Mitsubishi has once again exhumed the Eclipse name and slapped it on a car completely unrelated to the sports coupe it originated with. We’re not sure what’s more incongruous, the fact that the new Mitsubishi Eclipse Sportback is an electric crossover or that it’s not even really a Mitsubishi.
That’s because it’s a Nissan Leaf with some minor cosmetic differences. It comes with a redesigned grille, window trim, funky tri-spoke wheels, and front and rear bumpers. Our old man complaint is unrelated to whether or not the Nissan Leaf is a good car, but the fact that Mitsubishi insists on dishonoring the Eclipse name.
The taillights are where it gets a bit interesting. The Leaf has taillight elements that recall the Z32 Nissan 300ZX, but also represent Japanese letters for 二 (two, pronounced ni), and 三 (three, pronounced san). On the Eclipse, squint and you might be able to see some of the first-gen heckblende.
That’s where the similarities end, though. At this point the Eclipse name has been beaten like a dead racehorse. Its use here is undignified. We have the Eclipse Cross already, and now the Eclipse Sportback doubles down on the insults. In fact, for fans of the Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback, a name that was applied to a cool wagon variant of the eighth-gen Lancer and a funky five-door hatchback version of the ninth-gen Lancer, the new name is a yet another blow.
The Eclipse Sportback will only be sold in the US and Canada, despite the Leaf being sold in Japan and other markets. So if you’re someone who loved the Eclipse sports coupe back in the 90s but wants a sensible crossover EV today, Mitsubishi has the car for you. Who will be the first to wrap it in lime green with a blue eagle on the side? At least there’s a new Mitsubishi-built Pajero coming.
Images courtesy of Mitsubishi, Nissan.
I remember more Eagle Talons and even (FWD base-model only) Plymouth Lasers back in the day, so it’s basically full circle – after all, what was the original Eagle? A proto-crossover made by jacking up a decade-old station wagon body (there were sedans and coupes but they barely sold any) and shoving an AWD system underneath as a corporate desperation move.
The only saving grace is that there might be some screaming deals on these since no one buys Mitsubishis. So, if you really want a new Leaf, but also want to pay less, this might be the way to go.
One could argue that Mitsubishi has lost its way more than Nissan in regards to cars (and planes). This isn’t even decent badge rebranding.
If you’re not familiar with Mitsubishi’s jet debacle, it was a great looking regional jet program that was killed after a decade $4 BILLION DOLLARS OF DEBT. Even after years after it rollout, they had to gut the entire wiring system to comply with FAA standards. To say I was disappointed is a vast understatement. What. Were. They. Thinking?