The 2027 Mitsubishi Eclipse Sportback is an all-new battery-electric subcompact SUV that Mitsubishi Motors will launch in North America in late summer or early fall 2026. Mitsubishi Motors North America released the first images of the vehicle, marking the global debut of the nameplate. The model revives the Eclipse name, which made its North American debut in 1990, and is built on the new-generation Nissan LEAF supplied by Alliance partner Nissan Motor Co.
Highlights
- The Eclipse Sportback is a fully electric subcompact SUV arriving in North America as a 2027 model, with sales beginning in late summer or early fall 2026.
- It is based on the new-generation Nissan LEAF and sourced from Alliance partner Nissan Motor Co., with Mitsubishi-specific exterior styling that differentiates the two vehicles.
- The Eclipse nameplate dates back to its North American debut in 1990.
- The EV is part of Mitsubishi’s Momentum 2030 plan, under which the company has committed to debut at least one new or significantly revised vehicle each year through fiscal-year 2030.
A Nissan LEAF Underneath, Mitsubishi Styling Outside
Working with Alliance partner Nissan Motor Co., Mitsubishi based the Eclipse Sportback on the new-generation Nissan LEAF and applied cosmetic changes to set the two apart. The result is a subcompact electric SUV that Mitsubishi positions as distinct from its donor vehicle.
Exterior changes include unique front and rear fascias that echo other vehicles in Mitsubishi’s global lineup, distinct lights and lighting signatures, alloy wheels, and the brand’s Triple Diamond branding.
Mitsubishi’s Electrification Track Record
The Eclipse Sportback continues an electrification effort that Mitsubishi traces to the 1970s, when it began developing fully electric vehicles in Japan. The i-MiEV, which the company describes as the world’s first mass-produced electric vehicle, went on sale in select markets in 2009 and reached the U.S. and Canada in late 2011. The Outlander PHEV, which Mitsubishi describes as the world’s first plug-in hybrid SUV, followed globally in 2012 and arrived in North America in 2018.
Where the Eclipse Sportback Fits in Momentum 2030
The EV is the next step in Mitsubishi’s Momentum 2030 business plan, which lists electrification as one of four key pillars alongside an expanded product lineup, a modernized retail sales model, and a strengthened dealer-network partnership. Under the plan, an all-new rugged, off-road derivative of the Outlander SUV will join the Eclipse Sportback in early 2027.
Mitsubishi says technical details, pricing, and the on-sale date will follow.
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