Compare the2023 Ford Bronco SportVS 2023 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Ford Bronco Sport have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Bronco Sport are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Bronco Sport has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Bronco Sport’s standard Trail Control allows you to creep down safely. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer Trail Control.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Bronco Sport has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the Eclipse Cross SE/SEL has a rear cross-path warning system.

The Bronco Sport’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

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

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford Bronco Sport is safer than the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross:

	Bronco Sport	Eclipse Cross
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	140	248
Neck Injury Risk	26%	38.7%
Neck Stress	178 lbs.	424 lbs.
Neck Compression	29 lbs.	33 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	123/237 lbs.	184/324 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	153	215
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	37%	39.7%
Neck Stress	177 lbs.	182 lbs.
Neck Compression	54 lbs.	55 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Ford Bronco Sport is safer than the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross:

	Bronco Sport	Eclipse Cross
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	80	145
Hip Force	205 lbs.	292 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	144	162
Spine Acceleration	33 G’s	55 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
HIC	255	358
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	44 G’s
Hip Force	512 lbs.	622 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Bronco Sport is 1.1% less likely to roll over than the Eclipse Cross.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Bronco Sport its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 112 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Eclipse Cross has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

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

There are over 9 times as many Ford dealers as there are Mitsubishi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Bronco Sport’s warranty.

Reliability

The Bronco Sport has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Bronco Sport has a standard 760-amp battery. The Eclipse Cross’ 520-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Bronco Sport third among small SUVs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Eclipse Cross isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Mitsubishi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in initial quality. With 59 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mitsubishi is rated below average.

Engine

The Bronco Sport’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder produces 29 more horsepower (181 vs. 152) and 6 lbs.-ft. more torque (190 vs. 184) than the Eclipse Cross’ 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Bronco Sport Badlands’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 98 more horsepower (250 vs. 152) and 93 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 184) than the Eclipse Cross’ 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Ford Bronco Sport is faster than the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross:

	Bronco Sport turbo 3 cyl.	Bronco Sport Badlands	Eclipse Cross
Zero to 30 MPH	3.3 sec	2 sec	3.6 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	8.9 sec	5.9 sec	9.9 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	5.3 sec	3.3 sec	6.1 sec
Quarter Mile	16.9 sec	14.5 sec	17.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	85 MPH	93 MPH	80 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Bronco Sport 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder gets better fuel mileage than the Eclipse Cross (25 city/28 hwy vs. 25 city/26 hwy).

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Bronco Sport’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 Bronco Sport 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.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Bronco Sport’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Eclipse Cross:

	Bronco Sport	Eclipse Cross
Front Rotors	12.1 inches	11.6 inches

The Bronco Sport stops much shorter than the Eclipse Cross:

	Bronco Sport	Eclipse Cross
70 to 0 MPH	163 feet	178 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	129 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Bronco Sport has larger standard tires than the Eclipse Cross (225/65R17 vs. 215/70R16). The Bronco Sport’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Eclipse Cross (235/65R17 vs. 225/55R18).

The Bronco Sport’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 65 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Eclipse Cross ES’ standard 70 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Bronco Sport has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Eclipse Cross ES.

The Bronco Sport offers an optional full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Eclipse Cross; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

The Bronco Sport 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 Bronco Sport has 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.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Bronco Sport is 2.8 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than on the Eclipse Cross.

The Bronco Sport Outer Banks handles at .79 G’s, while the Eclipse Cross SE pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Bronco Sport Badlands executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Eclipse Cross SEL (28.4 seconds @ .59 average G’s vs. 29 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Bronco Sport has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Eclipse Cross (8.8 vs. 8.5 inches), allowing the Bronco Sport to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Bronco Sport is 6.3 inches shorter than the Eclipse Cross, making the Bronco Sport easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Bronco Sport uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Bronco Sport has 9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Eclipse Cross (105.7 vs. 96.7).

The Bronco Sport has 2 inches more front headroom, 1.5 inches more front legroom, 2.2 inches more front hip room, 1.1 inches more front shoulder room, 4.4 inches more rear headroom, 1.4 inches more rear hip room and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Eclipse Cross.

Cargo Capacity

The Bronco Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Eclipse Cross with its rear seat up (32.5 vs. 23.4 cubic feet). The Bronco Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Eclipse Cross with its rear seat folded (65.2 vs. 50.1 cubic feet).

An optional locking center console keeps your small valuables safer in the Bronco Sport. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Bronco Sport’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the liftgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Eclipse Cross’ rear cargo window doesn’t open.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is limited to 1500 pounds. The Bronco Sport offers up to a 2200 lbs. towing capacity.

Optional Trailer Sway Control on the Bronco Sport uses the AdvanceTrac® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Servicing Ease

The Bronco Sport uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Eclipse Cross uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

When different drivers share the Bronco Sport Badlands, the optional memory seats and mirrors make it convenient. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Bronco Sport’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 Bronco Sport and the Eclipse Cross have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Bronco Sport 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.

If the windows are left open on the Bronco Sport the driver can close them all from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Eclipse Cross can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Bronco Sport’s power locks have a lockout prevention feature. When the key is in the passenger compartment and the driver’s door is open, the power locks won’t lock. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t provide lockout prevention. In case you still lock your keys in, or lose them, you can let yourself in using the Bronco Sport’s available exterior PIN entry. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Mitsubishi Connect can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception.

The Eclipse Cross’ standard power locks don’t automatically lock the doors. The Bronco Sport’s standard doors lock when a certain speed is reached. This is an important feature for occupant safety. Locked doors are proven to open less often in collisions, and they are also effective in preventing crime at traffic lights.

The Bronco Sport’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Eclipse Cross ES’ standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Bronco Sport 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.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Bronco Sport’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Eclipse Cross’ headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Poor.”

The Bronco Sport has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Eclipse Cross has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the SE/SEL.

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

Both the Bronco Sport and the Eclipse Cross offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Bronco Sport Big Bend/Outer Banks/Badlands has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Ford Bronco Sport (except Base) offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Bronco Sport Outer Banks/Badlands/First Edition has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Bronco Sport owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Bronco Sport will cost $665 less than the Eclipse Cross over a five-year period.

The Bronco Sport will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Bronco Sport will retain 59.2% to 61.37% of its original price after five years, while the Eclipse Cross only retains 44.85% to 45.54%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Bronco Sport will be $2044 to $2418 less than for the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross.

Recommendations

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Bronco Sport first among small SUVs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Eclipse Cross isn’t in the top three.

The Ford Bronco Sport outsold the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross by over 9 to one during 2022.

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