First Glance
Throughout the 90s, "Mitsubishi Eclipse" was, as Tony Clifton once said about his own moniker, "A name to be respected! A name to be feared!" All Eclipses were beautifully styled, and the hottest model had a turbocharged engine delivering power to all four wheels. The Eclipse was a force to be reckoned with.
And then came the dark days of 2000, when the third-generation Eclipse made its debut. The sumptuous curves were replaced by a pseudo-industrial angular look that never quite worked, and despite Mitsubishi's insistence otherwise, the new top-of-the-line V6 engine was no substitute for the old car's turbo four.
For 2006, Mitsi has partially redeemed itself. The new Eclipse is, once again, beautiful enough to be a jaw-dropper, it's sinewy sheetmetal harking back to the gorgeous 2nd-gen Eclipses of the mid-to-late 90s. Even in its most basic form -- which happens to be the version I tested -- the new Eclipse has a look that is sure to become a classic.
Powerplants, unfortunately, remain unchanged; the Eclipse is still a front-wheel-drive car with a choice of 4-cyl or V6 power. No turbos, no all-wheel-drive. Well, you've got to start -- or, in this case, re-start -- somewhere.
In the Driver's Seat
The Eclipse's interior is just as well done as the exterior. You sit low in the Eclipse, very much traditional sports-car-like. It's a seating position I'm not very fond of, but my wife Robin loved it. The interior is beautiful, modern but not overdone.
Visibility out the front and sides is great. Out the rear, however, it's practically non-existent. Fellow About Cars writer Jason Fogelson spent a day with the Eclipse and wondered aloud how those of us without psychic powers are supposed to park this car. Alas, lousy visibility is the price one pays for the Eclipse's looks, and while I'm not really a form-over-function kind of guy, I have to admit that, in this case, it's worth it.
In one respect, Mitsubishi put the Eclipse's swoopy rear to good use: It's a hatchback. Opening the hatch is a bit odd; you press a button under the pseudo-spoiler and the hatch pops up an inch or so; you then lift up under the edge. It's bound to get your hands dirty, but lifting up the hatch reveals an opening practically large enough to lower a grand piano through. The tiny rear seats fold down flat, leaving more than enough room for Robin's massage table.
On the Road
The four-cylinder Eclipse GS is powered by a 2.4 liter engine that puts out a V6-like 162 horsepower. I was impressed by the GS's get-up-and-go, but Jason thought the car felt like it was running out of breath. He'd be happier with the giant 3.8 liter V6 in the GT and its 263 horsepower, I'm sure; it's EPA fuel economy numbers (18 city/27 highway for the 6-speed manual; the automatic, interestingly enough, scores 1 MPG higher) aren't that far off the four-cylinder's figures (23/30 for the 5-speed manual, 23/29 for the automatic).
Another advantage to the four-cylinder engine is its torque rating, 162 lb-ft at 4000 RPM. Numbers that high indicate that the Eclipse GS won't feel gutless with an automatic transmission. If you're on the fence, I say opt for the stick-shift; its light clutch and precise gearshift feel make it a pleasure, even in stop-and-go traffic. Plus it'll add a little much-needed interest -- for all its competence, the Eclipse GS is a bit dull to drive. Handling is sports-car-solid rather than economy-car-timid, but if you're looking for big-time smiles, this isn't it.
Journey's End
While it may not be exciting, it's certainly a good value. For less than $20k, you get power locks/windows/mirrors, remote unlocking, air conditioning, cruise control, and a CD/MP3 player, among other goodies. The list of safety equipment is even more impressive: Front, side and side-curtain airbags and antilock brakes are included in the price, for which Mitsubishi deserves to be highly commended. And the whole shootin' match is covered by a remarkably long warranty.
The Eclipse's biggest problem is the rear visibility (or the absence thereof). Normally, such a flaw would take a much bigger chunk out of a test car's rating, but I'm going to let Mitsubishi slide -- at least they sacrificed the view out back for a good cause. (Just promise me that if you buy an Eclipse you'll be very, very careful backing up.)
That the new Eclipse may not match the fun-factor of its forebears didn't affect its four-star rating, as this is the base model we're talking about, not the road-burning GT. See, there are sports cars and there are sporty cars, the latter being those that have the look and the feel, but trade performance for lower running costs (and fewer speeding tickets). The Eclipse GS is a sporty car, and a great one at that.
