2019 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Trim Levels with Comparisons & Configurations.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse returns for 2019, but it's not the same car that you may remember. From 1989 to 2011, the Mitsubishi Eclipse was a compact sports car with four different designs. Each generation saw some major changes to the exterior of the Eclipse. One thing always remained the same. The Eclipse was always a small, sporty vehicle. After an almost eight-year hiatus, the Eclipse makes its long-awaited return. For this fifth generation, Mitsubishi has changed it from a sports car to a compact crossover vehicle.

Crossovers are one of the hottest selling types of vehicle on the road today. SUVs have dominated the market for years now. Passenger space, cargo capacity and utility are desirable traits in a vehicle. Not everyone likes the large size and fuel economy of a full-sized SUV though. That's where crossover SUVs come in. They bridge the gap between an SUV and a sedan. They give you plenty of seats and cargo space but in an overall smaller package. Crossovers are easier to park and maneuver. Their driving dynamics are much closer to a regular car than an SUV.

The 2019 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross has four doors, a smallish back end and a hatch for the cargo area. All versions of the Eclipse Cross can seat five people. You get 22.6 cubic-feet of storage space when all of the seats are in their default positions. With the seats properly configured, you can extend this to an impressive 48.9 cubic-feet of space. This crossover has a wheelbase of 105.1 inches and an overall length of 173.4 inches. It comes in four different trim levels. These are called the ES, LE, SE and SEL.

All four trim levels of the Eclipse Cross come with the same engine and transmission system. You get Mitsubishi's 1.5-liter, L4 MIVEC engine with a direct-injection turbocharger. It can crank out around 152 horsepower and 184 pounds-feet of torque. This provides great acceleration even when the car is full of people and cargo. Each trim level also shares the same 8-speed automatic transmission. This is a continuously-variable transmission with a sport mode. You can expect to get around 25 miles-per-gallon in the city and 26 miles-per-gallon on the highway.

At this point, you may be wondering what the differences are between the four trim levels of the Eclipse Cross. All four models share most of the same performance parts and stats. The differences mostly lie in the interior, comfort and convenience features. We will take a look at what each trim package has to offer. We'll compare each trim to the previous one and to the next level up. This information should help you to decide which trim package is right for you.

Compare the 2019 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross ES vs LE Trims. What is the difference?

The ES and LE models of the Eclipse Cross have the same engine, transmission and suspension systems. The suspension system features a MacPherson strut with a stabilizer bar up front and a multi-link with stabilizer bar in the back. Both models offer electronic power-steering. The ES is equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels and a set of Falkland tires. The LE has 18-inch, aluminum-alloy wheels with a set of Bridgestone tires. The two trims are equipped with ABS anti-lock brakes and an electronic brake-force distribution system. You get a brake-assist system as well.

On the outside of the two models, both have halogen headlights, fog lamps and LED daytime-running lights. The alloy wheels on the LE trim are painted black. The Falkland and Bridgestone tires on each respective model are all-season tires. You get side mirrors with integrated turn signals on both trims. The side mirrors and bumpers are painted to match the body color for the ES. The LE has black side mirrors. Each trim has its own unique ES or Limited Edition badges on the vehicle.

Moving on to the interior, the two trims share many of the same features. One minor, cosmetic difference is that the LE trim has glossy-black window-switch panels. A color multi-display screen is featured on both trims. You also get front map lights and a dome light in the rear. The front seats are manually adjustable with a four-way seat for the passenger and a six-way model for the driver. The upholstery is a high-quality cloth fabric. The steering wheel is made of urethane and offers tilting and telescopic adjustments.

The biggest interior differences come from the audio and infotainment systems. Both trims give you four speakers, an AM/FM stereo and Bluetooth wireless connectivity. The ES has one USB port while the LE gives you two. The LE also offers compatibility for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You even get a three-month trial for SiriusXM Satellite Radio when you move up to the LE trim. The SE has a 7-inch touchscreen display. The LE has a 7-inch display with Smartphone Link and a touch-pad controller. Audio controls are also located on the steering wheel for both trims.

Mitsubishi includes a rear-view camera with every trim level including the ES and LE. You get automatic climate control, power windows and power locks for both trims. Heating ducts pump warm ear towards the rear seats. Cruise control is standard on all models. Two 12-volt outlets allow you to power or charge your devices. Remote keyless-entry with a panic button is included for the ES and LE. Mitsubishi includes an ample amount of pockets, cup holders and small-item storage spots on every model of the Eclipse Cross.

The includes safety and security features are identical between the ES and LE trim levels. A tire-pressure monitor lets you know if your air pressure gets dangerously low. Hill-start assist helps to get you going when on an incline. Traction control and active-stability control systems keep the vehicle stable and give you excellent traction on slick pavement or off-road terrain.

In the front, standard and side airbags keep the driver and passenger protected. A driver's knee airbag adds in some extra protection as well. Every seat position gets three-point seat belts and head restraints. A seat-belt reminder prevents the driver from forgetting to buckle up. The rear door locks have a child-safety feature. There's also a LATCH child-restraint system for the rear seats.

An alarm system keeps your vehicle protected from would-be thieves. An engine immobilizer shuts down the car if someone does gain access without authorization. Mitsubishi uses a unique body construction called RISE. This system gives the 2019 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross some added structural integrity. It adds yet another level of protection for the vehicle's occupants should you ever have a collision.

Compare the 2019 Eclipse Cross LE vs SE Trims. What is the difference?

The SE trim level gives you everything the LE does except where an upgrade has been made. Best of all, it does so for only a very modest price increase. Once again, the engines, transmission systems and suspension systems are all identical between these trim packages. You'll get the same great performance, cargo capacity and fuel-economy rating as before.

The headlights, fog lamps and taillights are the same here. The SE trim adds automatic headlights that turn on and off when needed. The front and rear bumpers on the SE are now a glossy black with some silver trim. The exterior mirrors are upgraded to power folding models. The front windshield wipers on the SE can sense when it's raining and will automatically engage. You get larger, 18-inch, two-tone, alloy wheels with the SE. The LE badges are of course replaced with the SE badges.

The LE gives you dual sun visors with vanity mirrors. The SE adds illumination for these mirrors. The seat upholstery is upgraded to a higher-quality fabric with some decorative stitching. The front seats in the SE are now heated as well. The rear seats get an extra arm rest and some cup holders in the SE model. The inside door handles get the chrome treatment, and the gearshift knob now comes wrapped in leather.

The audio system in the SE gets some upgrades too. You get two extra speakers for a total of six as opposed to the four in an LE model. Moving up to this trim level also gives you a 24-month trial to the Mitsubishi Connect Telematics System. This provides you with more connectivity than before and adds on some safeguards and remote services. The climate-control system is upgraded to a dual-zone system.

You get all of the safety features that were present on the ES and LE trims. The alarm system and engine immobilizer are still included as well. The SE trim adds on some driver-assist features. Some of these include a blind-spot warning, lane-change assist and a rear cross-traffic alert. You also get an electronic parking brake with an auto-hold feature.

Compare the Eclipse Cross SE vs SEL Trims. What is the difference?

Now we come to the top-tier trim level for the 2019 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross. The SEL comes loaded with the best of everything that Mitsubishi has to offer. Starting on the outside, you get upgraded LED headlights on this trim package. You get the same wheels and all-season tires as before. A dual-pane, power operated, panoramic sunroof is optional for the first time on the SEL trim.

For the interior, the SEL offers eight-way, power-adjustable seats. The previous cloth upholstery is replaced with leather-appointed seat coverings. The front seats in the SEL are still heated, but you can also add on heated rear seats as an option. Behind the driver's seat you now get an extra pocket. The SEL model gets a few more small-item storage spots and cup holders. There's also soft-touch trim added to each door.

For the audio system, you can now opt for a premium stereo and nine speakers from Rockford-Fosgate, The rear-view camera is upgraded to a multi-angle camera for a better view of behind the vehicle and your possible blind spots. The rear-view mirror gets an optional dimming feature with built-in Homelink. All of the remaining convenience features mentioned for the LE trim are included for the SEL.

The standard safety features and security systems are the same for the LE and SEL trims. The SEL gives you a number of optional add-ons to choose from. You can upgrade the standard cruise control to adaptive cruise control. Automatic high beams can be added on. A lane-departure warning and forward-collision mitigation are some additional options that are only available for the SEL.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to choosing the right trim package, all of the models give you a nice set of features. The price difference between each trim is very reasonable. The best option for most buyers will be the LE trim package. You get most of the top-level features here. The SEL trim has the fewest new standard features of the four trim packages. Many of the best features for the SEL are optional add-ons. If you love a specific feature of the SEL and money is not a consideration, then by all means, go for the SEL. For everyone else, the LE trim is an excellent value that should suit you well.