Toyota Prius vs. Mitsubishi Eclipse Review

Performance
In terms of horsepower, the Mitsubishi Eclipse packs quite a punch and will knock the Toyota down a few rungs. On the other hand, keep in mind that high horsepower engines often command higher insurance premiums.

Handling
Really small tires, like the ones on the Toyota Prius, could provide better handling in deep snow but could also provide poor traction. With its tighter turning circle, the Toyota Prius is quite certainly sprier than the Mitsubishi Eclipse, something to consider if you do a lot of city driving; on the flip side, note that a vehicle with a tight turning circle may feel a bit twitchy on the highway.

Drivetrain
The Toyota Prius's engine is tremendously smaller than the Mitsubishi Eclipse's. Note that a smaller engine usually has to work a little harder; however, smaller engines are often cheaper to fix. The Toyota Prius packs quite a punch compared to the Mitsubishi in terms of torque, which is the force that lets you accelerate quickly. Torque equals pickup, and the Toyota Prius will have picked up and gone by the time the Mitsubishi Eclipse finally gets moving.

Utility
The Toyota will doubtless prove more practical than the Mitsubishi for those of you with frequent kid-cargo.

Convenience
You'll very likely have to take the Mitsubishi for a fill-up more often than the Toyota Prius because of its tank size and fuel economy.

Comfort
Taller drivers will significantly enjoy the extra head room in the Prius's front cabin compared to the Mitsubishi Eclipse. The Prius offers more head- and leg-room to your passengers than the Mitsubishi Eclipse does.

Dimensions
Your wallet will hurt more every time you fill up the Mitsubishi Eclipse than the Toyota Prius because of its more capacious tank. The Toyota Prius and the Mitsubishi Eclipse compete for the same parking spaces.

Cost
The destination charge is a standard charge for transporting the vehicle from its point of origin to the dealer. It costs approximately the same to get the Toyota to the dealership as the Mitsubishi Eclipse. When it comes to gas mileage, the Prius has the Mitsubishi Eclipse beat. The Mitsubishi Eclipse pales in comparison to the Toyota Prius with respect to gas mileage. As far as MSRP, the Prius doesn't cost much less than the Mitsubishi Eclipse. The Toyota Prius will save you a bundle at the pump every year compared to the Mitsubishi.

Overview
The basic after-sale protection that comes with the Toyota Prius isn't quite as generous as the Mitsubishi Eclipse's.