The Mitsubishi Eclipse Is Back . . . as a Leaf-Based Electric SUV

Remember the Mitsubishi Eclipse? The one you dreamt of owning in Gran Turismo? Forget it. This ain't that. It's a Nissan Leaf in a slightly different outfit, and it's coming to South Africa. Jislaaik. Seriously. ## So, What Exactly *Is* This Thing? Okay, let's be real. Mitsubishi’s calling this the 2027 Eclipse Sportback. But let’s not beat around the bush – it’s a rebadged Nissan Leaf. A fully electric, subcompact SUV, yes, but fundamentally, it's a Leaf wearing a different suit. It’s like Takealot sending you a Hisense TV in a Samsung box. The front end gets “unique trim and a chunkier bumper,” according to Mitsubishi, and it rolls on wheels with a triangular design. Neat, I guess. But let’s not pretend this is some groundbreaking reinvention. It’s a Leaf. Just…different. ## From Sports Car to… This? The Eclipse's Befok History The original Eclipse? Now *that* was a machine. A proper coupe, something you’d cruise in down Durban beachfront, turning heads. It was a legend. This? This is… a choice. Mitsubishi already recycled the Eclipse name for the Eclipse Cross SUV, which, let's be honest, wasn’t exactly setting the world on fire. Now they're doing it again. It feels a bit kak, doesn't it? Like a band trying to recapture their glory days with a cover song. The original Eclipse had *soul*. This… has a battery. ## What's Different? The Styling Tweaks Explained Let's break down the “tweaks”. Up front, the headlights are joined by a trim piece featuring vertically oriented silver rectangles. They’ve also ditched the “chin strap” found on the Leaf and fiddled with the graphical elements of the headlights. The front bumper is “chunkier,” which, okay, fine. It’s a bit more aggressive. The rear lights have been significantly tweaked, looking like arrows pointing outward, and “Mitsubishi” is now spelled out across the rear fascia instead of the Leaf’s branding. They’ve even slapped on some funky wheels with a triangular design. It’s enough to *differentiate* it from the Leaf, sure. But is it enough to make it stand out in Sandton City's parking lot? That’s debatable, bru. ## Tech Specs & The Big Question: Will It Even Work With Load Shedding? This is where things get tricky. Mitsubishi hasn’t released any technical details yet. Zilch. Nada. We’re still waiting on info about the battery, range, and charging capabilities. But here’s the real question for us in Mzansi: how do you own an EV when load shedding is a daily reality? You're gonna need a serious backup plan – a generator, a hefty inverter, or a very understanding neighbour. Imagine getting home after a long day, plugging in, and then… darkness. Eish. The article says more technical details should emerge in the next month or two, but until then, it's a bit of a gamble. ## The US$31,535 Price Tag: What Will This Cost Us in Rands? Okay, let's talk money. The Nissan Leaf, which this is basically a reskin of, starts at **US$31,535**. Now, factor in import duties, shipping costs, and the frankly pathetic exchange rate… and you’re looking at a significant premium here in South Africa. We're talking well north of R600,000, easily. Maybe even pushing R700,000. Is that a lekker deal for a rebadged Leaf? Considering you can get a seriously well-equipped SUV from, say, Toyota or Volkswagen for that price, it's going to be a tough sell. It’ll need to be a truly compelling package to justify the price tag. ## Mitsubishi & Nissan: A Marriage Made in… Japan? This whole situation highlights the increasingly close relationship between Mitsubishi and Nissan. Nissan holds a roughly 24 percent stake in Mitsubishi. This isn’t a standalone decision; it’s a strategic move within a larger partnership. Plans for a Leaf-based Mitsubishi EV were first discussed back in May. It's a bit like Checkers and Shoprite – they compete, but they're ultimately part of the same family. This collaboration will likely lead to more shared platforms and rebadged models in the future. ## Is This a Sign of Things to Come for the SA EV Market? Will other manufacturers start doing this? Will we see a flood of rebadged EVs hitting our shores? It’s a real possibility. It’s a cheaper and faster way to enter the EV market than developing entirely new models. But it also raises questions about consumer choice. Do we want a market flooded with slightly different versions of the same car? Or do we want genuine innovation and competition? It's a valid concern, and something to keep an eye on. Look, let’s be blunt. The 2027 Mitsubishi Eclipse Sportback is a bit of a head-scratcher. It’s a Nissan Leaf in disguise, priced as a premium vehicle, and entering a market already facing challenges with infrastructure and affordability. It's not *bad*, per se. It's just… uninspired. It feels like a missed opportunity. But here’s the thing: the EV market in South Africa *is* growing. And if Mitsubishi can price this competitively (a big if), it might find a niche. So, is this the electric SUV that’s going to change your life? Probably not. But is it a step in the right direction for EV adoption in South Africa? Maybe. Now, if you're thinking about going electric, you'll want to know *where* you can actually charge this thing. Click here to find out the current state of South Africa's EV charging infrastructure – and whether it’s ready for prime time.