Mitsubishi recently revealed the EV we had all been expecting: a lightly restyled version of the Nissan Leaf. We hadn’t expected its name to be Eclipse Sportback, but in teasers, it was clear what was coming. While something more dramatically reworked or original would have been more exciting, the Nissan Leaf is a good car regardless of the badge on the front.
The Eclipse Sportback lacks one important thing that its Nissan twin has, though: a low price.
2027 Mitsubishi Eclipse Sportback from the front three-quarter angleMitsubishi
Mitsubishi’s Version Is Almost As Expensive As A Top-Trim Leaf
The 2026 Leaf has a starting MSRP of $29,990, and its $1,575 destination charge brings it to $31,565. The Mitsubishi has a starting MSRP of $37,745, which is $7,755 more than the base Leaf. The Mitsubishi also has a $1,995 destination charge, bringing the total base price to $39,740. You may notice that the destination charge is higher than that of the Leaf, but it’s possible that the Leaf’s destination charge will also increase for the 2027 model. The only pricing we have for the Nissan right now is for the 2026 model.
Part of the reason the Eclipse Sportback is so much more expensive than the Leaf is that it comes in a single trim, and that trim comes with far more equipment than a base Leaf. In fact, it has a blend of features from the mid-level Leaf SV+ and the top-level Leaf Platinum+. Incidentally, its price also splits the difference between those two trims. The former has an MSRP of $34,230, and the latter’s is $38,990.
2027 Mitsubishi Eclipse Sportback from the front three-quarter angleMitsubishi
From the SV comes 18-inch alloy wheels (though a unique design for Mitsubishi), dual 14.3-inch displays for instruments and infotainment, and a heat pump for the climate control. From the Platinum comes heated seats front and rear. Mitsubishi even throws in the battery heater for pre-conditioning as standard, which is a $300 option on SV and Platinum Leafs. Only one option package is available for $2,600, and it adds a panoramic moonroof, Bose 10-speaker sound system, power liftgate, and roof rails.
What Are The Other Important Details About The Eclipse Sportback?
The Eclipse Sportback also has a range closest to the Leaf SV+. It will go 282 miles, just 6 short of the SV+, and 23 miles ahead of the Platinum+. This is almost certainly due to having the 18-inch wheels with 215-mm wide tires, rather than the Platinum’s 19-inch wheels with wider 235-mm tires. It has the same charging capabilities as a Leaf with support for DC fast charging that will fill it to 80% in about 35 minutes.
Interior photo showing the 2027 Mitsubishi Eclipse Sportback dashboardMitsubishi
It goes on sale this fall. It only comes with one interior design, which is the black leatherette shown. Mitsubishi does offer five colors that include gray, white, black, dark red, and dark blue.
2027 Mitsubishi Eclipse Sportback from the rear three-quarter angleMitsubishi
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
Mitsubishi’s strategy for the Eclipse Sportback strikes us as strange. The automaker has carved out a niche for itself offering particularly affordable vehicles, along with wide all-wheel drive availability. The Eclipse Sportback is on the expensive side, and is only available with front-wheel drive. It’s also strange when it could’ve easily based the model on the base Leaf. Even if it was a bit more expensive, it could’ve included some features that would improve the value, such as the heat pump and battery heater for less than the Leaf SV+.
As it sits, it’s hard for us to see why someone would go out of their way to get the Eclipse Sportback over a Leaf unless they’re just closer to a Mitsubishi dealer.
