The "revival" of the Eclipse remains underwhelming, as it arrives as a rebadged Nissan Leaf.
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Nissan and Mitsubishi maintain a close corporate alliance, which has led to platform sharing between them. The latest Nissan Rogue and Mitsubishi Outlander compact SUVs share underlying architecture (and the single-year Rogue PHEV was a rebadged Mitsubishi), while a new Montero is reportedly under development on the Armada platform, though it has yet to be confirmed for the U.S. market.
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Now, this partnership extends to Nissan’s all-electric compact SUV with the debut of the 2027 Mitsubishi Eclipse Sportback EV. If Mitsubishi Eclipse enthusiasts were let down by the original Eclipse Cross resurrecting that iconic nameplate, the Sportback EV is unlikely to change their minds.
The 2027 Eclipse Sportback EV is fundamentally a Nissan Leaf with Mitsubishi design elements and badging, though Mitsubishi is at least transparent about it. That may disappoint Triple Diamond loyalists, but being based on the Leaf isn't necessarily a drawback in the EV segment. The new Leaf boasts greater range, quicker charging, and sleeker styling than its predecessor. Mitsubishi’s modifications don’t appear to compromise any of that, and they add enough to give it a distinct appearance. However, the Outlander and Rogue do a more effective job of establishing separate identities.
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If you can’t overlook the fact that it’s a Leaf beneath the skin, the same critique directed at the Rogue and Outlander applies here. The silhouettes are simply too alike, leaving consumers wondering why they should pick one over the other. This will be especially relevant if pricing ends up being similar.
Pricing remains the major unknown for the 2027 Mitsubishi Eclipse Sportback EV. Among mechanically comparable models from the two brands, Nissans have typically been more affordable, usually by $1,600 or less. In the compact SUV segment, that’s not a significant difference, and we anticipate the gap between the Leaf and Eclipse Sportback EV to be even narrower. Of course, that assumes the Eclipse Cross EV matches the Leaf in offering two powertrains and comparable equipment levels. Final specifications, features, and other details are expected to be announced soon.
The 2027 Mitsubishi Eclipse Sportback EV is set to launch in 2026, likely between late summer and early fall.
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Having experience in many forms of the automotive industry, Justin Banner has done more than just write about cars. For more than 15 years, he's had experience working as an automotive service technician—including a stint as a Virginia State Inspector—service advisor, parts sales, and aftermarket parts technical advisor (a fancy way of saying he helped you on the phone when you had trouble fitting your brakes over your aftermarket wheels and the like).
Prior to his tenure as a full-time editor, Justin worked as a freelance writer and photographer for various publications and as an automotive content creator on YouTube. He’s also covered multiple forms of motorsports ranging from Formula Drift, drag racing, and time attack, to NASCAR, short course off-roading, and open desert racing. He's best known for breaking down complex technical concepts so a layperson can more easily understand why technologies, repairs, and parts should matter to them. At MotorTrend, Justin is part of the news team covering breaking news and topics while also working as a judge for MotorTrend Of the Year events and other major comparison tests.
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