Exterior Design

They say that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. If the number of 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipses on the road is any indication, there are only a few beholders of this bloated coupe. And that’s with good reason.

The first-generation Eclipse featured all-wheel-drive and a turbocharged engine wrapped in a distinctive, compact package. That car was a capable pocket-rocket with a cult following. Subsequent models gradually lost the edge as the unique styling was nixed, the boosted four-banger was replaced by a tame V6, and the all-wheel-drive option disappeared. For 2006, those same key ingredients are again absent from the list of features, and the exterior design is a mish-mash of hits and misses.

For one thing, the car is too big. Squeeze it into a parking spot at work, and you’ll instantly recognize that this is a wide ride. The curvaceous wheel flares, flattened at the edges, give an aura of power, but the 17-inch alloy wheels are dwarfed in the gaping wheel wells, and the short side windows are a visibility nightmare. And what’s up with the front quarter glass? Useless side windows went bye-bye with the demise of the Subaru SVX. Up front are expressionless headlights surrounding a simple grille and sitting in front of a flat hood. It’s almost as though the designers spent time on the flanks and then just threw the front end together. The rear offers a sporty look thanks to the high tail and low roof, with a subtle spoiler adding character. Even the clear taillights work, despite resembling a dated aftermarket product.