Pricing for the all-new Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross has been revealed ahead of its UK sales launch in January 2018. The rival to Nissan Qashqai will be priced from £21,275.
The all-wheel-drive SUV has coupé-like styling inspired by the XR-PHEV concept of 2015 and will sit between the Mitsubishi ASX and Outlander models in Mitsubishi’s line-up.
This means the Eclipse Cross will go up against cars such as the Skoda Karoq and Seat Seat Ateca. The car's starting price places it £1980 above the Qashqai, £400 above the Karoq and £2935 above the Ateca.
The Eclipse Cross range is split into three trim levels: 2, 3 and 4, with a reversing camera, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, cruise control, heated door mirrors and 16in alloys standard from the ground up.
3 trim starts £1300 higher than the entry-level 2, while 4 is £2400 above this. Four-wheel drive is only available on automatic-equipped cars and commands a £1500 premium on 3 spec, on top of the £1275 for the automatic 'box. Cars equipped with four-wheel drive get three traction control settings, with Auto, Snow and Gravel modes available.
A First Edition, limited to 250 cars, initially tops the range, at £26,825, rising to £29,750 with four-wheel drive and an auto gearbox.
Although the plug-in hybrid Outlander PHEV has been a success, Mitsubishi has been left behind in the SUV boom, with cars such as the Qashqai far outselling its offerings.
Mitsubishi now has a new boss in Carlos Ghosn after he left Nissan to take the helm, so a wave of new models is expected. In the short term, the Eclipse Cross will need to do much to boost sales in a growing market before the Japanese manufacturer's future plans are revealed.
The Eclipse Cross will have the option of two engines: a new 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol with a new CVT transmission that is said to feature an eight-speed Sport Mode manual override and a 2.2-litre diesel, which is said to be specifically modified for the Eclipse Cross and comes with a new eight-speed automatic transmission.
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How much?!!!!!
Yet another dramatically overpriced new model launch. These greedy manufacturers are all in it together, using finance plans to hide extortionate list price hikes.
You'll have to be on a 6 figure salary to afford to buy a new car soon - or be prepared to be forever in debt with a "second mortgage" PCP finance package on your car.
Considering the competition in this sector
Fugly