Let’s get straight to what drives it. The Eclipse Cross PHEV inherits its second-generation drivetrain from the renowned Mitsubishi Outlander, guaranteeing a top-notch pedigree. Under the hood, you’ll find a powerful 2.4L MiVEC (94kW/199Nm) petrol engine (ICE) paired with twin electric motors. This unique combination effectively transforms the Eclipse Cross into an all-rounder four-wheel-drive vehicle.

With its drive selector, you can confidently ride on various terrain types, including tarmac, snow, gravel, and normal driving conditions, plus there’s Eco mode for maximum efficiency. Additionally, the incorporation of Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC) ensures exceptional handling and stability, seamlessly controlling the vehicle’s movements during acceleration, cornering, and braking without any discomfort for the driver.

Let’s not forget its eco-friendliness and electric driving capability, an area that Mitsubishi’s PHEV Eclipse Cross excels. It’s been designed to stay in EV (electric vehicle) mode for as long as possible, thanks to its sizable Lithium-Ion battery, meaning that you can enjoy a pure electric range of up to 55km and a combined range of up to 650km.

To optimise energy usage, the Eclipse Cross intelligently operates in both Series hybrid and Parallel hybrid modes. In Series hybrid mode, the petrol engine generates electric power, while in Parallel hybrid mode, the electric motor supports the petrol engine to maximise fuel efficiency, and it seamlessly switches between modes automatically, ensuring a smooth and efficient driving experience.

With an astonishing fuel consumption rate of 2.1L per 100km and a CO2 emission output of only 47gms per km, the Eclipse Cross PHEV reduces CO2 emissions by approximately 75 percent compared to its conventional counterpart.

The Eclipse Cross PHEV comes in three specification grades, the XLS, Sport and VRX, however, each variant comes packed with features, meaning that even the ‘base model’ XLS could be considered premium.

Up front, our Eclipse Cross PHEV Sport came with Mitsubishi’s advanced dynamic face shield, which was finished in a tactile material black and framed in chrome. Below it, was a gloss black skid plate that offers both protection and added style. The headlights and DRLs are LED and the bonnet itself is sculpted giving it a great look from the driver’s seat.

The profile is very SUV/Cross, with a compact footprint for the town and a decent groundheight for those weekend adventures. The Sport variant boasts a dual sunroof, and gloss black 18-inch alloys, with bright chrome PHEV badging on the wings for all to see. The skid plate at the rear is as gloss black as the front and the rear glass is ‘privacy black’ too, while the tailgate is electric and opens up to 359L of luggage space.

The interior is a delightful mix of comfort and convenience, the trim is durable and hard wearing, and there’s a great sense of space both front and rear. The creature comforts are aplenty with the likes of adaptive cruise control, an auto-dimming mirror, a heated steering wheel and heated seats, and when it comes to safety, all the Eclipse Cross PHEV models incorporate advanced features such as Forward Collision Mitigation, Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Change Assist, and a five-star ANCAP tick.

Whether driving in the congested city centre or out on the open roads, the Eclipse Cross is a confident drive, aided of course, with the S-AWC and multiple drive modes, but it’s the use of its PHEV electrification that is of particular note. The revs turn power with incredible regularity (meaning that your 91 octane remains in the fuel tank), and you can adjust the regenerative braking ferocity with the paddles behind the steering wheel. You can even opt to save the battery level for later use or charge it using the ICE engine, so it’s as versatile as the SUV itself.

All models are equipped with Mitsubishi’s eight-inch Smartphone Link Display Audio system, which supports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, voice recognition, and satellite navigation. And there’s an on-screen camera view for when navigating around the tight city car parks.

With its modern tech, refined finishing and clever powertrain, the Eclipse Cross PHEV is exceptional value. Additionally, Mitsubishi provides a generous 10-year/160,000km powertrain warranty and an eight-year/160,000km warranty for the battery, ensuring your peace of mind for years to come.