The 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross received top honours this week from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), achieving the highest possible 5-Star Safety Rating as part of the U.S. government agency’s New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Recently refreshed, this crossover bearing the name of a former sport compact icon performed exceptionally well in every evaluated category, for example earning five stars in the combined side-crash ratings, and four-out-of-five stars on the drive-and-passenger-side frontal-crash tests.
Also bolstering driver confidence is the vehicle’s standard electronic safety suite that includes technology like forward collision mitigation with pedestrian detection, as well as the optional Super All-Wheel Control torque-vectoring all-wheel drive system.
The facelift incorporates numerous updates to the Eclipse Cross such as a fresh interpretation of the Dynamic Shield design language, the front fascia featuring super slim LED daytime running lights up top with head and fog lamps stacked underneath. Gone is the awkward split rear window, improving visibility, framed by upright 3-D taillights. Inside, there’s a new eight-inch touchscreen display, and physical buttons replace the touchpad for infotainment control.
Continuing to power the small SUV is an efficient and lightweight 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder aluminum engine mated to an eight-speed step-shift continuously variable transmission.
NCAP conducts hundreds of crash tests on products across numerous nameplates every year to evaluate their crashworthiness and availability/effectiveness of safety equipment to help buyers make informed shopping decisions.