2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse

Driving the new Eclipse is a guaranteed smile-maker. The ample go-power effectively spins tires in first and second gears while stimulating momentary, adrenaline-induced euphoria when launching from stoplight to stoplight. Power is available in all gears making this machine capable of real acceleration, even at highway speeds. The 6-speed transmission in our GT V-6 was effective, but not awe-inspiring. Shifts were easy to make and consistent, but the feeling was not as "sporty" as many other elements of the new coupe.


And while punching the gas and blasting off the line is the obvious first step in every joy ride, this new Mitsu is not just a straight-line kind a car. The front MacPherson struts-held firmly in place by a GT-trim-only strut tower bar-combined with a rear multi-link suspension are firm yet forgiving when matched with the beefy 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels wrapped with 225/50R17 V-rated tires. Driving our tester, complete with the optional 18-inch alloy wheels and 235/45R18 V-rated tires, proved the car to be very stable on the road, with confidence-inspiring handling through the turns. Braking the beast comes quick as ABS-equipped four-wheel disc brakes provide comparable stopping power to the MIVEC's significant get up and go.

Power

Inside, the new Eclipse's decidedly upscale note resonates from the dash to the door panels to the seating surfaces, when compared to previous generation models. Dashboard controls are intelligently laid out and the instrument displays easy to read with brilliant indigo lighting. The additions of automatic climate control and front seat heaters are surprising at this price level—both optional on GT models—and are sure to be appreciated by Eskimos and perpetually-cold female occupants alike. The air vents revealed our only real frustration, lacking the versatility found in some other recent designs. Keeping front row occupants comfortably in place through high-speed cornering are well-bolstered, two-tone bucket seats, with an optional driver-side power seat in the GT.


Supplying musical accompaniment for your on-road adventures is a 140-watt, 6-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system with a dash-top mounted display. Or for bass-loving audiophiles, a window-rattling 650-watt Rockford Fosgate audio system—optional on both GT and GS trims—features nine speakers, including a 10-inch trunk-mounted subwoofer, digital signal processor, steering wheel audio controls, and an in-dash 6-disc CD changer. Although the sound quality was first-rate, we especially liked the intuitively placed remote audio controls mounted on the backside of the steering wheel. As opposed to most steering wheel mounted controls, these were especially easy to learn and could be used with both hands firmly planted on the steering wheel.


Protecting passengers from unexpected automotive mishaps, all 2006 Eclipses come with standard dual-front occupant-sensing airbags, front seat-mounted side-impact airbags, front side-curtain airbags and front seat belt pre-tensioners. Three-point seat belts are found in all four seating positions, while rear seats incorporate the LATCH (Lower Anchor and Tethers for Children) system for child seats.