2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV: Hybrid SUV here in August 2021 with three-variant range

The 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV mid-size SUV will launch in Australia this August with a choice of three variants, it has been confirmed.

A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of Mitsubishi's recently-facelifted mid-size SUV, the Eclipse Cross PHEV will reach Australian showrooms in July or August – pending no further delays due to COVID-19 or the semiconductor shortage – a spokesperson for the brand confirmed to Drive.

It'll be Mitsubishi's second plug-in hybrid model in Australia, joining the larger Outlander PHEV, which will be replaced by a new-generation model early in 2022 – close to six months after the arrival of new petrol-powered Outlanders in October 2021.

Three Eclipse Cross PHEV variants will be offered locally – the fleet-focused ES, mid-spec Aspire and range-topping Exceed – with similar standard equipment levels to ES, Aspire and Exceed grades powered by the existing 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine.

Above: Japanese-market Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV pictured.

Australian pricing remains under wraps, however using Japanese pricing as a guide, expect a starting price of around $46,000 drive-away for the ES, rising to $53,000 drive-away for the Aspire, and hitting around $58,000 drive-away for the flagship Exceed. (More on what features each variant will offer in a moment.)

For reference, pricing for the petrol-only Eclipse Cross opens at $30,490 drive-away for the front-wheel-drive ES, and tops out at $43,990 drive-away for the range-topping, all-wheel-drive Exceed.

All models are powered by the same all-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid system, combining a 94kW/199Nm 2.4-litre petrol engine with a 70kW/195Nm electric motor on the rear axle, and another 60kW/137Nm e-motor up front.

The drive unit trio is hooked up to a 13.8kWh lithium-ion battery pack, delivering a 55km all-electric range according to lenient Australian Design Rules testing, and a combined fuel economy claim of 1.9L/100km. 91 RON regular unleaded fuel is supported by the vehicle.

Mitsubishi doesn't claim a combined power figure – and adding up each power source's outputs won't deliver an accurate number, as the engine and electric motors produce maximum power at different points in their respective rev ranges.

Three drive modes are available: Series Hybrid (which drives the wheels through electricity only, using the engine as a generator to power the e-motors), and Parallel Hybrid (which uses both petrol and electric power to drive the wheels), and full EV mode (unlocking the aforementioned 55km pure-electric range).

Standard equipment across the range should include an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, autonomous emergency braking, 18-inch alloy wheels and a reversing camera.

Using the petrol-powered Eclipse Cross as a guise, Aspire additions over the base car could include keyless entry, front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, dual-zone climate control, suede/leather trim, adaptive cruise control, heated front seats and a 360-degree camera.

Meanwhile, expect the Exceed to gain LED headlights, leather seats, satellite navigation, a head-up display, panoramic sunroof, and heated rear seats and steering wheel.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV will be the latest entrant in a growing field of hybrid small and mid-size SUVs currently on sale or soon to arrive Down Under, including the MG HS Plug-in Hybrid, smaller Kia Niro PHEV, and Ford Escape PHEV, the lattermost due locally in early 2022.

There's also competition from within in the form of the larger Outlander PHEV, while all new mainstream hybrid SUVs will need to match up against the segment best-seller, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.

Stay tuned to Drive for full Australian details of the 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV as its local launch approaches.

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