The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV
Car awards are a dime a dozen. Almost every car ever has won some award – I can think of a couple that did not, but let’s not go there. But when the same car wins two awards, on different sides of the earth, for different reasons, there is something there.
The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross has just won AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Award in the States, while over in Japan the evolved plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) and Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) systems of the Eclipse Cross won the RJC Technology of the Year. RJC is the Automotive Researchers’ and Journalists’ Conference of Japan, which is a mouthful and probably why they just call it RJC.
Let’s look at the American award first. This award is for the car that is most satisfying to drive – so pretty straightforward. The Eclipse Cross got the highest score in the Compact Crossover SUV category, beating a strong field that included the likes of the Jeep Compass, Hyundai Tucson and Subaru Crosstrek.
This award has 36 categories, of which the Eclipse Cross either equalled or beat the other contenders in 32. Areas that stood out was the stylish interior and exterior design, driver’s seat comfort and good visibility, ease of getting in and out of the vehicle and the generous factory warranties. The Cross was found to have a high-quality build and of course the NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating.
The Japanese reward is more technical and speaks to the specific attributes of the evolved plug-in-hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) and the Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC).
The PHEV Eclipse Cross uses the same groundbreaking optimised twin-motor 4WD from the revolutionary Outlander. This combines a quiet drive with powerful, stable driving, smooth acceleration and nimble handling. The electrification and all-wheel control give the driver a combination of safety, peace of mind and comfort.
This is the fifth time Mitsubishi has won the RTC Technology of year, having first done so back in ’93 with the (flashback) Galant and a model called the Eterna.
The Eclipse Cross is available in five trim levels in South Africa, and there is currently a very hot promotion on the go.
