2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse Review

Mitsubishi hopes its redesigned Illinois-built Eclipse sporty hatchback coupe will revive interest in its brand and elicit much needed excitement.

Mitsubishi needs a shot in the arm. Its U.S. sales fell 40 percent for the first four months this year, although it said that's partly because it cut back heavily on fleet sales to concentrate on higher-profit retail sales. Even major automakers have seen lower sales this year, but they have broader product ranges than Mitsubishi to soften the blow.

The fourth-generation front-drive Eclipse is more tightly built. It borrows styling from Mitsubishi's Concept-E show car and partly resembles the 1995-99 second-generation Eclipse.

The more comfortable new Eclipse is slightly longer, wider, higher, roomier and more powerful than the 2005 model. It has racier styling, a futuristic-looking interior and more safety features, along with a powerful optional sound system.

The front-drive car is still nose heavy. It's also several hundred pounds heavier than the 2005 model, at 3,274-3,538 pounds.

The Eclipse coupe went on sale last week, and a convertible version arrives in spring 2006.

A list price of $19,399 for the base Eclipse GS four-cylinder version should attract customers. Mitsubishi said the faster GT V-6 version will cost $23,699.

Mitsubishi's all-out performance model is the 276-horsepower Lancer Evolution compact sedan, which has a solid reputation among the young male "fast and furious'' crowd. But the "Evo'' is a limited appeal niche model because it's much like a race-rally car and costs $27,929-$34,699, which puts it out of reach of many younger buyers.

Mitsubishi expects buyers of the new Eclipse to be mostly single folks, married couples aged 25-35, baby boomers with older children and empty nesters who want a practical daily car that provides style and driving kicks.

The Eclipse GS 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine generates 162 horsepower, versus 147 for the 2005 four-cylinder. It comes with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission.

The GT V-6 is enlarged from 3 liters to 3.8 liters and kicks out 263 horsepower -- up from a maximum of 210. The V-6 works with a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic. Both automatic transmissions have a manual shift gate.

A special valve timing system gives both engines especially good responsiveness.

Estimated fuel economy of the GS is 23 mpg in the city and 29-30 on highways. Figures for the GT are 18-19 city and 27-28 highway. The GS can use regular-grade gasoline, but the GT requires premium fuel.

The four-cylinder GS engine provides decent performance, especially with the manual gearbox. The V-6 makes the GT very fast (0-60 mph in 5.8 seconds). The automatic shifts OK but works best with the V-6. The short-throw, crisp-shifting manual transmission is mated to a light, but long-throw, clutch.

While the Eclipse is more fun to drive with the manual, its weight, front-heavy weight distribution and comfort and convenience equipment make it as much of a sporty touring car as a sports car.

Standard are such items as air conditioning, cruise control, power windows and locks with remote keyless entry and 140-watt AM/FM/CD/MP3 player with six speakers. (A 650-watt Rockford Fosgate audio system with nine speakers is optional)

A GT I tested with the manual gearbox had a GT Premium Sport package that contained the 650-watt sound system with steering wheel audio controls, power sunroof, heated leather front seats, automatic air conditioning, power driver's seat and wider 45-series tires on 18-inch alloy wheels instead of the standard 50-series tires on 17-inchers.

The wider tires result in sharper handling but make the ride firm -- although it's not uncomfortable. Steering is quick and braking is good.

A Sun and Sound package for the GS contains a power sunroof and the 650-watt sound system with steering wheel controls.

Standard safety items for both models include torso side air bags previously limited to upscale Eclipse models and head-protecting front curtain side air bags not previously offered for Eclipses. Also standard are anti-lock all-disc brakes, although only the GT has a standard traction control system. No anti-skid system is available for either model.

Thank goodness both the GS and GT get standard split-folding rear seatbacks to increase the cargo area because the small, hard-to-reach rear seat area is fit only for children.

Long, heavy doors can be a problem in tight parking spots. The car's styling causes a fairly large front portion of the door side glass to be fixed to allow the rest of the glass to lower all the way. The fixed glass is reminiscent of pop-out window vents on old-style cars and helps reduce interior wind buffeting. The windshield is large, but thick roof pillars impede rear vision from the driver's seat.

My GT test car's quiet cockpit was bright and cheerful, with two-tone upholstery and a motorcycle-style hooded gauge binnacle in a flowing soft-touch dashboard. Front bucket seats provide good support, with the driver's seat having standard manual or optional power adjustment for the GT. The height-adjustable, manually operated steering wheel allows drivers of various sizes to get comfortable.

Radio and climate controls are large, as are the front console cupholders. But gauge numbers are small and the Ice Blue LED interior lighting can make it difficult to quickly read gauges at night. An LCD display panel atop the center dashboard seems more gimmicky than practical; it contains such things as radio information, but can be hard to read in bright sunlight.

The large rear hatch is heavy, but hydraulic struts facilitate opening it. (The heavy hood has an old-fashioned prop rod.) The hatch opening is rather high, but contains room for a decent amount of cargo -- especially with rear seatbacks flipped forward.

Mitsubishi was smart in making the new Eclipse a car that should appeal to sports car fans and to a wider, general audience that just wants a sporty car for daily use. It will take more than the Eclipse to turn things around for Mitsubishi, but it has other new models coming. 

2006 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE
PRICES
$19,399-$23,699

LIKES
Racy new styling. More power. Roomier. Fun to drive.

DISLIKES
Tight back seat. Long, heavy doors. Small gauge numbers.