Compare the2024 Volkswagen TaosVS 2024 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
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Recommendations

Safety

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Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Taos deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Taos’ side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Eclipse Cross’ side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The Taos has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Taos SEL has standard Maneuver Braking that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Taos’ standard Hill Descent Assist allows you to creep down safely. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer Hill Descent Assist.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Taos has standard Rear Traffic Alert and automatically engage the brakes. Only the Eclipse Cross SE/SEL offers Rear Cross Traffic Alert and the Eclipse Cross’ Rear Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

Both the Taos and the Eclipse Cross have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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 all wheel drive and 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 Volkswagen Taos is safer than the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross:

	Taos	Eclipse Cross
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	32%	38.7%
Neck Stress	413 lbs.	424 lbs.
Neck Compression	28 lbs.	33 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	103/74 lbs.	184/324 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.7 inches	.7 inches
Neck Stress	135 lbs.	182 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 Volkswagen Taos is safer than the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross:

	Taos	Eclipse Cross
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	111	145
Abdominal Force	115 lbs.	154 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	14 inches
HIC	338	358

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 Taos is 1.1% to 3.8% less likely to roll over than the Eclipse Cross.

Warranty

There are almost 2 times as many Volkswagen dealers as there are Mitsubishi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Taos’ warranty.

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Taos has a standard 640-amp battery. The Eclipse Cross’ 520-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

Engine

The Taos’ 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 6 more horsepower (158 vs. 152) than the Eclipse Cross’ 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Volkswagen Taos is faster than the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross:

	Taos	Eclipse Cross
Zero to 60 MPH	7.4 sec	8.6 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	21.5 sec	30.2 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	8.4 sec	9.2 sec
Quarter Mile	15.8 sec	16.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	87 MPH	83 MPH
Top Speed	130 MPH	118 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Taos
	FWD	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	28 city/36 hwy
	AWD	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/32 hwy
Eclipse Cross
	AWD	ES 1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/28 hwy
		1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/26 hwy

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Taos’ 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.

Environmental Friendliness

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

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Taos	Eclipse Cross
Front Rotors	12.3 inches	11.6 inches

The Taos stops shorter than the Eclipse Cross:

	Taos	Eclipse Cross
70 to 0 MPH	176 feet	178 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	130 feet	132 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The Taos 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 Taos 4Motion’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 Taos S has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Eclipse Cross ES. The Taos 4Motion’s optional 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Eclipse Cross LE/SE/SEL.

Suspension and Handling

The Taos 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 Taos 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.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Taos is 1.2 inches wider in the front and 0 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Eclipse Cross.

The Taos SEL 4Motion handles at .85 G’s, while the Eclipse Cross SE pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Taos SEL executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Eclipse Cross SEL (28.3 seconds @ .58 average G’s vs. 29 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

Chassis

The Volkswagen Taos may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 100 to 250 pounds less than the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross.

The Taos is 3.2 inches shorter than the Eclipse Cross, making the Taos easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Taos has 2.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Eclipse Cross (99.5 vs. 96.7).

The Taos has 1.2 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front shoulder room, 2.5 inches more rear headroom, .8 inches more rear legroom and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Eclipse Cross.

Cargo Capacity

The Taos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Eclipse Cross with its rear seat up (27.9 vs. 23.4 cubic feet). The Taos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Eclipse Cross with its rear seat folded (65.9 vs. 50.1 cubic feet).

Ergonomics

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

On a hot day the Taos’ driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Eclipse Cross can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Taos’ power locks have a lockout prevention feature. When the driver’s door is open, it won’t lock, so you can’t possibly lock your keys in the vehicle. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t provide lockout prevention.

The Eclipse Cross’ standard power locks don’t automatically lock the doors. The Taos’ 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 power lock’s automatic feature may have to be activated by your dealer.)

The Taos’ rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Eclipse Cross ES’ standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the Taos to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

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 Taos’ available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Eclipse Cross’ headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Poor.”

The Taos has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. When the ignition turns off, the headlights turn off after a delay timed to allow you to securely get to your front door. The Eclipse Cross has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the SE/SEL.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Taos SE Black/SEL has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer cornering lights. The Taos SE Black/SEL also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Taos SEL AWD keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Taos has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Eclipse Cross SEL.

Both the Taos and the Eclipse Cross offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Taos offers optional 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 Volkswagen Taos SE/SEL has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Model Availability

The Taos is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Recommendations

The Volkswagen Taos outsold the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross by almost six to one during 2022.