km
• Warranty: 3yr/100 000km
• R399 995
• VERDICT: Much better than the sum of its parts