Mitsubishi Eclipse Sportback EV Debuts; Uses Nissan Leaf Underpinnings

Mitsubishi released images of its next new vehicle, the 2027 Eclipse Sportback EV. Based on the Nissan Leaf, but with revised styling, the ’27 Eclipse Sportback will include Mitsubishi-specific items such as a unique front fascia, lighting signature, and “sport-inspired elements,” according to the automaker’s press release.

When Will The Mitsubishi Eclipse Sportback Be Released?

Mitsubishi says the new Eclipse Sportback will be hitting U.S. and Canadian dealers in the summer of 2026. That means this vehicle will show up very soon.

This car’s release aligns with the brand’s Momentum 2030 plan, which states it’ll release a new vehicle each year until 2030.

Mitsubishi’s Second Battery-Electric Vehicle

Mitsubishi has sold the Outlander PHEV for quite some time, and continues to do so. But the Eclipse Sportback will be the brand’s second EV offering, and it’s first full EV since the little i-MiEV, which we reviewed on our sister site, Subcompact Culture. The i-MiEV was discontinued after the 2017 model year. Mitsubishi is transparent about its use of the Nissan Leaf’s architecture on the Eclipse Sportback.

What Do We Think?

The Japanese automaker reused the Eclipse name with the introduction of the Eclipse Cross in 2018, a vehicle still on sale. Perhaps Mitsubishi is going to continue to leverage the Eclipse name for other models? That’s something we don’t know, but this will be the second model to reuse the iconic name, something that has caused some controversy in the import tuner world. However, I also believe most people who complain about the reuse of the Eclipse name on a CUV or EV wouldn’t be buying one anyway.

Relying on the Nissan partnership might prove fruitful. It keeps development costs down and gives Mitsubishi another reason to get people into showrooms. It’s worked significantly well with the Outlander/Rogue platform share, and perhaps it could work here, too. I don’t expect the Eclipse Sportback to be a volume sales vehicle, since it’s a full EV. But it does move Mitsubishi back into the full EV realm for the first time in nearly 10 years.

Given the three images the automaker has released, the Eclipse Sportback appears slightly less bulbous than the Leaf. I like the tri-spoke wheels, too. Now, granted, I’ll reserve final judgement for an in-person meeting.

I know legacy Mitsubishi fans will be upset that this isn’t a Mitsubishi product through and through, but these days, that’s unlikely to happen. It will be interesting to see how it stacks up in features and price compared to the Nissan Leaf. If it’s less expensive, it might be another reason buyers may want to check out Mitsubishi. And I’ve said it many times: Mitsubishi needs a good follow-up to the latest Outlander. Whether or not the new Eclipse Sportback will be Mitsubishi’s second hit remains to be seen.