Mitsubishi is in a bit of a weird spot. Its oldest model currently sold in America dates all the way back to 2010, the Outlander is surprisingly good, and the Eclipse Cross is … dead. Much like the Mirage. However, two cars does not a mainstream lineup make, so what’s the brand to do? Get by with a little help from its friends, of course. This is the Mitsubishi Eclipse Sportback, and if it looks like a Nissan Leaf, that’s because it basically is.
Not to be confused with the old Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, the new European-market Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, which is basically a Renault Scenic, or the original Mitsubishi Eclipse tuner favorite sport compact, the Eclipse Sportback is the marque’s first battery-electric vehicle sold in America since 2016. However, because it has so much in common with the Nissan Leaf, what makes it unique? I drove one to find out, and likely much to Mitsubishi’s chagrin, I’m going to be writing the L-word a lot here.
[Full disclosure: Mitsubishi Canada invited me to a local same-day drive event of the Eclipse Sportback, let me drive the car on roads I’m rather familiar with, and provided lunch. No lodging was required, and travel to and from the event was paid for by yours truly].
The Basics
Battery Pack: 75 kWh NMC.
Drive: Front-wheel-drive.
Output: 214 horsepower, 261 lb.-ft. of torque.
Range: 282 miles (454 km).
Peak DC Fast Charging kW: 150 kW.
Curb Weight: 4,243 pounds.
Base Price: $39,740 including freight ($51,253 in Canada).
Price As-Tested: $42,735 including freight ($56,503 in Canada).
Why Does It Exist?
For much of the past decade, Mitsubishi has effectively been adopted by Renault and Nissan thanks to Nissan becoming the largest shareholder in the company. Since then, the fully-electric vehicle market has really taken off, but Mitsubishi hasn’t sold one in North America since the 2016 i-MiEV. With the Outlander having found great success riding on Nissan’s bones, the Eclipse Sportback takes things one step further by essentially being a Nissan Leaf.
How Does It Look?
This explains why the Mitsubishi Eclipse Sportback looks so familiar. We’ve already seen its silhouette for more than a year. However, Mitsubishi has redesigned several soft parts to make the BEV its own, and the treatment works reasonably well. A much more aggressive front fascia deletes the vestigial grille silhouette seen on the Nissan, but then a slim filler panel between the headlamps adds it back. Split-three-spoke wheels feel very ’90s in inspiration, but everything looks well-integrated.
Around back, Mitsubishi’s done something that’s arguably more successful than Nissan’s original vision. Top-spec models of the Leaf get Z-inspired inner taillamps, but every other trim just gets a massive slab of shiny black plastic. Mitsubishi’s turned most of that body-color, and guess what? It works better.
What About The Interior?
Climb inside the Mitsubishi Eclipse Sportback, and you’re greeted with a cockpit that’s very Nissan but subtly better. The textile-upholstered surfaces and big screens are still here, but the user interface has been subtly reskinned, and Mitsubishi went with actual steering wheel buttons that have a matte finish. There isn’t much shiny black plastic in here at all, so clearly, someone’s listening. As for the front seats, they’re as comfortable as your granddad’s armchair, and the driving position’s rather good for such a cab-forward vehicle. Interior storage is alright too, and it’s only when you get to the rear seat that a minor annoyance emerges.
For backseat passengers, it’s a bit tight on the inseam. Indeed, 31.8 inches of rear legroom is nearly six inches shy of what the Kia EV3 offers, and 7.3 inches shy of what the Chevrolet Bolt serves up. While fine for empty-nesters, it’s certainly a drawback for use as a family car. The tradeoff is that the Eclipse Sportback offers nearly four more cubic feet of cargo volume behind the rear seats than in a Chevrolet Bolt or a Kia EV3. Perfect for that mid-century modern side table you saw on Facebook Marketplace.
How Does It Drive?
While Mitsubishi’s made minor appearance tweaks to make the Eclipse Sportback its own, all the bits that make it go are basically untouched. It uses the same 75 kWh battery pack and 214-horsepower electric motor as the Nissan Leaf, the same brakes, the same steering rack, even the same suspension. As a result, it drives exactly like the new Leaf, and that’s no hardship. Even with a curb weight of more than 4,200 pounds, the single electric motor makes for smooth, reasonably swift acceleration that doesn’t fall on its face at highway speeds. Figure around seven seconds from zero to 60 mph, quicker than most similarly-sized gasoline-powered crossovers.
Granted, the Eclipse Sportback never feels hugely electrifying in a straight line, and much of that’s due to the cosseting isolation it inherited from Nissan. It’s nigh-on as quiet as a polite conversation at freeway speeds, and a stiff structure plus well-tuned suspension ensures you barely hear the tires roll over cracked pavement. However, the Eclipse Sportback doesn’t waft like a heavy luxury cruiser. Instead, it’s planted and easily maneuverable. Sure, the steering doesn’t talk back, but it’s accurate and light enough for whipping through drive-thrus with ease. Oh, and once you’ve exhausted its 282 miles of range, a standard NACS port and 150 kW DC fast charging should have you back up to 80 percent state-of-charge in as little as 35 minutes. Not game-changing, but not bad.
Does It Have The Electronic Crap I Want?
For the most part, yes. Load an Eclipse Sportback up to the gills, and you’ll enjoy toys like heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a hands-free power liftgate, and an electronically dimmable panoramic roof. Even the base model gets a nice single-frame setup for the 14.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system and digital dashboard, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, built-in GPS navigation, and a stout package of driver aids. Unfortunately, some of the secondary controls can be a little confusing. Quick keys for climate functions are entirely touch-sensitive, and there’s an awful lot happening on the steering wheel. Most of it’s easy to get used to, but there’s definitely a learning curve here. Unsurprisingly, the Nissan Leaf is much the same.
Thankfully, the Eclipse Sportback also gets the Leaf’s Bose sound system with ultra-nearfield speakers in the driver’s headrest, and it might just be the best branded stereo of the affordable EV bunch. Sure, it won’t blow audiophiles away, but overall clarity and staging is better than in some luxury cars, and there’s enough punch down low and air up top for this system to really feel involving.
Three Things To Know About The Mitsubishi Eclipse Sportback
- It’s basically a Nissan Leaf, but there’s no true base model.
- Top-spec Bose sound system is remarkably good for the segment.
- That 10-year/100,000-mile (160,000 km) powertrain warranty is tempting.
Does The Mitsubishi Eclipse Sportback Fulfil Its Purpose?
That depends on how you define its purpose. It’s definitely a battery-electric vehicle for Mitsubishi dealers to sell in North America, its range is decent, it drives well, and Mitsubishi’s extra-long powertrain warranty is nice peace of mind. On the other hand, the Eclipse Sportback is a bit expensive. It starts at $39,740 including freight in America, and while it’s well-equipped, it’s certainly not alone.
Let’s start with the big one: $38,380 buys a base Tesla Model 3 with 321 miles of range. It’s not as feature-rich as the Mitsubishi, but it’s a difficult option to ignore. A long-range Kia EV3 starts at $36,485, and while its suspension tuning lacks the sophistication of the Eclipse Sportback’s, it’s rated for the same 321 miles of range as the Tesla. Then there are even cheaper options: The Leaf itself starts at $31,565, and the Chevrolet Bolt starts at under $30,000. Oh, and did I mention you can get into a larger, nicer Hyundai Ioniq 5 Long Range for $39,400 or a Ford Mustang Mach-E Select for $39,840?
Up in Canada, the Eclipse Sportback’s competition is even tougher. It starts at $51,253 Canadian, which isn’t far off from a Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+. Sure, the Benz might be an extra $3,897 Canadian, but it offers 148 more kilometers of rated range and runs on an 800-volt architecture for much quicker DC fast charging. Mechanically, it’s in another league, but it isn’t on price. Then there are the usual suspects I’ve mentioned earlier. You can get a Kia EV3 GT-Line with ventilated seats and a sunroof for $48,180 Canadian, a fully loaded Chevrolet Bolt with Super Cruise for $51,294 Canadian, or a Nissan Leaf SV+ for $50,398 Canadian.
The Mitsubishi Eclipse Sportback is a pretty good EV, but it’s not hugely different from a Nissan Leaf despite being more expensive trim-by-trim. If the length of the powertrain warranty appeals to you and you get a financing rate at your local Mitsubishi dealer that blows other offers out of the water, it’s a great daily driver. However, at cash value, it’s merely competitive provided you’re feature-motivated.
What’s The Punctum Of The Mitsubishi Eclipse Sportback?
Sometimes badge engineering isn’t a bad idea.
Top graphic image: Thomas Hundal
A face only a Pontiac Aztek could love.
That is tremendously ugly