2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder Overview Change Vehicle

This 2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder review explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2012 Eclipse Spyder, and includes Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder safety, reliability, and fuel economy ratings.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder is a convertible version of the Mitsubishi Eclipse Coupe. It seats four people, though rear seat occupants had better be small. Logical competitors include the Chevy Camaro Convertible and Ford Mustang Convertible, but only an illogical person would choose the Eclipse over either of them.

To commemorate its final year in production, the 2012 Eclipse Spyder is offered in an SE trim level with dark-argent painted 18-inch wheels, dark side mirror housings, and a special SE decal on the side.

The 2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder is available in GS Sport, SE, and GT trim levels, and the list of standard features is a long one. Starting on the outside and under the hood, the Eclipse Spyder is equipped with an automatic transmission and a front strut tower brace, as well as auto-off HID projector beam headlights, a pair of fog lights, 18-inch aluminum wheels, power side mirrors, a clear-and-chrome lip spoiler, LED taillights, and dual exhaust outlets with polished tips.

The interior includes leather seats that are heated in front, a six-way power adjustable driver’s seat, air conditioning, power windows, power door locks with remote keyless entry, cruise control, and a leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel with integrated audio controls. Bluetooth hands-free connectivity is standard, along with a 650-watt Rockford Fosgate audio system with a CD changer, an auxiliary audio input jack, and three free months of satellite radio. Additional standard features include a reversing camera, LED lighting for the instrumentation, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, illuminated visor vanity mirrors, and floor mats.

A Special Edition, or SE, model is new for 2012. It adds dark-argent 18-inch wheels, black heated side mirrors, and a black SE side decal for a special appearance.

Stepping up to the Eclipse Spyder GT adds a more powerful V6 engine, ventilated rear disc brakes, and a thicker rear stabilizer bar for improved performance, as well as a removable wind deflector to minimize wind buffeting in the cabin. Additional upgrades exclusive to the Spyder GT include leather seats, automatic climate control, an exterior temperature indicator, a compass, aluminum pedals, and aluminum doorsill scuff plates.

The Eclipse Spyder GS Sport and SE models are equipped with an underpowered, 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine making 162 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 162 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm. An archaic Sportronic four-speed automatic transmission with a manual shifting feature is standard, driving the front wheels. The Eclipse Spyder GS Sport and SE models are rated to return 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway, according to the EPA.

The Eclipse Spyder GT has a 3.8-liter V6 engine good for 265 horsepower at 5,750 rpm and 262 lb-ft of torque at 4,500 rpm. A Sportronic five-speed automatic delivers power to the front wheels, and the Eclipse Spyder GT is rated to get 16 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. In addition to the unimpressive mileage ratings, this V6 engine requires premium unleaded and adds a bunch of weight over the front wheels, resulting in a 60/40 front-to-rear weight distribution.

Despite the fact that the Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder is a convertible, it comes with six standard airbags, the side curtain airbags replaced by a seat-mounted set designed to protect both the head and thorax areas. Additionally, it has a traction and stability control system, four-wheel-disc antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, and a reversing camera.

The only available crash-test ratings for the Eclipse Spyder are sourced from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). According to the IIHS, the Eclipse Spyder receives a Good rating in the offset frontal-impact test, a Good rating in the side-impact test, and a Marginal rating for its ability to protect against injury in a rear-impact collision.

As for reliability, the only prediction available comes from J.D. Power and Associates, which expects the Eclipse Spyder to provide average dependability over time.

In an effort to build a stronger value proposition to entice buyers, Mitsubishi provides one of the best warranty programs in the industry for the 2012 Eclipse Spyder. That means a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, a five-year/60,000-mile standard warranty, and a five-year/unlimited-mileage roadside assistance plan is standard.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder’s power cloth convertible top can be folded in less than 20 seconds, and stows beneath a hard tonneau cover.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder’s base curb weight is 3,527 pounds, which is too much weight for the 162-horsepower engine that comes standard in the GS Sport and SE models. Better to get the Eclipse Spyder GT for its more powerful V6, even if it tips the scales at 3,763 lbs.

If you’re wondering why Mitsubishi even bothered installing two rear seating positions in this car, consider that its tiny little trunk measures just 5.2 cubic-feet. The back seat is where luggage that doesn’t fit inside the trunk gets stored.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse is going out of production after the 2012 model year because the company that builds it lost focus. Until the turn of the century, the Eclipse was a desirable sports coupe and convertible, a sleek, sexy machine equipped with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and all-wheel drive. Then Mitsubishi lost its bearings and, well, now the Eclipse is dead and its loyal fans have long ago defected to other brands.

By Christian Wardlaw