A Nissan Leaf by Another Name: Mitsubishi Unveils 2027 Eclipse Sportback EV
What Car Shoppers Need to Know
- Mitsubishi unveiled images of the 2027 Eclipse Sportback, a new electric vehicle that is based on the redesigned-for-2026 Nissan Leaf.
- Mitsubishi hasn’t yet released technical details or pricing, but it announced that the Eclipse Sportback will have cosmetic changes that differentiate it from the Leaf.
- The Eclipse Sportback is slated to go on sale by early fall 2026.
Mitsubishi today unveiled images of the 2027 Eclipse Sportback, a new EV slated to arrive in Mitsubishi dealerships by the fall. The Eclipse Sportback gives Mitsubishi dealers an all-electric vehicle to sell, something the brand hasn’t had since the i-MiEV was discontinued after the 2017 model year. With its tiny proportions, golf cart-like vibe and a driving range well below 100 miles, the i-MiEV was very much an “EV 1.0” vehicle (actually, maybe even EV 0.1). The Eclipse Sportback will be a much more competitive offering since it’s essentially a rebadged, mildly restyled Nissan Leaf.
Related: 2026 Nissan Leaf Review: Value Victory
We’re big fans of the Leaf at Cars.com, so much so that we named it our Best Car of 2026. All of the Leaf’s virtues, including its affordable pricing, competitive driving range, modern tech features and agreeable driving personality, should carry over unchanged to the Eclipse Sportback. Mitsubishi’s press release was straightforward in announcing that only cosmetic changes would “differentiate the two vehicles and make this model uniquely Mitsubishi.” Those changes include distinct front and rear bumpers and lighting signatures, unique alloy wheels and (naturally) badging.
Both the Eclipse and Sportback names have history at Mitsubishi. The Eclipse name was applied to a compact sports coupe that was produced from the 1990-2012 model years and is currently used on the Eclipse Cross sporty small SUV. The Sportback name previously appeared on a 2004 traditional station-wagon version of the Lancer compact car and also a sporty hatchback version of the Lancer that was produced from 2010-14. Audi currently uses the Sportback name on a few sleek, coupelike-roof versions of its four-door vehicles, but Mitsubishi presumably is legally in the clear to use it, too.
Nissan and Mitsubishi have been borrowing liberally from each other recently, and the Eclipse Sportback represents another chapter in that partnership. The Mitsubishi Outlander compact SUV switched to the Nissan Rogue’s platform with the Outlander’s redesign for the 2022 model year, and the new-for-2026 Rogue Plug-in Hybrid is essentially a rebadged version of the Outlander PHEV.
Mitsubishi hasn’t released technical details or pricing for the 2027 Eclipse Sportback, so we don’t know yet if its trim levels and powertrains will also mirror those of the Nissan Leaf. Those details and more will be released closer to the Eclipse Sportback’s on-sale date.
Read More on Mitsubishi From Cars.com:
- How Would the 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander Have Performed in Our Compact SUV Comparison Test?
- Here Are the 10 Cheapest New SUVs You Can Buy Right Now
- How Much is the 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander With Its New Turbo Hybrid Engine?
- Does Mitsubishi Still Sell the Mirage and Mirage G4?
- Add Cars.com as a Preferred Source on Google
Related Video:
Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
