Is the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross a Better Choice Than a Honda HR-V?
For several years Mitsubishi sold cars that were a bit outdated compared to the competition. But the company is now investing in product, and it looks like consumers are the winners with the new 2023 Outlander and the smaller Eclipse Cross making waves. But the new Eclipse Cross has to deal with a market segment that’s incredibly competitive, and it’s dominated by Honda’s all-new HR-V.
Like with any vehicle, it all depends on what you need in your new SUV. But, the Eclipse Cross makes a compelling case against the HR-V for a compact SUV.
The Honda HR-V is all new for ‘23, the Eclipse Cross was for ‘22
Finally, Mitsubishi is spending some money and reinvesting in updating the vehicles it sells in North America. The Eclipse Cross SUV disappeared in 2021 and came back completely redesigned for 2022. Its new face and interior significantly updated its look and feel and Mitsubishi generally banished cheapo plastics inside. For 2023, it gains several new features like an electric tailgate, the company’s new driver’s aids, LED lights and new wheels. Though we don’t get the new all-black version that Japan will get, according to CarScoops.
The new HR-V however comes with a sporty new cabin that, in black plastic, features Honda’s new design language inside. It’s a bit more daring than the Eclipse Cross inside and out. For the second-generation HR-V Honda addressed most of the gripes buyers had with the old one, most notably its size. The new HR-V is 11 inches longer and a bit wider.
Both SUVs get standard 7-inch touchscreens. The optional screen on the Eclipse Cross is an 8.0-inch version, while the HR-V’s upgrade is a 9-inch screen.
The HR-V (barely) beats the Eclipse Cross on power
Nobody will say that either of these SUVs are quick. But they are efficient. The 2023 Eclipse Cross gets a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine that makes 152 horsepower. The HR-V makes 158 horsepower from its 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that not everyone loves. It gets 26 mpg in town and 32 mpg on the highway, however adding AWD reduces those numbers a bit. Both engines are tied to CVTs, or continuously variable transmissions, which some find droning.
Though the two seem about the same on power, all-wheel drive is standard on the Mitsubishi, and that does add weight and decreases fuel economy. The Mitsubishi gets 26 in the city and 27 on the highway.
The new HR-V holds more cargo than the Eclipse Cross
They’re pretty similar when it comes to room. Both seat five people in comfort, and they both have tons of storage bins and cubbies. However, the Eclipse Cross can hold just 50 cubic feet compared to the HR-V’s 55 cubic feet of space when the seats are folded.
The Eclipse Cross is a (little bit) more expensive
The Eclipse Cross pricing starts at $25,795, and the HR-V starts at $23,650. But, before you make your decision on just that, remember that the Mitsubishi comes with all-wheel drive standard, and it’s a $1,500 option on the HR-V. Also, the base HRV is pretty spartan inside and to get many of the standard features, the Mitsubishi offers, like automatic climate control, you’ll have to step up to the $25,000 Sport version of the HR-V.
The 2023 Honda HR-V pricing starts at $23,650, which is a slight increase over the 2022 SUV. It comes in three versions, base LX, Sport, and EX-L. The base LX now comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Honda Sensing tech. The Sport version starts at $25,650 and adds heated seats, blind-spot monitoring, and 18-inch wheels. The EX-L starts at $27,450 and adds a power driver’s seat, dual-zone climate, and a larger 9.0-inch touch screen. A 158-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder is standard, and all-wheel-drive is a $1,500 option on all trims.
