When Maya walked through the rows of crossovers in early 2026, the badge on one tailgate stopped her. It said Eclipse—a name her older brother used to whisper about when they were kids, back when Mitsubishi coupes roamed the same streets as the Civic and MR2. But the vehicle sitting in front of her was no low coupe. It was a compact crossover, and yet it carried the same playful energy through a much bolder silhouette. That vehicle was the 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, a model that arrived after Mitsubishi skipped the 2021 model year and used the pause to sharpen its design and cabin.

The 2022 refresh brought a visual language that refused to blend in. Up front, the main headlight units were moved down into the bumper and housed inside chrome rings. Above them, a slim set of LED daytime running lights stretched across in line with a blacked-out grille that wore the chrome Mitsubishi logo. Around the entire body, LED lighting became standard, giving the crossover a more contemporary nighttime signature.

At the rear, the split liftgate that had once polarized shoppers was gone. In its place sat a sleeker, single-piece tailgate that softened the earlier radical design. The result was still distinctive, but more grown-up, with a subtle muscular shoulder line running along the sides.

The cabin received thoughtful improvements for real-world users. The 2020 model had frustrated owners with an all-touchscreen layout, even for volume and radio tuning. Mitsubishi listened. The refreshed 8-inch infotainment touchscreen was angled toward the driver and brought back two rotary dials, making adjustments far less distracting. Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and built-in navigation were available on LE, SE, and SEL trims, while the base ES made do with a smaller 7-inch display.

A new grey leather upholstery option joined the lineup, adding a touch of warmth to a cabin that was otherwise built with a reassuring lack of cheap plastics. Cargo space measured 22.6 cubic feet, which was practical but still well behind the segment-leading Honda CR-V at 39.2 cubic feet.

Under the hood, nothing changed, and that was both a comfort and a compromise. The 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-four produced 152 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. A continuously variable transmission was the only gearbox offered, routing power to either the front wheels or all four through an optional all-wheel-drive setup.

In a straight line, the Eclipse Cross took about 8.5 seconds to reach 60 mph and completed the quarter-mile in a nominal 16.7 seconds, with a top speed of 133 mph. Those figures were not class-leading, especially against the Honda CR-V and its 190-horsepower turbo unit. Yet the Mitsubishi made a case for itself through nimble handling and a composed ride, something its engineers emphasized over outright speed.

Fuel economy softened the sting of modest acceleration. The CVT was tuned for efficiency, delivering an EPA-estimated 26 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway, and 27 mpg combined. With a 16.6-gallon fuel tank, the crossover claimed a driving range of roughly 448 miles, which was enough to outlast many rivals on long highway trips. That practical range became a quiet advantage for families who cared more about fewer fuel stops than stoplight heroics.

Pricing kept the Eclipse Cross within reach. The front-wheel-drive ES opened the range at $23,395, while the FWD SEL topped out at $27,395. Opting for all-wheel drive added $1,600 to any trim. Shoppers were wise to look beyond the base ES, which had a notably narrow feature list, and consider the LE, SE, or SEL for the larger screen and more comfort tech.

Key specs at a glance:

• Engine: 1.5L turbocharged inline-4

• Power: 152 hp

• Torque: 184 lb-ft

• Transmission: CVT

• Drivetrain: FWD or AWD

• 0-60 mph: 8.5 seconds

• Fuel economy: 26 city / 29 highway / 27 combined mpg

• Fuel tank: 16.6 gallons

• Driving range: about 448 miles

• Cargo capacity: 22.6 cubic feet

Standard safety equipment included automated emergency braking and lane-departure warning, with additional driver-assist features reserved for the upper trims. Mitsubishi also backed the crossover with a 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and a powertrain warranty that was promoted as 19 years or 100,000 miles in early materials—a figure that certainly raised eyebrows on the sales floor.

For Maya, the Eclipse Cross was not trying to replace the 1990s icon—it was telling a new chapter of a name that had learned to adapt. In a market packed with RAV4s, CR-Vs, Tiguans, CX-5s, and Crosstreks, the 2022 Eclipse Cross stood out with its refreshed face, simple infotainment fixes, and honest efficiency. It wasn\u2019t the fastest crossover, but it was one of the more distinctive choices for a buyer who wanted something different.