Mitsubishi revives Eclipse name again for Leaf-based Sportback EV crossover aimed at North America

The Eclipse nameplate is making a comeback once more, but enthusiasts hoping for a return of Mitsubishi’s iconic sports coupe may want to temper their expectations. Instead, the Japanese automaker has unveiled the all-new 2027 Mitsubishi Eclipse Sportback, a battery EV (BEV) crossover that shares its underpinnings, and probably much more, with the latest-generation Nissan Leaf.

For many enthusiasts, the Eclipse badge evokes memories of a compact performance coupe that was made iconic as Brian O'Conner's green ride 2001's The Fast and The Furious and in purple open top guise in the 2003 sequel with Roman behind the wheel.

Mitsubishi first revived the name in 2018 with the Eclipse Cross, a move that was met with unease among purists. Now, the company is once again applying the famous badge to a vehicle that bears little resemblance to its sporting predecessor despite hoping to benefit from that recognition and cachet. 

Apart from the questionable intent behind its name, this Eclipse Sportback also marks an important milestone for Mitsubishi, being the brand’s return to the fully electric vehicle segment following the discontinuation of the pioneering but commercially unsuccessful i-MiEV. Since then, Mitsubishi’s electrified efforts have largely centred around plug-in hybrids, most notably the Outlander PHEV.

Unveiled as part of Mitsubishi’s broader product roadmap, which also includes plans for a new Pajero and an upcoming pickup truck for the US market, the Eclipse Sportback is effectively and quite obviously Mitsubishi’s version of Nissan’s latest Leaf EV. The two brands, both members of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, have increasingly collaborated on product development in recent years, making this latest partnership hardly surprising.

From a mechanical standpoint, the new Mitsubishi appears to be closely related or identical to the Leaf. Mitsubishi itself has acknowledged that the vehicle is sourced from Nissan, mentioning the Leaf specifically. However, the company says it has introduced a number of styling revisions to give the Eclipse Sportback a more distinctive identity. As you can see, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. 

At the front, the Mitsubishi adopts a unique fascia featuring a closed-off grille design inspired by the brand’s signature Dynamic Shield with the familiar Triple Diamond emblem sitting prominently at the centre, while the lower bumper design differs somewhat from its Nissan-badged sibling.

The rear receives more substantial visual changes. Unlike the Leaf’s full-width lighting arrangement, the Eclipse Sportback features a simpler pair of tail lamps connected by large “MITSUBISHI” lettering across the tailgate. Dedicated Eclipse Sportback and EV badges complete the look, while a unique wheel design further differentiates the crossover from its Nissan counterpart.

Although Mitsubishi has yet to reveal interior images, expectations are that the cabin will closely mirror the Leaf’s layout, potentially featuring minor trim and branding revisions. Given the shared platform, buyers can likely expect a similar digital cockpit setup, infotainment system and overall interior packaging which, to be fair, are all strong points of the Leaf. 

Though similarly unconfirmed, the Eclipse Sportback is likely to utilise the same 75 kWh NMC battery pack paired with a single front-mounted electric motor producing 218PS and 354Nm. If so, driving range could exceed 480 km on a full charge, while DC fast-charging capability of up to 150 kW is also expected.

Pricing remains a key question, of course. Historically, Mitsubishi has positioned many of its models slightly below comparable Nissan offerings, potentially giving the Eclipse Sportback a competitive edge. That said, this would likely have no bearing as to the hypothetical Malaysian launch of either model, especially given that both would need to be locally assembled to have a fighting chance at winning over local customers in the mass market. 

The 2027 Mitsubishi Eclipse Sportback is scheduled to reach showrooms in North America later this year, with full pricing and technical details expected to be announced closer to launch Whether enthusiasts embrace another unconventional use of the Eclipse name remains to be seen, but Mitsubishi is clearly betting that the famous badge still carries enough recognition to help drive interest in its next-generation electric future, but we remain skeptical if they’re sufficiently differentiated should they’re lineup continue to consist of new twists on existing Nissan products.