Selwyn Times: January 31, 2018

SELWYN TIMES Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Wednesday January 31 2018 41
Driven
• By Ross Kiddie
IT’S A time of significant change
for Mitsubishi Motors New
Zealand.
The company’s long-serving
and faithful Lancer sedan is
coming to the end of the road
here, its run-out coinciding with
the release of a new sport utility
vehicle, the Eclipse Cross.
I’ll be sad to see the end
of Lancer, it’s a car I’ve often
recommended to buyers simply
because of its price point and the
value associated with it, and it
has been an honest and reliable
model for the company.
However, times have changed,
and today buyers are after SUVs.
The Eclipse Cross is something
special from Mitsubishi, it looks
special, too, with edgy styling that
is almost funky, while it features
an interior which is trendy but
totally functional. The Eclipse
Cross in XLS form lands at
$34,990, while a high-spec VRX
sits at $45,590.
If you are thinking in order
to reach that price point the
Eclipse Cross lacks specification,
that’s certainly not the case, it is
loaded with kit with many of the
electronic functions operated by
a clever touch pad mouse-like
device mounted on the centre
console.
This evaluation focuses on the
range-topper and it gets leather
trim (heated front seats), headup
display, dual zone climate
control, active cruise control with
speed limiter, keyless entry and
ignition, electric sunroof and
paddle-shift eight-step automatic
transmission.
The Eclipse Cross sits squarely
in the mid-size SUV segment.
At 4.4m it allows for a spacious
in-cabin environment; the seats
are beautifully supportive and
comfortable, while rear seat head
and leg room is appropriate, the
latter not compromised by a
healthy rear load space area. Bear
in mind, though, it is a five-seater
only.
At the other end sits a
turbocharged four-cylinder
engine of 1499cc. That capacity
is about the norm for vehicles
of this type these days, and it’s
clear to see that Mitsubishi has
developed this unit with a high
degree of engineering skill. It is
state-of-the-art in terms of design
and it has healthy figures to
support that statement.
Mitsubishi claims 122kW and
254Nm power outputs, the latter
realised flat across the torque
curve spreading from 2000rpm
to 3500rpm. If you add in its
pairing to a continuously variable
automatic transmission then
the ingredients are in place for a
smooth transition of power and
responsive throttle application,
although it does like the driver
to utilise the manual sequential
gearshift functions.
Mitsubishi has long persevered
with CVT, and that background
has certainly helped with
its application mated to a
turbocharged engine with the
result being a free-flowing spread
of power and good economy and
performance figures.
The Eclipse Cross is rated
with a combined cycle average
of 7.3-litre per 100km (39mpg).
My first drive of the newcomer
was a little shorter than usual,
but given the importance of this
car in the market and its recent
arrival, I leapt at the opportunity
to have an unscheduled drive,
even though it is in my diary for
an extended period in April.
That being the case, most of
the time I spent in the vehicle
was at highway speed and I had
no problem meeting Mitsubishi’s
fuel usage claim with the readout
constantly listing at 7.6l/100km
(37mpg). That was helped by a
tantalising 4l/100km (70mpg)
instantaneous figure sitting at
a steady 100km/h, the engine
loping over very relaxed at just
1750rpm.
In terms of acceleration, the
Eclipse Cross will cut out a
standstill to 100km/h time of
9sec. These are all impressive
figures which would make a
buyer quite happy with his/her
purchase.
The Eclipse Cross is also
rather tidy when it comes to
tackling a tricky corner or two.
Like most SUVs of this ilk, drive
is channelled just to the front
wheels, although there will fourwheel-drive
options available
from April.
The newcomer is fitted with
high quality Toyo tyres (225/55
x 18in), there is a lot of rubber
on the road and they travel
quietly, yet they also provide
extensive information back to the
steering wheel as to how they are
behaving.
That’s a key ingredient for
me, I like informative steering
systems and the Eclipse Cross
is very accurate into a corner.
While it’s an exaggeration to say
it has a soft ride, there is a lot
Local
News
Now
Mitsubishi goes hi-tech with Eclipse Cross
MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE CROSS: Edgy exterior styling combines with a functional, intuitive interior.
COMFORT: The Eclipse Cross is available in two high
specification models. Four-wheel-drive will be an option from
April.
Fire rages, homes at risk
• Price – Mitsubishi Eclipse
Cross, $45,590
• Dimensions – Length,
4405mm; width, 1805mm;
height, 1685mm
• Configuration – Fourcylinder,
front-wheel-drive,
1499cc, 112kW, 254Nm,
eight-speed automatic.
• Performance –
0-100km/h, 9sec
• Fuel usage – 7.3l/100km
of compliance within the fully
independent front-strut/rearmultiple
link system and
for that reason the Eclipse Cross
is a fabulous traveller at all
speeds.
Even though the design of the
Eclipse Cross is youthful, I can
see it appealing to a wide crosssection
of buyers. By the sheer
nature of its cheeky, youthful
looks it oozes appeal, and by
delivering a purposeful driving
experience it’s hard not to be
lured to it.
Buyers will also be rewarded
with a new retail experience.
For as long as I can remember
Christchurch Mitsubishi has
operated from its St Asaph St
site, but the company is moving
soon to new premises in
Moorhouse Ave.
For those who do make it there
they will be buying a modern
SUV from a fresh dealership.
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