Compare the2023 Toyota Corolla HatchbackVS 2023 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Recommendations

Safety

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The Corolla Hatchback has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats (WIL), which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the WIL system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Corolla Hatchback has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies 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.

The Corolla Hatchback’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 Corolla Hatchback 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

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

	Corolla Hatchback	Eclipse Cross
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	187	248
Neck Injury Risk	27%	38.7%
Neck Stress	243 lbs.	424 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	27%	39.7%
Neck Stress	165 lbs.	182 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	301/156 lbs.	331/198 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 Toyota Corolla Hatchback is safer than the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross:

	Corolla Hatchback	Eclipse Cross
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	92	145
Abdominal Force	129 lbs.	154 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	137	162
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	55 G’s
Hip Force	367 lbs.	464 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	14 inches
HIC	239	358
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	44 G’s

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Toyota Corolla Hatchback is much safer than the Eclipse Cross:

	Corolla Hatchback	Eclipse Cross
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
Structure	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	99	155
Neck Tension	201 lbs.	268 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
Torso Max Deflection	1.61 in	2.28 in
Torso Deflection Rate	7 MPH	10 MPH
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	150	166
Neck Compression	89 lbs.	134 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	MARGINAL
Shoulder Deflection	1.38 in	1.73 in
Shoulder Force	312 lbs.	402 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.1 in	2.01 in
Torso Deflection Rate	7 MPH	11 MPH
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Corolla Hatchback is 8% less likely to roll over than the Eclipse Cross.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Corolla Hatchback the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Eclipse Cross does not qualify as a “Top Safety Pick.”

Warranty

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

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Corolla Hatchback for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Mitsubishi doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Eclipse Cross.

There are almost 4 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Mitsubishi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Corolla Hatchback’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Mitsubishi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 54 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mitsubishi is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Mitsubishi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Mitsubishi is rated lower.

Engine

The Corolla Hatchback’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 17 more horsepower (169 vs. 152) than the Eclipse Cross’ 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Toyota Corolla Hatchback is faster than the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross:

	Corolla Hatchback	Eclipse Cross
Zero to 30 MPH	3.4 sec	3.6 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	8.7 sec	9.9 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	5.4 sec	6.1 sec
Quarter Mile	16.8 sec	17.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	87 MPH	80 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Corolla Hatchback gets better mileage than the Eclipse Cross:

		MPG
Corolla Hatchback
	SE 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	32 city/41 hwy
	XSE 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	30 city/38 hwy
Eclipse Cross
	ES 1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/28 hwy
	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/26 hwy

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Toyota Corolla Hatchback higher (7 out of 10) than the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross (5). This means the Corolla Hatchback produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Eclipse Cross every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

The Corolla Hatchback stops shorter than the Eclipse Cross:

	Corolla Hatchback	Eclipse Cross
70 to 0 MPH	175 feet	178 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	129 feet	132 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	133 feet	134 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The Corolla Hatchback SE’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Eclipse Cross ES’ standard 70 series tires. The Corolla Hatchback’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Eclipse Cross LE/SE/SEL’s 55 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Corolla Hatchback 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 Corolla Hatchback XSE handles at .85 G’s, while the Eclipse Cross SEL pulls only .74 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

Chassis

The Toyota Corolla Hatchback may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 450 pounds less than the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross.

The Corolla Hatchback is 7 inches shorter than the Eclipse Cross, making the Corolla Hatchback easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Corolla Hatchback is 9.4 inches shorter in height than the Eclipse Cross, making the Corolla Hatchback much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

Passenger Space

The Corolla Hatchback has 1.1 inches more front legroom, .9 inches more front hip room and .3 inches more rear headroom than the Eclipse Cross.

Ergonomics

The Corolla Hatchback’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 Corolla Hatchback and the Eclipse Cross have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Corolla Hatchback 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 Corolla Hatchback’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, 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.

If the windows are left open on the Corolla Hatchback the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Eclipse Cross can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Corolla Hatchback’s power locks have a lockout prevention feature. When the key is in the passenger compartment and the driver’s door is open, the locks unlock every time you lock them. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t provide lockout prevention.

The Eclipse Cross’ standard power locks don’t automatically lock the doors. The Corolla Hatchback’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.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Corolla Hatchback 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 Corolla Hatchback’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Eclipse Cross’ headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Poor.”

The Corolla Hatchback 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.

Both the Corolla Hatchback and the Eclipse Cross offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Corolla Hatchback XSE 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 Toyota Corolla XSE has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Model Availability

The Toyota Corolla comes in sedan, four door hatchback and four door bodystyles; the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross isn’t available as a sedan or four door hatchback.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Corolla Hatchback, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross isn't recommended.

The Toyota Corolla outsold the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross by over 26 to one during 2022.