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2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse Overview

The 2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse Coupe, now entering its sixth year in this current configuration, continues to have a steady rise in sales. The Eclipse's curvaceous good looks, impressive performance and handling, and reasonable price tag make it a highly desirable choice. A bit less obvious, but still a factor, is that the only other FWD, two-door hatchbacks offering similar performance and value are the Volvo C30, Volkswagen GTI and MINI Cooper S, none of which can come close to matching the Eclipse's 265 horsepower. Among those without a hatchback, the Chevrolet Cobalt SS nearly matches the Eclipse's horsepower, while the less-powerful Honda Civic Si and Cadillac XLR might also be worth a look. Also on deck is the new Camaro V6, which is priced less than Eclipse GS Sport yet develops more than 300 horsepower.

You'll Like This Car If...

You'll like the 2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse Coupe if you are looking for an affordable, sporty-styled, modern-looking two-door that offers a substantial level of fun-to-drive performance in a moderately-priced FWD vehicle.

You May Not Like This Car If...

If you are a dyed-in-the-wool performance enthusiast who demands 300-plus horsepower and the most precise handling possible, this car may not deliver on your dreams. And, the rear-seat headroom is very limited.

What's Significant about this Car?

The GS Sport combines the fuel efficiency of the 4-cylinder GS with the aggressive exterior styling of the GT. Last year's Sun and Sound Package is now part of the GT's standard equipment list.

Driving Impressions

The Eclipse Coupe is no longer the turbocharged AWD boy-racer it once was. Today's Eclipse has matured, engineered for the middle-of-the-road sporty driver. This is not to say the Eclipse is without some very sporty driving characteristics. Both engines provide plenty of low-end torque. With the Eclipse GT, Mitsubishi has managed to strike a satisfying balance between steering responsiveness and low-speed control, both of which seem nearly effortless. Twisty back roads are welcome when driving the Eclipse and, although the V6 has enough power to generate some torque steer (a tendency for the steering of a FWD car to pull to one side or the other during hard acceleration), it's not unmanageable by any means.

Favorite Features

10-Year Warranty
Mitsubishi's 10-year/100,000-mile warranty on the powertrain is pretty hard to ignore when you're considering the pros and cons of a new-car purchase. It buys you a lot of peace of mind.

Rockford Fosgate Audio
Standard on the GT, the nine-speaker 650-watt Rockford Fosgate audio system features a six-disc in-dash CD changer that also plays MP3 files.

Exterior

The 4th-generation Eclipse could be characterized as more muscular than its previous incarnations, with little-to-no defining breaks interrupting the surfaces flowing between fenders and integrated bumpers. The headlights seem to wear shades – each has a blue-tinted "monocle" lens extending out before it – and the lights benefit from a multi-parabola design, which maximizes the bulbs' projections. The rear lamps look clear, but shine red with the use of LED technology. The large rear hatch opens to allow easy placement of large items, an uncommon benefit not offered by many coupes.

Interior

As has been the case in past Eclipse designs, the interior of the current coupe delivers on the promises made by its sporty exterior. An abundance of glass, coupled with more interior space, goes a long way toward alleviating feelings of claustrophobia. Still, the curved dash is designed with such a slant that it almost seems to give off a sensation of movement. Interior fit and finish is tight, and there is hardly a trace of cheap plastic. The well-bolstered sport bucket front seats work well for enthusiastic driving, but are still comfy enough for long road trips. The side airbag on the passenger's seat has a weight sensor that prevents the bag from deploying when the seat is occupied by a child. Available on many competitors and missing from the Eclipse's option list is an on-board navigation system.

Notable Standard Equipment

The Mitsubishi Eclipse GS standard equipment includes a 162-horsepower four-cylinder engine, five-speed manual transmission, 17-inch alloy wheels, traction and stability control, air conditioning, AM/FM stereo with MP3-compatible CD player, cruise control, power windows/locks/mirrors, tilt steering wheel and keyless entry. Both the GS and GT models have well-bolstered sport seats, with adjustable lumbar support on the driver's side. Standard safety gear on all models includes front airbags and front-seat side and side-curtain airbags. The GT adds a 265-horsepower V6 engine, six-speed manual transmission, 18-inch alloy wheels, rear spoiler, Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity, dual exhaust, HID headlamps, leather seating surfaces, six-way power driver's seat, integrated fog lamps, larger rear brakes and a 650-watt Rockford Fosgate audio system featuring nine speakers and a 10-inch subwoofer.

Notable Optional Equipment

The 2011 Eclipse Coupe can be equipped with a Sport Aero Package that adds color-keyed front airdam, side sill extensions and a rear airdam. Options are limited to a few dealer installed items such as an iPod integration kit, floor mats and a rear wing spoiler.

Under the Hood

Both Eclipse engines feature Mitsubishi Innovative Valve Electronic Control (MIVEC), which spreads the output over a wider engine speed range and optimizes power, emissions and fuel economy. The more desirable of the two engines, particularly for performance, is definitely the V6, although the tradeoff for the additional power is an expected reduction in fuel economy. With either engine, the automatic transmission has the Sportronic feature, which allows the driver to shift manually by moving the shift lever into the sports-mode gate.

2.4-liter 4-cylinder
162 horsepower at 6000 rpm
162 lb.-ft. of torque at 4000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/28 (manual), 20/27 (automatic)

3.8-liter V6
265 horsepower at 5750 rpm
262 lb.-ft. of torque at 4500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/25 (manual), 16/24 (automatic)

Pricing Notes

The Mitsubishi Eclipse GS with a five-speed manual transmission has a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price starting at $18,999. The GS Sport, which is only offered with the automatic transmission, starts around $25,700, while the GT version equipped with the V6 engine and automatic Sportronic transmission starts around $29,000. As for resale, the Eclipse holds slightly less than average residual values, falling below the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang V6, and well below the five-year residuals expected for the MINI Cooper S and Volkswagen GTI.

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