2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse Exterior Review
Based on analysis of 41 Eclipse reviews and test drives.
Exterior - What the Auto Press Says
Praise is nearly universal for the 2008 Eclipse's appearance, which the Sacramento Bee's writer says "looks like a superbly trained Olympic athlete." Other writers appreciate Mitsubishi's attempts to create a design reminiscent of previous Eclipses. Edmunds says, "Mitsubishi has come back to a sexy Eclipse."
As Car and Driver describes, this fourth-generation Eclipse "discards the cerebral 'geomechanical' strakes and angles" of previous Eclipses, "a shape that could be considered sexy only for Stevie Wonder." Now, the 2008 Eclipse has "a shape anyone could call sexy, Stevie included. Remember, half of life is just showing up. The other half is looking good when you do."
The Los Angeles Times thinks the two-door Eclipse's crystalline backlights and headlamps, rocker panels and chrome spoiler evoke "Audi TT and Nissan 350Z, meet Mercury Cougar," and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel adds that "this swoopy coupe is part Nissan Z-car in styling, and the rest is Mitsubishi muscle." But other reviewers were turned off by some of the details. A different Edmunds writer notes that "the first time I saw the Eclipse, it took my breath away, and not in a good way. The color combo shocked even my color-blind eyes. I basked in the attention of frightened tourists." Meanwhile, the Detroit News complains that "those long doors may give the Eclipse a pleasing silhouette, but they require a lot of swing room, especially in tight parking spaces," which the Chicago Sun-Times seconds. Lastly, the Arizona Republic notices "one clinker: The back is marred by a huge, ugly rear-window wiper. I'd rather have a dirty rear window."