Cabin for two. Period.
The inside reflects the outside: modern and inviting. Of course, one must be minimally flexible to climb in, as the seats are quite low. In addition, the long doors that make it easier to get into complicate things when the coupe is parked in a narrow spot. The doors are heavy too, something that becomes apparent when exiting the car on an upward slope.
On the other hand, the leather-draped seats are comfortable and heated. Comfort-wise, there’s not quite enough room to rest the left foot when it’s not working the clutch.
A few other irksome things come to mind as well. They remind me that the design of this fourth-generation incarnation is largely similar to that of the previous model, which dates back to 2000. I’m thinking, among other things, of the tilting steering wheel that isn’t telescopic, the too-small rearview mirrors and the absence of a tailgate opener in the cabin.
What’s more, unless you choose the “Terra Cotta Sport” (read: beige) interior, the Eclipse is delivered in wall-to-wall black. It’s dark. It wouldn’t be so bad if the quality of the plastics didn’t evoke the 2007 Jeep Patriot. But that’s just not the case.
Soundproofing isn’t up to par either in a cabin where you’d rather hear just the delicious roar of the engine, and not the sound of the Goodyear Eagle RS-As licking the pavement. Of course, when you crank up the standard 650-watt Rockford Fosgate Premium stereo, you don’t hear the road any longer. That being said, a headphone jack would’ve been appreciated.
A real 2+2
There are two passenger seats in back. Virtual seats, that is. The Eclipse should be described as a 2+2 and not a four-seater as the manufacturer claims. Anyways, these minuscule would-be seats, particularly hard to climb into, are used more often than not as a storage place for purses and shopping bags.
However, the trunk area can be adjusted thanks to the folding rear seat backs. The useful space (normally 455 litres) triples at the very least. Unfortunately, you have to struggle over the high tailgate sill to store your gear. After all, at 90 centimetres off the ground, it’s waist-high! And as for the floor of the trunk space, it’s 30 centimetres lower than the sill. My back hurts just thinking about it.
In the end, the Eclipse is a sports car for the extroverted driver. For him or her, practicality is often less important than image. This coupe is undeniably fun to drive. But in a market where such models now abound, the Eclipse trails behind its competitors in several ways, an issue than can only be resolved by a complete overhaul.
photo:Matthieu Lambert
The inside reflects the outside: modern and inviting. Of course, one must be minimally flexible to climb in, as the seats are quite low. In addition, the long doors that make it easier to get into complicate things when the coupe is parked in a narrow spot. The doors are heavy too, something that becomes apparent when exiting the car on an upward slope.
 |
| The bucket seats are comfortable and form-fitting. |
On the other hand, the leather-draped seats are comfortable and heated. Comfort-wise, there’s not quite enough room to rest the left foot when it’s not working the clutch.
A few other irksome things come to mind as well. They remind me that the design of this fourth-generation incarnation is largely similar to that of the previous model, which dates back to 2000. I’m thinking, among other things, of the tilting steering wheel that isn’t telescopic, the too-small rearview mirrors and the absence of a tailgate opener in the cabin.
What’s more, unless you choose the “Terra Cotta Sport” (read: beige) interior, the Eclipse is delivered in wall-to-wall black. It’s dark. It wouldn’t be so bad if the quality of the plastics didn’t evoke the 2007 Jeep Patriot. But that’s just not the case.
Soundproofing isn’t up to par either in a cabin where you’d rather hear just the delicious roar of the engine, and not the sound of the Goodyear Eagle RS-As licking the pavement. Of course, when you crank up the standard 650-watt Rockford Fosgate Premium stereo, you don’t hear the road any longer. That being said, a headphone jack would’ve been appreciated.
A real 2+2
There are two passenger seats in back. Virtual seats, that is. The Eclipse should be described as a 2+2 and not a four-seater as the manufacturer claims. Anyways, these minuscule would-be seats, particularly hard to climb into, are used more often than not as a storage place for purses and shopping bags.
However, the trunk area can be adjusted thanks to the folding rear seat backs. The useful space (normally 455 litres) triples at the very least. Unfortunately, you have to struggle over the high tailgate sill to store your gear. After all, at 90 centimetres off the ground, it’s waist-high! And as for the floor of the trunk space, it’s 30 centimetres lower than the sill. My back hurts just thinking about it.
In the end, the Eclipse is a sports car for the extroverted driver. For him or her, practicality is often less important than image. This coupe is undeniably fun to drive. But in a market where such models now abound, the Eclipse trails behind its competitors in several ways, an issue than can only be resolved by a complete overhaul.
 |
| Music-lovers will enjoy the powerful, 650-watt Rockford Fosgate Premium stereo. |
photo:Matthieu Lambert
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