Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross News

While electric cars and traditional hybrids have exploded in popularity, plug-in hybrids have remained a relatively niche alternative. By the middle of 2024, though, sales are up 130 per cent, from 3582 sales in 2023 to 8223 thanks to more models becoming available and improved vehicle supply. Driven by the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and new BYD Sealion 6, the plug-in hybrid landscape is only going to become more populous in the coming months, including when BYD launches the first PHEV ute to be sold in Australia. Plug-in hybrids offer a unique combination of electric mobility but without range anxiety. Their battery packs, typically between 10-20kWh in capacity, offer between 50-150km of electric-only range, matching early electric cars. There is the added benefit of a combustion engine that can kick in when you run out of battery. This means long distance road trips, like Sydney-Melbourne, require less charge stop planning than in a battery electric car. The technology is only improving, too. Manufacturers are fitting larger battery packs, more efficient motors and adding DC fast-charge capability to their plug-in hybrids. BYD is heavily invested, releasing its fifth-gen Dual Motor intelligence (DM-i) system in China with claims of 2100km total driving range and nearly 200km from the battery alone. It is not a perfect solution. Owners need to be diligent with charging to get anywhere close to the official fuel consumption ratings, typically below 3L/100km. Dragging the extra battery weight around often means similar fuel consumption to a petrol vehicle when out of charge, too. In its first month on sale, the new BYD Sealion 6 medium SUV notched up a healthy 482 registrations – it’ll be quick to challenge the established Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (2422) and Eclipse Cross PHEV (1482, both year-to-date).Following the mainstream nameplates come some more premium options, including the Mazda CX-60 (460 to end of May), Volvo XC60 (390), Cupra Formentor (313), MG HS Plus EV (307), Porsche Cayenne e-Hybrid (304), Audi Q5 (301), Lexus NX (175) and Mercedes-AMG C63 (163).Expect plug-in hybrid sales to easily reach beyond 15,000 this year. That’s still a long way off projected electric car (100,000) and hybrid (160,000) sales, but it is a big increase for the powertrain style. Also helping to drive sales are the current FBT exemptions for novated leasing on plug-in hybrid vehicles making them more attractive to buyers. This benefit will end on April 1, 2025. Hybrid hero Toyota sells a selection of plug-in hybrid models overseas, including the RAV4 and Prius Prime. Having committed to a 100 per cent hybrid or electric passenger car line-up (excluding GR) in Australia, Toyota may also join the fray. “As we evolve and battery technology evolves, there will be certain benefits that PHEV can offer that will also fit into those top three categories. Eventually, we'll have plug-in hybrids. What variants? We will have to decide,” Toyota Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations Sean Hanley told CarsGuide in May.

Mitsubishi Australia has made a small adjustment to pricing for its Eclipse Cross small SUV - including its plug-in hybrid (PHEV) - variants alongside a model year update for 2024.

In line with ANCAP’s six-year lifespan for its new vehicle safety assessment ratings, more than 25 vehicles currently on sale in the Australian new car market were reclassified as ‘Unrated’ on January 1, 2024, many previously carrying a maximum five-star rating.

At the halfway point of last year, Mitsubishi was the third-most popular new car brand in Australia, as it has been for some time post-Holden’s decline, but this year is different. The brand that normally shares the podium with Toyota at number one and Mazda at two has been overtaken by not only Ford, but also Kia and Hyundai.

SUVs made by Chinese manufacturers have climbed to the top of the SUV sales charts in some segments, leaving popular brands like Mazda, Kia and Mitsubishi in their wake. Just a few years ago Chinese brands like MG were slowly making their presence felt, but now they are dominating one segment in particular.

Here are all the Mitsubishis available overseas which should be under consideration for Australia.

Mitsubishi wants the Delica off-road people mover in Australia - but there might be a bit of a wait.

Mitsubishi is preparing the next-generation Triton dual-cab ute, which inevitably means the new Pajero Sport large SUV won’t be too far behind it.

Mitsubishi's Eclipse Cross SUV gets a host of minor tweaks to its price and features for 2023.

At the start of 2022 you could have argued things looked tough for Mitsubishi. The brand was facing a serious threat from MG, which was stealing sales from the popular Mitsubishi ASX and Eclipse Cross, plus there was no new Triton model to help combat the incoming Ford Ranger or any special version to fight the Nissan Navara Warrior.