Compare the2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse CrossVS 2023 Fiat 500X

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 Fiat 500X doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Eclipse Cross’ standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the 500X and is only available on 500X Sport.

The Eclipse Cross SEL has a standard Multi-View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The 500X only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the Eclipse Cross and the 500X 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, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The Eclipse Cross comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The 500X’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Mitsubishi’s powertrain warranty covers the Eclipse Cross 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Fiat covers the 500X. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the 500X ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The Eclipse Cross’ corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the 500X’s (7 vs. 5 years).

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). Fiat doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the 500X.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Eclipse Cross has a standard 520-amp battery. The 500X’s 500-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Eclipse Cross’ reliability 25 points higher than the 500X.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross uses regular unleaded gasoline. The 500X requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Eclipse Cross has 3.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the 500X (15.8 vs. 12.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Eclipse Cross has a standard locking fuel door. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the 500X. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

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 500X doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Eclipse Cross stops shorter than the 500X:

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Eclipse Cross’ wheelbase is 3.9 inches longer than on the 500X (105.1 inches vs. 101.2 inches).

The Eclipse Cross’ front to rear weight distribution is more even (58% to 42%) than the 500X’s (60.3% to 39.7%). This gives the Eclipse Cross more stable handling and braking.

For better maneuverability, the Eclipse Cross AWD’s turning circle is 1.5 feet tighter than the 500X’s (34.8 feet vs. 36.3 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Eclipse Cross has a greater minimum ground clearance than the 500X (8.5 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the Eclipse Cross to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Eclipse Cross has 5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the 500X (96.7 vs. 91.7).

The Eclipse Cross has .4 inches more front headroom, 1.9 inches more front shoulder room, 2.3 inches more rear legroom and 2.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the 500X.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Eclipse Cross’ rear seats recline. The 500X’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Eclipse Cross has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the 500X with its rear seat up (23.4 vs. 14.1 cubic feet). The Eclipse Cross has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the 500X with its rear seat folded (50.1 vs. 39.8 cubic feet).

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Eclipse Cross SE/SEL’s power liftgate can be opened just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Eclipse Cross’ power liftgate can also be opened or closed by pressing a button. The 500X doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

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 500X doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Eclipse Cross SE/SEL’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches. The 500X’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

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 Eclipse Cross’ available headlights were rated “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the 500X’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

Both the Eclipse Cross and the 500X 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 500X.

On extremely cold winter days, the Eclipse Cross SEL’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The 500X doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Eclipse Cross SE/SEL has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The 500X doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the Eclipse Cross has standard rear heat vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The 500X doesn’t offer rear vents.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross outsold the Fiat 500X by over 12 to one during 2022.