2021 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

Mitsubishi’s Eclipse Cross has always felt like the odd one out in the compact SUV crowd, especially if you’re used to seeing CX-3s and Jolions everywhere from Sandton to Sea Point. On paper at least, it tries to split the difference between a soft-roader and something a bit more purposeful, yet it never really caught fire with South African buyers. Only seven used units are up for grabs right now—no new stock, no demo specials—so you’re shopping from a shallow pool. Pricing is actually quite approachable: from R249,900 to R345,900, with most examples clustering tightly at the entry end. That’s not a lot of money for a relatively modern turbo-petrol SUV, if you pack smart and don’t mind living without a manual gearbox. Four out of those seven listings are the 1.5T GLS CVT, all pegged at R249,900, so the market’s spoken on what that version is really worth. The 2.0 GLS CVT comes in wider—anywhere from R254,900 to R345,900—which likely boils down to how fussy you are about mileage and model year (most sit around the 74,700 km mark, which is fair for their age). Buyers who’ve put these against the Jolion or Arkana tend to mention the Eclipse Cross’s more direct steering and sharper looks—two things you can’t exactly fix with a bigger touchscreen or more fake leather. If you’re after something that feels a little less cookie-cutter and don’t mind its rarity, the numbers make sense, but remember: you’re shopping used only, because Mitsubishi’s moved on.