Professional Reviews

• “Adding to the four-banger's fun level, the clutch engages so gracefully that you have to try pretty hard to stall the car from a standstill, or to accomplish a jerky shift. The shift lever moves crisply, which is an achievement in a front-drive car because the shift linkage goes through awkward angles.” — USA Today
• “Fewer straight lines and sharp angles, more curves and better proportions combine to turn heads more with a smile than with a frown.” — New Car Test Drive
• “If there is an area where Mitsu's designers missed the mark, it's the front end, which bears a striking likeness to a Pontiac Sunfire - not a good thing.” — Road & Track
• “Wheels are farther apart than in the '05, by more than two inches, not only presenting a more planted look, but also promising better stability when cornering.” — New Car Test Drive
• “The dash is a cabin-spanning, single piece of pleasantly finished plastic that invites optimism about reduced buzzes, squeaks and rattles as the car puts on miles and years.” — New Car Test Drive
• “The liftover height, while not much higher than that of the average trunk, presents a fairly thick rear bulkhead, requiring a back-straining lean to heft items up, over and into the cargo area.” — New Car Test Drive
• “Eclipse is a rare machine, as satisfying to drive as its stunning styling suggests.” — USA Today
• “Remarkable room between the door panel and the center stack of controls shames some full-size machines. That kind of side-to-side space is a luxury and belies the car's overall tight confines.” — USA Today
• “With 72.2 inches between the door handles, this Eclipse-it's supposed to be a sports coupe, remember-is wider than a Ford Explorer.” — Car and Driver
• “Front seats are comfortable, sufficiently bolstered for mildly spirited driving and adequately cushioned for a day-long, interstate drive from California's southern-most region up through its lush Central Valley to the state capital without numbing occupants' posteriors.” — New Car Test Drive
• “The Eclipse lacks a telescoping steering column, and the wheel lurks close to the dash and pedals. Drivers long of inseam will sit with their knees splayed, brushing the back of the wheel, knock-knocking the center console.” — Car and Driver
• “The Eclipse also burns more Exxon and Arco. After 300 miles our fuel card reported 15 mpg.” — Car and Driver
• “It shines in more normal everyday spirited driving, the kind you would do on the way to work, running errands and taking weekend trips on highways or winding two-lanes; track days are out.” — Road & Track
• “I'm no physics major, but all that weight - distributed 61 percent front/39 percent rear - along with front-wheel drive, soft springs, too much body roll and all-season tires (that start squealing in protest long before they should) do not a sports car make.” — Road & Track
• “...Mired in a sand trap for several years now, Mitsubishi has chipped one into the cup.” — Car and Driver
• “[The back seat is] barely there. Even average-height riders will sit tall enough to bump the hatchback glass.” — USA Today
• “[The Eclipse is] a little quicker than an Acura RSX Type-S, a lot quicker than a Hyundai Tiburon GT V-6, VW New Beetle Turbo S, and last year's Eclipse GTS. But a Mustang GT will smoke it.” — Car and Driver
• “Several exterior details make this car stand out, such as the "chrome-under-glass" rear spoiler ... , chrome-laced clear-lens covered head- and taillamps, LED brake lights and shapely exterior door handles.” — Road & Track