|
Acceleration
"Manual-transmission GS has adequate pep for most needs, but demands fairly frequent
shifting to coax real life from the 4-cyl. GS with automatic acceptable around
town, but lacks highway passing punch: Test example did 9.2 sec 0-60. Torquey
V6 helps GTs to robust acceleration: Test GT automatic did 6.5 sec 0-60."
Value
"Cramped, noisy, difficult to see out of, hard to get into, Eclipse sacrifices
livability for the sake of style. That wouldn't be so bad if it were outstanding
in other ways. It isn't, though the GT model does have a powerful V6 engine.
On the upside, expect Eclipse to be deeply discounted, mainly because of Mitsubishi's
tarnished brand image, which brings with it steeper depreciation and lower trade-in
value. "
Ride
"Little impact harshness, even GT with optional 18-inch tires. But firm nonetheless,
with annoying abrupt, choppy vertical motions on all but smooth pavement. "
Economy
"Test automatic-transmission GS averaged 19.6 mpg; test manual GT averaged 17.2
mpg. Extended-use manual GT averaging 19.3 mpg over its first 5015 miles. Mitsubishi
recommends regular-grade fuel for GS, premium for GT."
Noise
"Both models suffer marked coarse-surface tire drone, plus audible wind noise
in gusty weather. GS 4-cyl engine raucous at high rpm, but quiet enough in highway
cruising. Same goes for GT's V6, but it sounds nicer. Some testers detect minor
squeaks developing in extended-use-test GT."
Comfort - Front
"Good adult leg room, decent 6-footer head room. Steering wheel tilts but doesn't
telescope, so some shorter testers find pedals a long reach. Nicely bolstered
seats are comfortable enough, but are low to floor, which conspires with low-slung
styling to create tublike feel and with long doors, for difficult entry/exit.
Visibility aft and over the shoulder seriously compromised by thick roof pillars,
rake of rear glass. "
Comfort - Rear
"The usual sporty-coupe token gesture: cramped, hard to access, and thus best
left to toddlers or small cargo."
Controls
"Gauges have small markings, are set in dark coves; not easy to read without
headlights on. Blue backlighting looks hip, but some testers say it compromises
instrument legibility. Driver must reach out of position to adjust dashboard-mounted
power mirror control. Most other switchgear logically placed. Climate-system
dials have tiny hashmarks hardly visible in daytime, and audio-system display
is atop dashboard, far removed from actual controls. Cabin mixes hard plastic
surfaces, some padded panels, but nothing inspires for look or feel. "
Cargo Room
High liftover to a fairly shallow cargo bay with modest floor area and irregular shape. Bulky available subwoofer eats up space. Cabin small-item storage subpar.
|
