Although Mitsubishi is not a household car brand name in South Africa, there was a time when it was relatively legendary. Those who grew up in the 1990s would remember how revered the Mitsubishi Pajero then, there was also the Evo for the petrol heads, which was put in the league of Subaru STI.
Well, I for one grew up in a household that owned a Mitsubishi, albeit none of the two legends but a bakkie. It was practical and made sense for my dad, a hustler of note, who believed that one needed a car that could also double-up as a workhorse. Our family bakkie would travel as far as Tzaneen to fetch mangoes and litchis to supply local spaza shop owners.
Fast forward to 2019, the Mitsubishi brand has evolved a lot, though to a certain extent has gotten smaller in the South African context.
For the Easter Weekend trip, I got assigned the newly launched Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross. The Eclipse is a new member of the Mitsubishi family having only been launched just over a month ago.
Travelling with kids is always tricky. However the Eclipse offers enough space for kids not to be on top of each other and fight for space. Though we chose to travel through the infamous Moloto road on our way to Limpopo, the Eclipse had somehow managed to ease the stress of driving on that road. Not only is it comfortable but easy to drive while technology is galore. My teen niece Tshego immediately took over the reins of DJ. She connected her phone’s Bluetooth, although we experienced some technical difficulty for a while after having stopped twice to correct this, as per the car’s request ..voila, as they say the rest is history.
The head up display conveys vehicle information making it easy to be in the know while driving. Mitsubishi Motors Intuitive Technology (MiTECH) helps to guide and protect, alert and connect and of course entertain.
When it comes to active and passive safety, the manufacturer has left nothing to chance. From seven airbags, ISOFIX Child Seat Anchors, ABS (Anti-lock Braking system) with EBD (Electronic Brake Force Distribution), to Anti-theft Protection Device and Keyless Operating System, the list is endless.
One of the advantages of using the Moloto road besides the fact that you spend zero Rands on toll fees, is of course the breathtaking scenery the North western Region of Mpumalanga has to offer. South Africa is a beautiful place filled with a rich history and cultures that need exploring. The next time you drive anywhere in the country try using the back routes to Limpopo, and #XploreZA!
What’s under the hood you ask? The Eclipse is driven by the 2.0-litre MIVEC engine producing 110kW of power and 198Nm of torque. Though I did not active measure the fuel consumption, the Eclipse is not a guzzler at all.
Model and Pricing:
- 2.0L CVT 4×2 R399 995
- 2.0L CVT AWD R449 995