Two versions of Mitsubishi’s small coupe-styled crossover/SUV have hit the market, starting at S$136,999 with COE

SINGAPORE — The new Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross officially hits town tonight, with a facelifted version of the five-seat crossover making its debut on the brand’s local Facebook page.

Mitsubishi importer Cycle & Carriage is putting two versions of the car on sale, with a Classic variant listed for S$136,999 and the better-equipped Style trimline going for S$145,999. Both prices include Certificate Of Entitlement, as well as a S$3,000 early-bird discount.

The sole engine option here is a 1.5-litre turbo that drives the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that mimics an eight-speed automatic. It has 163 horsepower, but the car takes 9.7 seconds to hit 100km/h. 

Instead of a mild redesign of the lights, grille and bumpers, the facelift gives the Eclipse Cross noticeably fresh styling. The front end is fairly distinct, with slender new lamps and daytime running LEDs mounted high up and right on the edge of the bonnet.

Mitsubishi says the new look of the Eclipse Cross is a preview of the brand’s new face.

Things are even more altered at the back, where a new rear hatch and window design apparently add roughly 28 litres of cargo capacity to the boot.

The car itself is 14cm longer than before, to give it more coupe-like proportions, and a section of the tailgate protrudes between the taillights.

Mitsubishi says you can get four golf bags into the 405-litre caboose, while the car’s rear seats fold down in a 60/40 split if you need more space to haul stuff.

They also recline, and a quick drive by CarBuyer revealed that headroom in the back is surprisingly generous.

A worthwhile upgrade is a new 8.0-inch touchscreen system that works with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a feature more or less considered essential these days.

But there’s a catch: It’s only included in the Style pack. That also includes a powered driver seat, factory leather, 18-inch alloys (an upgrade from the classic version’s 16-inch wheels), electrically folding wing mirrors and steering-mounted paddles for the transmission.

The extra cash also buys dual-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors (instead of a rear-only setup) and a 360-degree monitor, along with an electric parking brake. All in all, the S$9,000 for the Style pack looks like good value.

Yet, the Classic version comes with worthwhile kit as well. The standard equipment list includes keyless operation, automatic headlights and wipers as well as seven airbags. The car has a 10-year engine warranty and a five-year comprehensive warranty.

But it’s style that is meant to be the big selling point here. Mitsubishi touts the car as something of a coupe-Sport Utility Vehicle mashup, a style of car popularised by the BMW X6. It’s up to you how sporty you reckon the compact crossover is, but the car’s name is a callback to a two-door coupe from Mitsubishi’s past, seen here below.

Given how SUVs are the hottest market segment now, it’s no surprise that the Eclipse Cross overshadows the car it took its name from.

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