In Depth Look: 2026 Hyundai Venue
Buying the cheapest new car in America doesn't mean missing out on the good stuff.
As a smaller automaker, Mitsubishi doesn’t have endless resources to throw at electric vehicle development, but thankfully, it doesn’t have to. The company plans to rely on its partnership with Nissan to deliver new EVs, starting with a rebadged version of the Leaf.
Wearing the Eclipse Sportback name, the crossover looks nearly identical to its Nissan counterpart, with only the grille, badges, and a few other details differing between the two. It sports slightly different exterior trim and badges, and it will lack the unique 3D-effect LED lights the new Leaf offers.
Mitsubishi hasn’t given details on the Eclipse Sportback’s interior, but it likely won’t deviate greatly from the Leaf’s cabin. That would mean a dual-screen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an available Bose audio system, and a couple of upholstery options, depending on the trim level.
We don’t have powertrain specs yet, but the Leaf offers 52- and 75-kWh battery options, with either 174 or 214 horsepower from a single-motor electric system. The Leaf’s range reaches 303 miles, which the Eclipse Sportback will likely come close to.
While Mitsubishi will benefit from the arrangement, it’s not a one-way street. Nissan’s new Rogue Plug-In Hybrid is a rebadged Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, for example, but there aren’t too many other models in the smaller automaker’s catalog to choose from at the moment.
Mitsubishi plans a new off-road version of the Outlander SUV early next year, and said it would release a new or heavily updated vehicle every year through the end of the decade. The Eclipse Sportback is due later this year as a 2027 model, and pricing details will become available closer to the launch date.
