Another Look at the Eclipse Cross for the New Mitsubishi Flagship Title
With Mitsubishi Motors placing a lot of attention on the SUVs of its lineup, a lot of buzz has surrounded the next generation of the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander. Still reigning in the way of sales, the Outlander has already sold 30,481 units Year-to-Date (YTD) 2022 compared to last year, about a 70-percent increase in sales. Once the flagship of the automaker, these numbers make sense, but Mitsubishi has chosen to change the flagship over to the Outlander PHEV. Discussion about introducing a Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV started and died out, but we’d like to take another look at that possibility with a little review.
If looking to go green but not fully commit, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is the only option for Mitsubishi consumers, but the plug-in hybrid SUV has also really brought it’s “A” game to its recent model year, with 2023 already looking good. Voted as the “2023 Family Green Car of the Year™” during the 2023 Green Car Awards by Green Car Journal and GreenCarJournal.com , the Outlander PHEV is powered by a 2.4 liter inline-four-cylinder engine and two electric motors, one generating 60 kW in the front and 70 kW in the rear. Combined, the output is about 300 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque. For 2023, the new upgrades have increased the all-electric range (AER) from 24 to 38 miles by reducing the output to 248-horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque and increasing the fuel tank by 0.2 gallons. The total range has increase from 320 miles to 420 miles, a nice jump.
“Since its launch in March 2022, the gasoline version of the all-new Outlander has been a homerun, setting sales records monthly even in the face of global supply challenges…When sales begin in the U.S., the 2023 Outlander PHEV will take its place as the flagship of the Mitsubishi fleet. It is the most advanced and best-equipped vehicle we have ever sold, and it is the perfect blend of quiet and clean electric motoring with the range and ease of refueling of a gasoline-powered vehicle.” – Mark Chaffin, MMNA president and CEO
Just to set the record straight, the 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross has sold 8,361 units YTD 2022. Starting at $23,395 (plus destination fee), that’s already a major win for the Eclipse Cross. Even with the growing popularity for the Outlander PHEV, a 1.5-percent drop in sales of 1,132 units. The starting MSRP for the Outlander PHEV is $36,995 (plus destination fee).
The 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is a gasoline only model, powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine able to generate 152 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. With a fuel economy of 26 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway and a total range of 395 miles, or 442 if driving mainly on the highway. Just imagine those numbers with an electric motor also generating some power and expanding the range with an increased AER and total driving. The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross will also be getting its own Ralliart edition model, a special edition not reported for the Outlander PHEV.
It would seem like the smart move to electrify the model that has the most popularity. Look at how things turned out for another certain SUV automaker. PHEV models of favorites always blow up in terms of sales. Until then, the Eclipse Cross is a great choice for an SUV, and if looking to go green, the Outlander PHEV is a nice compromise. Find your new Mitsubishi at University Mitsubishi.
