The Eclipse celebrates its not so sweet sixteen

When Mitsubishi first introduced the Eclipse 16 years ago it was one of the most entertaining sport compacts on the market. The Eclipse's high fun factor lived on until the year 2000 when Mitsubishi felt that making a more civil Eclipse would boost sales. While Mitsubishi was initially right, selling the most Eclipse's in Mitsubishi's history, the updated Eclipse was not nearly as fun to drive as its predecessors. Mitsubishi has once again given the Eclipse a complete makeover for 2006. With an entirely updated car, can Mitsubishi finally combine civility and exhilarating performance?

For the 2006 model year the Mitsubishi Eclipse comes in one body style; a 2-door coupe (a convertible is due out something in spring 2006). Two trim levels are available; GS and GT. While a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder powers the base model, the GT uses a potent SOHC 3.8-liter MIVEC V6 producing a healthy 263 horsepower (63 more ponies than last years' GT). The GT is available with either a 6-speed manual or an optional 5-speed sportronic automatic ($900).

Driving Impressions; 2006 Eclipse GT 6-speed:

One of my biggest complaints with the 2000-2005 model Eclipse's was its lack of oomph. Though the 3rd gen Eclipses weren't slow by any means, the 3.0 V6 simply didn't have the kick that its turbocharged predecessors had. The new 2006 Eclipse GT offers some welcome power; a larger 3.8-liter engine producing over 60 more ponies than last years' GT and nearly as much added torque. The result; the fastest out-of-the-box Eclipse ever. While the new Eclipse doesn't exactly pin you back in your seat, for the first time since the turbocharged models, the Eclipse feels fast. According to Car and Driver (2005) the 2006 Eclipse GT is capable of scooting from 0-60 mph in a spirited 6.1 seconds (almost a full second faster than last year's GT). Unlike the majority of high-powered Japanese engines in this class, the Eclipse's SOHC 3.8-liter engine offers great low-end grunt. If you like the typical high revving Japanese motor, you may want to look elsewhere; the Eclipse GT reaches its peak power at an American-ish 5,700 rpm and redlines at just over 6,000 engine revs.

On take-off, despite being based on a front wheel drive platform, the 2006 Eclipse exhibits very little torque steer; much less than most FWD cars with large V6 engines. The Eclipse GT offers a husky exhaust note and while it doesn't sound as good as the VQ V6 in the Nissan 350Z, it certainly sounds better than the 3.0 V6 that was in last year's Eclipse GT.

Leave it to Mitsubishi to give the Eclipse a decent engine and just an adequate 6-speed gearbox. Next to the 6-speed in the Nissan Spec V, the 2006 Eclipse has one of the worst 6-speed gearboxes I have experienced this year. Mitsubishi seems to have rushed this transmission into production without even attempting to work out the kinks. The result is a 6-speed with less than smooth gear changes, the throws of the shifter are too long, and the overall feel of this transmission is no sportier than what you would expect to find in your typical economical compact; certainly doesn't feel like the refined 6-speed that should be in a sports coupe costing nearly 30 grand. That said, you might want to check out the automatic equipped models before making any final buying decisions.

Weighing in at nearly 3,600lbs, it's hard for the new Eclipse GT to match its lighter predecessors when it comes to handling. Even with its upgraded suspension and its huge (optional) 235/45SR 18" performance tires, the Eclipse GT simply doesn't handle twisty roads the way a sports coupe should. Similar to last year's model, the Eclipse feels a bit uneasy in turns, suffering from exaggerated understeer. The Eclipse isn't a horrible handler, it's just that it doesn't come close to offering the fun factor on twisty roads as its competition, i.e. the RSX Type-S or even the inexpensive Scion TC. If Mitsubishi doesn't want the Eclipse to become the next Camaro, it's going to have to do better than this.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse is also low on the totem pole when it comes to highway refinement. The Eclipse's ride is choppy at best; a smooth ride is only offered on the most perfect of roads. Wind noise is acceptable, however noise from the Eclipses large 18" tires is reminiscent of Ford Ranger with off road tires. There are some positives to the Eclipses highway manners, though. For example, Mitsubishi has made the 6-speed's 6th gear tall enough so that its burly engine note is kept to a minimum at high cruising speeds. Also, the 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT offers more power and torque than any previous Eclipse, making quick passing maneuvers a piece of cake in top gear.

With an EPA rating of 18/27 and a premium fuel requirement, don't expect the new Eclipse to do your wallet any favors at the pumps; especially if you do a lot of city driving. The Eclipse does offer a gigantic 18 gallon tank, so at least you will be able to go a decent distance before you will need to fork over another 50 bucks to fill up.


Interior:

Mitsubishi cars usually rank amongst the worst when it comes to interior quality. Last year the Eclipses interior had a drab design and the materials felt cheap; this isn’t the case with the new 2006 Eclipse.

Mitsubishi has done a great job with the Eclipse's interior. The interior looks great; a subtle light on darker gray two-tone theme greets you with just a few titanium accents that look neither cheap nor tacky. The materials of this car have also improved. Unlike last year's Eclipse, the new Eclipses materials feel sturdy and made for the abuse that a sports coupe will typically endure. The only issue I have with this interior is with the location of the switchgear. Mitsubishi has placed its HVAC controls at the very bottom of the center stack, which means you have to practically reach around the shifter to get to them. Other than the bad placement of the HVAC controls, all other gadgetry in the cabin is easy to use and read; including the functional titanium accented instrument cluster.

Although the Eclipse GT retails for almost $24,000, you still will have to shell out more cash if you want the type of amenities that come standard in cars like the Acura RSX. While the 2006 Eclipse GT does come with an adequate amount of standard equipment, if you want options such as leather, power seats, a sunroof, an excellent sounding 10-speaker sound system by Rockford Fosgate, aluminum pedals, automatic climate control, etc. you will have to buy the $3,300 sport package; quite a hefty cost for an already expensive car. Some noteworthy standard features on all GT’s include six air bags (2 side, 2 curtain, and 2 front), power everything, cruise control, and air conditioning. For info on all standard and optional amenities, you can visit www.MitsubishiMotors.com.

The seats in the Eclipse are excellent; the leather seats, while not as comfy as those in the Acura RSX Type-S, are very supportive and comfortable. With the sport package, the driver gets 8-way adjustable seats (6 of those adjustments are power) with height adjustments; the passenger gets 4-way manual adjustments. The rear seats are not quite as supportive as the front buckets, but should do an adequate job holding your passengers in one place.

Although the Eclipse has grown substantially over the years it's still a compact 2+2 coupe, so creature space is still limited. Both head and legroom is good up front, though don't expect anybody over 4 feet tall to be able to get comfortable in the back seats. Mitsubishi has increased the width of the Eclipse so elbowroom is better, but that's about it. Storage space is quite reasonable. The Eclipse offers a center console, glove box, and the hatch opens up to reveal a cavernous space for luggage. For increased storage the 50/50 rear seats fold flat, so unless you plan on hauling around farm equipment, you probably won't have any complaints with the Eclipse’s storage area.

Exterior:

When Mitsubishi introduced the 3rd generation Eclipse in 2000 I couldn't have thought of a more unattractive design. After 5 years of that design, the aggressive looking pocket rocket is back for 2006. Mitsubishi has taken influences form its own 2nd generation Eclipse, the Scion TC, Nissan 350, and perhaps even a little from the Audi TT, while at the same time making the '06 Eclipse completely unique; nothing about this car looks generic. The 2006 Eclipse GT, with the sport package, gets handsome 7-spoke 18" alloy wheels that look moderately sportier than the standard 5-spoke 17" wheels. To segregate the GT from the GS trim level, Mitsubishi shamelessly posts a "GT V6" badge next to the letters "E, C, L, I, P, S, E" that gets placed in third grade writing across the rear bumper. The end result: A very attention garbing design that most 1st and 2nd generation Eclipse fans will adore; those who like the Eclipse's 3rd gen body style need not apply.


Pricing/Warranty:

The base Eclipse starts out just north of $20,000 (about he same price as a base RSX), while the performance oriented GT starts at nearly 24 grand. Toss in the sport package and you are looking at a car that comes dangerously close to the MSRP as a fully loaded Mustang GT Coupe. My test Eclipse came to a whopping 29,090 dollars! Since Mitsubishi puts the Eclipse in the same class as the RSX, Cobalt SS, Scion TC and even the Mustang V6, it tops all of them in price. In all fairness, the Eclipse GT is a better car than the Cobalt SS and the Mustang V6, but it's a far cry from offering the luxury and performance of the less expensive Acura RSX Type-S. If an Eclipse GT is a must on your shopping list, I highly suggest avoiding the premium package, unless you need leather upholstery. It is much cheaper to go with a base model GT and just buy the same options on the aftermarket, including better looking wheels. If anything goes wrong with your new Eclipse, Mitsubishi offers a very generous 5-year/60,000 mile bumper-bumper warranty and a 10-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty.

Final Thoughts:

While the 2006 Eclipse is a much better car than its most recent predecessor, it still has enough faults to make California's coastline jealous. If you want outrageous styling and a big engine, then the Eclipse GT is your car. If you want balanced performance combined with luxury and sophistication, I highly suggest checking out the comparably priced coupes offered from Acura, Audi, or even Mercedes.

3.4/5 stars-

Thanks for reading!