Compare the2022 Fiat 500XVS 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

The 500X has standard Reactive Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Reactive Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the 500X. But it costs extra on the Eclipse Cross.

Both the 500X and the Eclipse Cross have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, front and rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the 500X the rating of “Top Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 212 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Eclipse Cross has not been fully tested, yet.

The 500X’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Eclipse Cross’ (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

There are over 11 percent more Fiat dealers than there are Mitsubishi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the 500X’s warranty.

The engine in the 500X has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engine in the Eclipse Cross has dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

The 500X’s 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder produces 25 more horsepower (177 vs. 152) and 26 lbs.-ft. more torque (210 vs. 184) than the Eclipse Cross’ 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the 500X gets better mileage than the Eclipse Cross:

In heavy traffic or at stop lights the 500X’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The 500X has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Fiat 500X higher (6 out of 10) than the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross (5). This means the 500X produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Eclipse Cross every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the 500X’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Eclipse Cross:

The 500X stops much shorter than the Eclipse Cross:

The 500X AWD’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Eclipse Cross ES’ standard 70 series tires. The 500X Sport’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Eclipse Cross LE/SE/SEL’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 500X AWD has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Eclipse Cross ES. The 500X Sport’s optional 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Eclipse Cross LE/SE/SEL.

The 500X has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Eclipse Cross’ suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The 500X has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The 500X handles at .78 G’s, while the Eclipse Cross SE AWD pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The 500X Pop executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Eclipse Cross SEL AWD (28 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 29 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

The 500X is 11.8 inches shorter than the Eclipse Cross, making the 500X easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The 500X has .5 inches more front legroom, .3 inches more front hip room, .5 inches more rear headroom and .2 inches more rear hip room than the Eclipse Cross.

The 500X’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Eclipse Cross’ (2000 vs. 1500 pounds).

The 500X’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Eclipse Cross has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The power windows standard on both the 500X and the Eclipse Cross have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the 500X is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Eclipse Cross prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The 500X’s front and rear power windows all open fully with one touch of the switches and its front windows also automatically close, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Eclipse Cross’ standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the 500X has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Eclipse Cross only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the 500X offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The 500X’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. The Eclipse Cross ES FWD doesn’t offer heated side mirrors.