The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Went Fully Electric by Quietly Becoming a Renault
The nameplate itself hasn't changed, but almost everything else has: the old CVT-automatic petrol crossover is gone, replaced entirely by a rebadged version of the award-winning Renault Scenic E-Tech, built alongside it in Douai, France.
The Latest in a Growing Line of Rebadged Renaults
This is now the third Mitsubishi model built on shared Renault hardware under the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, following the Colt (a rebadged Clio) and ASX (a rebadged Captur). Reviewers of the related Scenic have consistently rated it among the more thoughtfully designed electric family cars on sale, giving this rebadge a genuinely strong foundation to build from.
Specs at a Glance
| Body style | Electric family crossover |
|---|---|
| Battery | 87kWh (long-range), 60kWh (medium-range, arriving later) |
| Power | 215bhp (long-range), 168bhp (medium-range) |
| Claimed range | 372 miles official (long-range) |
| Charging | Up to 150kW DC, 22kW AC |
| Built at | Renault's Douai plant, France |
What to Expect
Mechanically, the new Eclipse Cross is essentially identical to the Renault Scenic E-Tech, sharing its 87kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt battery, single rear-mounted electric motor, and even its 12.3-inch touchscreen with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Mitsubishi's changes are largely cosmetic, with new diamond-quilted seat trim marking the clearest visual difference inside. A smaller-battery "medium-range" version, likely borrowing the entry-level Scenic's 60kWh pack and 168bhp motor, is expected to join the range shortly after launch to widen the car's price appeal.
Why It Matters
This shift mirrors what's already happened with the Mitsubishi ASX, which swapped a Mitsubishi-engineered platform for a rebadged Renault Captur, and reflects the deepening technical cooperation running through the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance. For buyers, it means genuine access to a well-regarded, French-built electric family car under a Mitsubishi badge, backed by Mitsubishi's own dealer network and warranty terms rather than Renault's.
Who It's Likely to Suit
Buyers who want a spacious, well-equipped electric family crossover and prefer Mitsubishi's dealer network and warranty package over buying the mechanically identical Renault Scenic directly. As with the ASX, it's worth comparing pricing between the two directly once the Eclipse Cross reaches UK showrooms, since the underlying car is the same.