Compare the2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse CrossVS 2024 Kia Sportage

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross 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 Kia Sportage doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Sportage doesn’t offer knee airbags.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the Eclipse Cross. But it costs extra on the Sportage.

Both the Eclipse Cross and the Sportage have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The Eclipse Cross’ corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Sportage’s (7/100,000 vs. 5/100,000).

Mitsubishi pays for scheduled maintenance on the Eclipse Cross for 2 years and 30,000 miles. Mitsubishi will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance (up to 3 visits). Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Sportage.

The Eclipse Cross’ 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 6 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 178) than the Sportage’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is faster than the Kia Sportage:

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

The Eclipse Cross has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sportage (15.8 vs. 14.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Eclipse Cross has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Sportage doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Eclipse Cross stops shorter than the Sportage:

For better maneuverability, the Eclipse Cross AWD’s turning circle is 3.8 feet tighter than the Sportage’s (34.8 feet vs. 38.6 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Eclipse Cross has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Sportage (8.5 vs. 8.3 inches), allowing the Eclipse Cross to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Eclipse Cross is 4.5 inches shorter than the Sportage, making the Eclipse Cross easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Eclipse Cross SEL offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Sportage doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Eclipse Cross’ standard driver’s power window opens or closes with one touch of the switch, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths. The Sportage’s standard power window’s switch has to be held the entire time to close it fully. The Eclipse Cross SE/SEL’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches. With the Sportage EX/SX/Prestige/X-Line/X-Pro’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

The Eclipse Cross LE/SE/SEL’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Sportage’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Consumer Reports rated the Eclipse Cross’ headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Sportage’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Eclipse Cross’ standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Kia charges extra for heated mirrors on the Sportage.

Both the Eclipse Cross and the Sportage offer available heated front seats. The Eclipse Cross SEL also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Sportage.