Used 2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse for sale 

The 2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse is available in two body styles: coupe and Spyder convertible. Both seat four people and are available in GS Sport and GT trims, while the Coupe adds a base GS trim. Eclipse coupes now have a black roof. When we look into what changes are offered by Mitsubishi, the base GS has a steel roof, while the GS Sport and GT have a power glass sunroof. The pillars remain body-colored and help form a sweeping arc along the sides of the roof. The ride height on all models is 0.6 inches lower for a more aggressive look and less aerodynamic drag. The GS Sport model, added last year, gains standard leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power driver’s seat, and aluminum pedals and entrance sills.

The GS comes standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, air-conditioning, keyless entry, cruise control, full power accessories, a tilt-only steering wheel, a 50/50-split rear seatback, and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player. The GS Sport adds xenon headlights, fog lights, a sunroof, heated power mirrors, heated leather front seats, a six-way power driver seat, Bluetooth, and a nine-speaker Rockford Fosgate sound system with a six-CD changer, satellite radio, auxiliary audio jack, and steering wheel controls.

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The model's GS and GS Sport have a lot of performance gap between them, hence, the recommended trim would be without a doubt the GS Sport. With the standard features, one would be tempted to prefer the base model, however, the GS Sport is the trim worth spending money on.

The base Eclipse GS has a 162-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. A five-speed manual transmission is standard and a four-speed automatic is available. The Eclipse GT comes with a 3.6-liter six-cylinder engine that produces 265 horsepower and an automatic transmission.

The base engine is quite underpowered, and while the 3.6-liter engine feels more powerful, the torque steer under hard acceleration is not as convincing as expected. The Eclipse’s suspension provides a comfortable ride, but at the expense of sporty handling.

The comparison in terms of the speed is concerned; the Mustang takes the pole position in being the fastest and the quickest of them all. With the horsepower and torque the Mustang packs, there was no way the Ford muscle car was going to lay back on speed. The Mitsubishi, however, at the price range it's being offered, is at a good place to be, thinking from the buyer's point of view.

For the  2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse Coupe, the estimated fuel economy with the automatic is 20 mpg city and 28 mpg highway with 23 mpg combined. The Eclipse GT gets a 3.6-liter V6 good for 265 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. A five-speed automatic is standard. This engine requires premium fuel and its estimated fuel economy is 16 mpg city/24 mpg highway and 19 mpg combined.

The race for being the most fuel-efficient car is being won by Mazda here, that too marginally. Mitsubishi gets 20 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway, the Mustang, however, has a similar figure of 23 mpg combined with 19 mpg being in the city and 30 on the highway. Mitsubishi Eclipse has another advantage over the cars when it comes to the fuel capacity, even though the Mazda is most efficient in the comparison, you are most likely to make more pit stops with the Mazda than with the Eclipse.

The 2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse seats four, but there isn’t much room in the back—especially for adults. The backseat does however fold down so that you can utilize both the trunk and rear-seat space to carry cargo.  Air conditioning, keyless entry, cruise control, and an auxiliary input jack are all standard features, while leather upholstery, heated front seats, a six-way power driver’s seat, and aluminum pedals are optional (standard on the GS Sport). 

The Eclipse's cabin is both stylish and simple, thanks to a sweeping dash and attractive chrome-trimmed gauges with cool blue backlighting. Unfortunately, this pleasingly modern design is tempered by the use of some low-quality plastic materials and a steering wheel that doesn't telescope.

The Eclipse interior is nice to look at, but upon closer inspection, you'll discover unappealing hard materials. Common features like a telescoping steering wheel, rear-seat head restraints, and a navigation system aren't available, and there's also significantly less backseat room than in most cars. The Mazda just seats two people including the driver, so a point taken away from Mazda for convenience. The 2011 Eclipse has the class-leading number of 15.7 cupid feet in cargo capacity. Major interior highlights include-

• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Heated Front Seats
• Adjustable steering wheel column
• Ambient interior lighting
• Steering Wheel Controls

2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse Coupe Infotainment System

The GS comes standard with a 650-watt Rockford Fosgate sound system, Sirius Satellite Radio, and automatic climate control. Other available features include Bluetooth and a nine-speaker stereo with a six-disc CD changer.

The GS Sport adds Bluetooth and a nine-speaker Rockford Fosgate sound system with a six-CD changer, satellite radio, auxiliary audio jack, and steering wheel controls. Few key features include-

• AM/FM Stereo
• Auxiliary Audio Input
• CD Player
• MP3 Player
• Sirius Satellite Radio 
• 650-watt Rockford Fosgate sound system

New exterior features abound in all trims for 2011, including a black-steel roof on the GS and power glass sunroofs on the GS Sport and GT.  All models sit 0.6 inches lower, adding to the menacing look of the two-tone front and rear bumper fascias.

Eighteen-inch alloy wheels are standard on all trims, as is a dual exhaust.  Xenon high-intensity-discharge headlights are optional, while an aero kit for added customization is available. 

The heaviest among them all is obviously the Mustang, and without any surprises, the Mazda takes the lightest in the division place. The Mustang, being a bigger car among the competitors, has the bigger numbers when it comes to the figures defining its size. The Eclipse falls right in between the two cars with not being too little like Mazda or too hunky like the Mustang. Major standout exterior features include-

• Aluminum wheels
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Fog Lamps (optional)
• Keyless Entry
• Vehicle Anti-Theft System

When it comes to safety, the 2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse is equipped with side-impact airbags for the front seats, side curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes, a tire pressure monitoring system, and an electronic stability system with traction control. However, a rearview backup camera is standard in GS Sport and GT models. The Spyder gets taller side airbags that cover occupants' heads. There are no rear head restraints. The Eclipse Spyder received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's top rating of "Good" in both the frontal-offset and side crash tests. Some standout features are-

• Electronic Stability Control
• Daytime Running Lights
• Traction Control
• Emergency Trunk Release
• Anti Lock Brakes

For the 2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse , with its low-reliability score and an underpowered engine, it's no wonder the 2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse is at the bottom of the class. Times have changed and inexpensive sporty cars have evolved. The Eclipse may be a pleasant relic, but it's a relic nonetheless.