Mitsubishi

The Mitsubishi Express van – a rebadged version of the Renault Trafic – has been issued the lowest safety rating ever applied to a vehicle in Australia. The zero star rating by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) is the lowest safety score issued in the 28-year history of the independent authority. Despite the shock result, representatives for both car companies said there are “no current plans” to withdraw the Mitsubishi Express or Renault Trafic vans from sale locally.

Buying a new car is the second-most expensive purchase most of us will ever make, behind the family home. A recent survey by Australian consumer site Canstar Blue found that Aussies spend, on average, $40,128 on a new car and then hold onto that new car for around six years.

Given the average age of a car on Australian roads has increased to 10.4 years, it's fair to say plenty of us are holding out on upgrading to newer models. As such, many consumers might find that when the time comes to trade in, their beloved car has disappeared from showrooms. With a raft of nameplates discontinued in 2020 alone, the new-car call sheet for 2021 looks drastically different than it did over 10 years ago – particularly the bestseller list.

The facelifted 2021 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross plug-in hybrid (PHEV) has been officially unveiled, however the model won't make its way to Australian showrooms until halfway through next year. The plug-in mid-sized SUV (pictured in white) derives the bulk of its power from a 2.4-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine – producing 94kW/199Nm – and paired with dual electric motors.

The 2021 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross has been announced, with a new design to accompany the model's mid-life update. The chassis on the new Eclipse Cross has been revised, with Mitsubishi fine-tuning the suspension and upgrading the rear shock absorbers, which it says improves handling characteristics. But the most noticeable change is to the exterior design, with a sharper look bringing the small SUV further into line with the Japanese brand's striking design language.