Compare the2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse CrossVS 2024 Kia Sportage PHEV

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 PHEV 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 PHEV doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Both the Eclipse Cross and the Sportage PHEV have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, 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 PHEV’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 PHEV.

The Eclipse Cross has 4.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sportage PHEV (15.8 vs. 11.1 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 PHEV doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Eclipse Cross has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Sportage PHEV; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

For better maneuverability, the Eclipse Cross AWD’s turning circle is 3.8 feet tighter than the Sportage PHEV’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 PHEV (8.5 vs. 8.3 inches), allowing the Eclipse Cross to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 800 pounds less than the Kia Sportage PHEV.

The Eclipse Cross is 4.5 inches shorter than the Sportage PHEV, 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 PHEV doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Eclipse Cross SE/SEL’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 Sportage PHEV’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

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 PHEV’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Both the Eclipse Cross and the Sportage PHEV 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 PHEV.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross will be $5208 to $5847 less than for the Kia Sportage PHEV.