Won’t be missed anyway.
It’s no secret that Mitsubishi’s new compact SUV, the Eclipse Cross, is hotly anticipated on our parts, and questions regarding powertrain options for the stylish crossover have been posed to the company’s Australian office. The Eclipse Cross, globally, is available with a variety of engines, including a diesel. And that diesel has been a point of curiosity from several quarters.
On the subject, Mitsubishi Australia’s head of product planning has brought some clarity on the subject, and it’s bad news for those who might be keen on a diesel Eclipse Cross.
“It [a turbodiesel Eclipse Cross] is not on our radar. We’ve got this small capacity turbo-petrol, with high efficiency and good performance. It doesn’t seem much of a point to put a diesel into the range.” — James Tol, Head of Product Planning, Mitsubishi Australia
The reluctance to offer a diesel has a lot to do with the market shying away from oilers on this end of the SUV segment. While turbodiesel motors are highly desirable in larger, bulkier SUVs, smaller crossovers like the Eclipse Cross tend to do best with fizzy turbo-petrol engines instead. The Mitsubishi Australia product boss said the same thing, too:
“If you think about the smaller SUV space, there’s a certain drift away from diesel. That has got a lot to do with the fact these small turbo-petrol engines have become so much more efficient, and so much more powerful. What used to be a much stronger business case for a customer to purchase a diesel is starting to be eroded.” — James Tol, Head of Product Planning, Mitsubishi Australia
We know that the Eclipse Cross will arrive on our shores with a sole engine option, in the form of a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-pot petrol motor. That engine will be paired exclusively with a CVT automatic gearbox, though it does offer the simulation of an eight-speed automatic to ensure a more natural experience behind the wheel.
It hasn’t been confirmed as yet, but we know that there’s plenty of buzz surrounding a possible hybrid Eclipse Cross, though that won’t be arriving anytime soon. Be sure to stay tuned to CarShowroom as we bring you more updates as they come.
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