Overview & Reviews

For nearly 20 years, the Mitsubishi Eclipse has been one of America's more popular sport coupes. Reasons for its success include sleek styling, powerful engines, a decent amount of comfort and affordability. As these traits also describe traditional domestic rear-drive sport coupes, the Mitsubishi Eclipse has been called the Japanese version of a pony car. And like those seeming influences, the Eclipse is known more for its straight-line performance than outright cornering prowess. The Eclipse has also always been designed solely for the U.S. market and is a rarity in other parts of the world.

The original Eclipse was the result of a joint venture started in the mid-'80s between Mitsubishi and Chrysler, known as Diamond Star Motors (DSM). For model-year 1990, at a plant in central Illinois, the Diamond Star triplets bowed -- similar versions of the same Mitsubishi-engineered car, including the Eclipse, the Eagle Talon and the Plymouth Laser. With the subsequent demise of the Eagle and Plymouth brands, only the Eclipse remains in production.

In total, there have been four generations of the Eclipse. Measured in terms of all-around performance and design, the latest one is certainly no slouch. But an earlier Eclipse, assuming it has been cared for properly, would make an affordable and enjoyable purchase for the budding sport coupe enthusiast.

Current Mitsubishi Eclipse
Mitsubishi's sport coupe is offered in base GS, GS Sport, the sporty-looking SE and more athletic GT trim levels. All are front-wheel drive and share their basic platform with the Galant sedan. The base level Mitsubishi Eclipse GS is reasonably well-equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels, air-conditioning and full power features along with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine good for 162 horsepower. The GS Sport uses the same drivetrain, but adds many of the GT's styling elements and extra features like heated leather front seats and a power driver seat. The SE essentially gets some special wheels and styling elements. In addition to its burly 265-hp, 3.8-liter V6, the GT has a sport-tuned suspension and larger brakes. Stability control is standard across the entire line.

The GS comes with a five-speed manual, while a four-speed automatic transmission with a sequential-shift Sportronic mode is available as an option. The GS Sport has the automatic as standard. The GT is only available with a five-speed Sportronic automatic.

In reviews, the Mitsubishi Eclipse earned favorable commentary for its powerful V6 engine, comfortable front seating and stylish interior. Noted downsides include a hefty curb weight that dulls handling, sluggish acceleration on four-cylinder models, subpar V6 fuel economy, a large turning radius and mediocre interior construction.

Used Mitsubishi Eclipse Models
The latest generation of the Mitsubishi Eclipse debuted for the 2006 model year. There were initially four trim levels: GS, SE, SE-V6 and GT. Not much changed until 2009, when the SE trims were dropped, stability control was added for the GT (and later became standard for all Eclipses for 2010), and the car received a mild face-lift that included a more aggressive, Lancer Evo-like front fascia. The SE returned for 2012.

A six-speed manual was standard on the GT until 2011, but otherwise, powertrains are the same as the current Eclipse line. The GS Sport arrived for 2010 and for '11, 18-inch alloy wheels became standard for the base GS, the GS Sport received heated leather front seats and a power driver seat. That year saw blacked-out roofs on all Eclipses.

Many consumers shopping for a used Mitsubishi Eclipse will likely encounter the previous, third-generation model, which was sold from 2000-'05. It has a hatchback body style, front-wheel drive and four-cylinder or V6 power. It's smaller and less refined than the generation that succeeded it. The RS and GS trims of this generation were powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder good for 154 hp. The GT had a smooth-revving 205-hp 3.0-liter V6. All could be had with either a five-speed manual transmission or four-speed automatic.

Although this Eclipse was fairly popular with consumers, it attracted little critical acclaim. In Edmunds.com tests, editors noted that the Eclipse was not as sporting as previous versions and had a low-quality interior. Nor did the car change much during its run, though in 2003 Mitsubishi added a GTS trim that had a slightly more powerful V6 (210 hp) and more standard equipment.

When new, the first- and second-generation Eclipses were considered some of the best affordable sport coupes available. The original debuted in 1990. This Eclipse was also a hatchback, and these early models can be identified by their pop-up headlights. There were four different trim levels, each offering its own mix of powertrains. The top-of-the line model was the desirable Eclipse GSX, which boasted a 195-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine and all-wheel drive. In 1992, minor updates were made, including the addition of fixed headlights.

Compared to the foreshortened, almost stubby first Mitsubishi Eclipse, the second generation (1995-'99) seemed long, sleek and gorgeous. It was a bit bigger than the earlier car but in many ways very similar mechanically. As before, normally aspirated or turbocharged engines were offered, and AWD was available on turbocharged models. The first- and second-generation turbocharged engines were already quite powerful in factory trim, but extensive aftermarket support enabled tuners to boost power output considerably.

With any of these early models, poor resale values translate into very attractive purchase prices. But reliability has never been a strong point for the Eclipse, and finding a well-maintained one (especially a turbocharged model) that hasn't been modified and/or abused is imperative for the smart shopper.

User Reviews:

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  2002 Eclispe GT - 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By hogman - March 20 - 10:00 am

  I have had my Eclishpe since November of 2001. I have driven it about 10000 miles. I have had no problems with it and I enjoy drivingi it. The one thing that I have had to watch is my speed. The first week I had it I was going to a meeting I wondered why everyone was going so slow. Looked down and I was doing 90 in a sixty mile speed area.

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  Good Car! - 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Javi - March 16 - 10:00 am

  Great Car, though I would probably recommend the GT or GTS for the bigger engine.

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  Good bang for your buck - 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By TimBrod - March 13 - 2:00 am

  I have 60000+miles on mine. Overall good car. Few problem but covered through recall or warrenty. (EXTERIOR) Should consider 7+in wheels so there are more tires to replace with. Metal gas cap should be standard on GT. (INTERIOR) I make several 700 mile trips and and drive 1 hr to work each day and Im 63". Comfort is good overall. More leather would be nice and something to stop the noise from all the plastic in the dash. I average 27mpg. I would most likely buy this car again. Other considerations would be WRX and Celica in the same price range.

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  Best Car Under 5k - 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By peelout - March 8 - 9:49 pm

  You can get these cars for very cheap. They are extremely nice. I got mine for 3,000 from a friend of the family, it couldve of easily been sold for 5,000 however. (Its really good condition) Mine has 137,000 miles on it. Its fast, Ive gotten it up to 150. Its good on gas. (Unless you shift at 5k RPM like me when im trying to impress my friends -- i can watch the gas gauge go down) 18-25mpg. Please put premium in this car, yes it matters. Look it up. When youre not hot rodding this car, it still turns heads. Very nice looking. If youre worried about your kid hot rodding it like me, get them the 4cyl. This car is great. Do your kid a favor, dont get him a grandma car. get an eclipse.

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  eclipse gt - 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By luke - February 24 - 10:00 am

  over all very nice car. Got 40k on it. Drives nice. Very fast and sporty. gets attention. Quiet, and nice to drive. Problems if any so far is the paint. Had to buy some touch up pain. Mitsubishi should use batter pain quality and make the seats more comftable. Over view much better then the 99 cougar and Honda prelude. Traded my 99 prelude had to many problems to list.

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  Fun to Drive, NOT to Fix - 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Eclipsin50 - February 22 - 5:26 am

  I bought my 2000 Eclipse GT used with 43000 miles on it. I didnt have the car a month before I started having major problems. The car has always run hot, even with replacing the thermostats twice, Ive replaced the transmission, the sunroof has never worked properly, dashboard cracked when it was cold outside, both power window motors have been replaced,and many smaller things as well. I would NOT recommend an Eclipse to anyone

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  Mitsu Eclipse GT 2000 - 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By delhi_dude - February 15 - 2:00 am

  Needs oil change at proper interval. The Sun-Roof gets bad in Rainy cities. Worst Resale Value.

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  Eclipse 2001 GS/ reliable - 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Steven Black - February 10 - 9:36 pm

  Bought the car with 34 miles on it in 2006. Know it has 88 miles. She still runs like a baby. Gas is decent. Nice quick take-off. Never had one problem yet with the engine, only with the lights but it was a quick fix. Great car to have. Still looks new plus I take great care of the car. Nice sport car to drive around in. Great stock speakers!

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  You Will Love the Eclipse GTS!! - 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Flossem - February 10 - 10:00 am

  This is a Fun sportscar...drives well...havent come upon anything I dont like with this car yet! It looks great, drives great! I just love it! Having owned a GT Eclipse in 98, this is a huge improvement...on style, driving ability...just all around a real fun car to drive!!

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  Still my dream car after all these years - 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Williesha - February 8 - 12:53 am

  I have been tracking this car ever since Mitsubishi first started producing them. They have come such a long way. I put a lot of effort and research into this. I dont maintain this car nearly as well as I should and it still has yet to give me a problem and Im now over 50,000 miles. The best part of the car is the exterior design. Absolutely beautiful - spoiler could be smaller, but the paint job is superb. It always looks like Ive gotten a wax job on it, especially at night. The V4 leaves a lot to be desired, but its still an amazing car to drive. Its so much fun - and completely and totally reliable.