Car Review: 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse - Looks, Sadly, Aren't Everything

Ah, the look of a fast car. Although we may not all have driven a sports car, we can probably come up with a list of what a typical one looks like. From the curvy, smooth exterior, to the large wheels and aggressive stance, the image of the sports car is just simply engrained onto the mind. However, as nice as this image is to think about, perhaps sometimes it can do just as much damage as it does good.

For, we have to be careful in sorting out the vehicles which simply look sporty, from the vehicles that are actually worth the sticker price. Although the 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse definitely looks the part of a sports car, perhaps there are far better vehicles on the market if one truly wishes to have an enjoyable, but still fun car.

From the outside, it certainly seems like the new Eclipse plays the part of a sports car. From the very curvy body to the angled front end and the large tires, not to mention the back end, which still retains a hint of the old Eclipse. Overall, the outside of the vehicle encompasses a sporty package. However, one might even make the point that the Eclipse is just a tad bit too round. What Mitsubishi doesn't seem to understand, though, is that if the curves on a vehicle are going to stand out, they need to be paired with a few angles here and there so that they stand out.

However, even though the new design may not agree with everyone who looks at the car, it is certain to appeal to a good many people. The Eclipse really does look good, it looks like a sports car, and in an age where cars seem to be getting more and more like each other, that is definitely a good thing. However, while the Eclipse doesn't really look like anything else on the road, and is sure to get you noticed, it might be said that the design could have used just a little bit more work before it was released to consumers.

However, while the overly stylized design might come off a little harsh on the outside, it definitely works for the inside. Everything inside the new Eclipse seems designed to point the driver on the road to having a good time. The gauges are easy to read, and the shift knob sits low and aggressive, just waiting to be put through the gears. From the way in which the interior seems to curve back on the driver, to the instant comfort that one feels from the second they sit in the driver's seat, the interior of the 2007 Eclipse may well be the best thing about the vehicle.

As would be obvious, there is little to no interior room to be found inside the car. However, one does not exactly buy a two door car expecting to be able to take a road trip with it. Overall, despite the lack of space, the 2007 Eclipse really shines in terms of it's interior, and perhaps that is one of the things that has made the car so immensely popular.

While the interior of the vehicle is designed to make driving all the more enjoyable, perhaps the actual drivability of the car could have used a little work. For starters, even though the Eclipse may look like a sports car, it really doesn't perform like one. Yes, the GT model comes with a V6 engine and puts out around 260 horse power, but both the GT and the standard model are front wheel drive, and that 260 horse power never really feels like 260 horse power, perhaps due to the high weight of the vehicle.

Those who want a little increased performance are definitely going to want to go with the manual transmission, the automatic version leaves drivers waiting for the car to pick up, and it is incredibly easy to forget that you are driving something which was supposed to be a sports car.

The GT version equipped with the manual can move when it wants to, although it takes a little too much effort to get some power out of the car, and for some reason, the acceleration just doesn't feel like it should on a car like the Eclipse. However, just like the previous generations, the fact that this Eclipse is not a fast car is not going to stop people from thinking it is.

What the car loses in speed, though, it does make up for in handling. The 2007 Eclipse is really a monster in the corners, and it hands on no matter what speed you choose to take a windy road at. Driving always feels balanced, and the wide stance of the vehicle definitely lets it stay put at higher speeds.

While the Eclipse may not be the most performance oriented sports car on the market, it definitely has the potential to let the driver have some fun. From the interesting and very different exterior design, to the way in which the car always handles so well, there really isn't much about the Eclipse to dislike, except, of course, if you bought it thinking it was going to be a sports car.