Mitsubishi’s second plug-in hybrid is on the horizon for Australia.
Set to touch down in Australia next year, the Eclipse Cross PHEV will have 57km of electric range from its 13.8kWh battery pack.
Like the larger Outlander PHEV, the Eclipse Cross pairs a 2.4-litre petrol engine with two electric motors – one on each axle – for what it calls S-AWC all-wheel drive.
In EV mode, the car will drive on electric power alone. Series Hybrid Mode turns the petrol engine into a generator for the electric motors, which continue to drive the wheels, while Parallel Hybrid Mode uses the petrol engine and the e-motors to drive the wheels based on how much power the driver demands.
The petrol engine outputs 94kW of power and 199Nm of torque, the front motor packs 60kW/137Nm, and the rear motor has 70kW/195Nm.
Charging the battery takes 4.5 hours plugged into a 230V/16A wall box, about 25 minutes hooked up to a high-speed public charger, and 46 min using the engine as a generator at standstill.
The battery can also be used as an emergency generator, supplying up to 1500 watts of power from two on-board outlets. If the vehicle is fully charged and fuelled, it can also supply power to a general household for up to 10 days via the Vehicle-to-Home system.
Externally, the Eclipse Cross PHEV benefits from the same (significant) exterior overhaul as the wider range.
Up front, there’s a revised Dynamic Shield grille plus a new front bumper and refreshed headlights.
The changes are more dramatic at the rear, where the split rear-window has been banished in favour of a smoother, more conventional look.
The interior has received a few updates, with a larger 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system – one inch larger than before – that’s been moved closer to the front-seat occupants.
Mitsubishi has added volume and tuning knobs, though it’s banished the touchpad controller.
There’s also a new black interior option with silver accents and light grey leather seats. Pricing for the non-PHEV range was recently revealed.
2021 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross petrol pricing (PHEV to follow)
- 2021 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross ES: $30,290 (+$300)
- 2021 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross LS: $32,590 (+$400)
- 2021 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Aspire: $34,990
- 2021 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross LS AWD: $35,090 (+$300)
- 2021 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Exceed: $38,290 (+$1300)
- 2021 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Exceed AWD: $40,790 (+$1300)
