Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV vs Subaru Forester

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV starts from $43,490 before on-road costs, while the Subaru Forester opens at $43,490. Both land at the same RRP, so on-road costs and dealer deals become the real differentiator.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $47,839 and $47,839 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV by roughly $9,265 in fuel alone.

Both the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV and Subaru Forester hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV packs more ADAS features with 5 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 4 in the Subaru Forester.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV and 9 in the Subaru Forester.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV features a 8-inch touchscreen, while the Subaru Forester gets a 11.6-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV stands out with Apple CarPlay that you will not find on the Subaru Forester. The Subaru Forester counters with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV lines up producing 96kW and 195Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 9.7 seconds.

The Subaru Forester lines up making 136kW and 226Nm, paired to a cvt driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 11.2 seconds.

The Subaru Forester has the clear power advantage at 136kW vs 96kW. In the real-world sprint, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV is 1.5s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV measures 4,545mm long on a 2,670mm wheelbase, 110mm shorter than the Subaru Forester at 4,655mm (2,670mm wheelbase).

Boot space is 409L in the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV and 520L in the Subaru Forester, giving the Subaru Forester a 111L advantage.

For towing, the Subaru Forester leads with a 1,500kg braked capacity vs 1,500kg. That 0kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $456/year for the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV and $2,309/year for the Subaru Forester. That is a $1,853 annual difference in favour of the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV.

Estimated annual total: $456 (Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV) vs $2,309 (Subaru Forester). The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV saves you roughly $1,853 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 10 years / 200,000km (Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV) vs 5 years (Subaru Forester). The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV has longer coverage.