Great news! The Mitsubishi Eclipse is back. It’s been such a long time since the Japanese carmaker offered the sports coupe it originally introduced back in 1990, and also offered to Chrysler to sell as the Sebring Coupe … hold on, I’m getting more information in my Autopian Earpiece that’s handed out to contributors and usually wakes me up in the middle of the night thanks to time zones.
There’s some static, perhaps because Jason made it out of discarded Changli parts and it might have gotten dropped a few times while being mailed to me.
It’s an EV? It’s based on the Nissan Leaf? Right. Do I need to scrap the 1000 words I already wrote about the Eclipse’s glorious history as an AWD sports coupe? Fine!
So yes, the Mitsubishi Eclipse is coming back as the Mitsubishi Eclipse Sportback for 2027. While Mitsubishi already brought back the Eclipse name with the Eclipse Cross nearly a decade ago, this is actually the third time the carmaker is putting the name on a crossover. One more time and there will have been as many SUV-clipses as there were DSMs.
In Europe, the 2025-on Eclipse Cross is in fact the 2024-onwards Renault Scenic E-Tech with a very light design refresh on it. As Renault vehicles are not sold in the United States or Canada (the closest place is either Mexico or St Pierre & Miquelon) the EV Eclipse rebrand of choice for the North American market is the new generation Nissan Leaf.
As press releases come, the Mitsubishi newsletter about the new Eclipse Sportback is frank about the car’s Nissan origins. As Mitsubishi puts it:
New BEV will be sourced from Mitsubishi Motors’ Alliance partner Nissan Motor Co. and based on the next-generation Nissan LEAF
Working with Alliance partner Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., Mitsubishi Motors will introduce the new Eclipse Sportback EV to the North American market as a 2027 model in the second half of this year. Based on the highly touted new-generation Nissan LEAF, the Mitsubishi Motors Eclipse Sportback EV will offer cosmetic changes that differentiate the two vehicles and make this model uniquely Mitsubishi.
The sporty electric subcompact SUV will feature unique front and rear fascias that echo other vehicles in Mitsubishi Motors’ global lineup, distinct front and rear lights and lighting signatures, striking and sporty alloy wheels and, of course, the brand’s iconic Triple Diamond branding.
Looking at the front of the Eclipse Sportback, the new headlight units are similar-looking as on the Nissan, but the front grille trim piece as well as the complete front bumper are redesigned for Mitsubishi. The rear bumper is also redesigned, with the bottom edge of the tailgate forming a new line for the bumper to give it a more pronounced lower section.
While the tail lights are new, with arrow-shaped elements, the reflectors in the rear bumper are likely to be the same as on the Leaf, just turned around. The tailgate also has a new body-coloured middle section with a wide MITSUBISHI script, compared to the blacked-out part on the Leaf.
On the side, the Eclipse Sportback’s window surround receives a new metal strip that does make it look a touch more premium than the Leaf, and the new three-spoke wheels are cool with their blade shapes. Even though it’s fair to call it a rebadged version of the Leaf, some thought has gone into giving the car custom front and rear end parts to clearly separate it from the Nissan, instead of simply changing the badges over.
While no interior photos have been released yet, expect a slightly different steering wheel and infotainment software that shows the diamond logo instead of the Nissan emblem.
And if the Eclipse really needed to be a Nissan Leaf, they couldn’t have picked a better time for it. While the first-generation Leaf was a pioneer when it was launched over 15 years ago, it aged quickly (partly thanks to its air-cooled battery pack instead of a longer lasting liquid cooled battery) and its reliance on the CHAdeMO charging standard helped direct it toward obsolesce – the second generation Leaf was virtually damned by the same charging standard in markets where CCS or NACS have become the widely accepted standard. The third generation car seems far more future proof.
This time, the third gen Leaf is fast charged using CCS or NACS depending on the market (still using CHAdeMO in Japan, where it is the dominant standard), and at triple the speed of the usual 50kW of the older cars, with available battery preconditioning to speed up cold weather DC charging. It is the first Nissan vehicle to be NACS compatible, and it shares its Common Module Family architecture with the bigger Nissan Ariya. There will be no rear motor to enable all-wheel-drive, which also means there won’t be an AWD Eclipse Sportback.
In The Autopian’s review by Sam Abuelsamid, the 2026 Leaf was also found to ride and drive far better than earlier generations, which bodes well for the Eclipse Sportback. Even if it would take an in-person test for me to make sure, I also expect the driving position to be improved in the third generation Leaf – one of the things that stuck out in the earlier Leafs was the tiresome driving position no matter how I adjusted the seat or the wheel.
The 2026 Nissan Leaf was launched with a 75kWh battery pack, with a smaller 52kWh version announced for later. Mitsubishi hasn’t yet announced any specifics for the Eclipse Sportback, from technical details to pricing, or on-sale date, but says they will be released in the near future. The new Leaf starts from $29,990 in S+ trim, and it will be interesting to see if Mitsubishi can keep the Eclipse Sportback below $30k as well.
In its press release, Mitsubishi also calls its earlier i-MiEV the world’s first mass-produced electric vehicle, which is up for some debate: would you call the GM EV1 mass-produced as over 1100 were built? In any case, the first generation Nissan Leaf was unveiled at Nissan’s Yokohama headquarters on August 2nd, 2009, while the i-MiEV started its fleet sales in July of 2009 and customer sales on April 1st, 2010.
The companies were close enough in their pioneering EV launches, that for Mitsubishi to begin selling what is in effect a rebranded Leaf is worth noting in retrospect. Me? I’ll just be watching and rewatching this old Eclipse commercial from 1990. I still like it a lot.
(Photos: Mitsubishi Motors unless otherwise noted)
The upside is that since reverse cameras are required, it’ll be there to help you
Turn around.
Sure to be some great deals on these. Just make sure your insurance includes towing.
No reason.
Its a Nissan-Mitsubishi not a current model American-made (or Mexican) pickup.
The Leaf has a history of difficult-to-service issues that cause anything from massive battery charge fluctuations to just bricking.
With Mitsu’s scant dealer network, it’s a long trip to the service center.
It is worth noting that upon Mitsubishi zone approval, a Nissan dealer can perform warranty work for Mitsu’s but I have not had the pleasure of doing so because I drive a Mitsubishi.
Mitsubishi used to be a proper car company.
Still is. No comment is legitimate unless one owns or has owned a Mitsubishi.
I’ve had three.
Then your comment is now valid!
I’ve had an ’86 pickup, an ’89 SWB V6 Montero and a ’90 LWB Montero. Those were PROPER vehicles. I dunno what got into Mitsubishi’s collective head around 2000, but it was all downhill from there.
I’d give up both my gonads for a a couple Monteros again…admittedly, no loss, I’m not using them. Monteros were simply glorious trucks…we’ll never see their like again.
I owned a Mitsu Colt, an ‘87 model and several Mitsu-powered vehicles and have always loved them. I believe after the tanking of the Yen and increased competition from ToyoHondoNissan and their credit debacle it put them way behind financially. Also, they have really never been a large player, more like Mazda and Subaru anyhow.
*sigh*
Once again, I am asking automakers to come up with new names for things.
If they do this with the Lancer name, I don’t know, man. Where’s the nearest active volcano to walk into?
I dunno. I guess I like the rear styling and the wheels better than the Nissan. Mitsu better offer a lower price or a longer warranty to differentiate theirs somehow.
They mention the front and rear fascias aligning with other Mitsu products, but the front looks very 2027 Pacifica to me: https://www.carscoops.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2027-Chrysler-Pacifica-New-1.jpg
Well I have to say as a BEV, I’m more likely to buy this one at some point in the future than the common 4 cyl/CVT Eclipse Cross that was sold in Canada that I’m very unlikely to buy at any price.
I would be interested in the Eclipse Cross PHEV if they sold it in Canada.
I feel like with the contrasting black roof and tail light/spoiler area the Leaf looks more like the old Eclipse than the new Eclipse. Somebody needs to strap the head of design at Mitsubishi in a chair, tape their eyes open and make them watch The Fast and Furious first movie on a loop.
Mitsubishi is becoming the eclipsed brand
It certainly was the first mass-produced electric vehicle For Sale, as the EV1 was never sold to anyone.
Here for the tri-spoke wheels. I like those a lot.
Otherwise, it is what it is. Mitsubishi needs all the help they can get at this point and if this helps, it helps.
P.S. I test drove a PHEV Outlander in December (2023 40th Anniversary Edition) and loved it.
I’m convinced they only use the name because they don’t have to bother trademarking a new one. It makes absolutely no sense otherwise
What the fuck, what’s the point…
Man but can we just get an Evo?
Alternative headline:
Yet Another Zero From Mitsubishi To Bomb In The US.
It’s not the worst idea especially if it’s cheaper then a leaf. Eclipse has been gone long enough it seems fine. The dealership experience at a Mitsubishi dealer might be the biggest hold up. Not that Nissian is great but Mitsubishi has to be at or close to the bottom.
I guess they had to come up with something. Not that I’d probably ever be in the market for this vehicle, I do have 2 questions:
Is the warranty the same as the Nissan or does Mitsubishi offer a much longer bumper-to-bumper and powertrain/battery warranty on their rebadged Leaf? If they’re priced similar but the Mitsu has a much better warranty I can see the Nisan dealer having to race to the bottom to keep their Leaf buyers.
Does it have a heat pump or range-killing resistive heat?
Eagle announces a comeback. They’re making a new Talon TSi AWD!
It’s based on the Hyundai Venue.
You got a chuckle out of me with that. Bravo!
assuming the interior plastics will all be piano black
They should call it a Lancer Evolution and really piss people off.
ABSOLUTELY NOT
Got ’em.
No word on if the existing Eclipse Cross will be discontinued?
As it is based on an entirely different car for a completely different market, I doubt it.
I meant the current US-market 2026 Eclipse Cross.
The sooner the better… it actually is along Outtie Sport.
This needs AWD. It gives up a few miles of range for a lot more utility. And sportiness.
Ouch.
This is why they say to never look at an Eclipse with the naked eye….
…I can feel the retinal damage.