Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross vs Changan UNI-S

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross in South Africa

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

1.5L GLS Exceed CVT 4x2 Petrol CVT Current
ZAR 620,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 110 kW 🔧 250 Nm ⛽ 13 km/l
VS
Changan UNI-S in South Africa

Changan UNI-S

1.5T AT CE Petrol 7-Speed DCT Current
ZAR 469,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 138 kW 🔧 300 Nm ⛽ 14.49 km/l
Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross vs Changan UNI-S: the short answer

UNI-S has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Eclipse Cross remains close.

UNI-S starts ZAR 145,090 cheaper Eclipse Cross from ZAR 534,990 · UNI-S from ZAR 389,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Eclipse Cross UNI-S
Maximum Power Eclipse Cross110 kW @ 5500 rpm UNI-S138 kW
Maximum Torque Eclipse Cross250 Nm @ 3500 rpm UNI-S300 Nm
Engine Size Eclipse Cross1499 cc UNI-S1500 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Eclipse Cross13 km/l UNI-S14.49 km/l
Ground Clearance Eclipse Cross180 mm UNI-SNot Officially Disclosed

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Eclipse Cross

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: General Use
Specification evidence leader

UNI-S

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

Eclipse Cross

  • Buyers who prefer this derivative's confirmed specification mix

UNI-S

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Eclipse Cross UNI-S
Model Introduced Year 2021 2026
Generation First-generation Eclipse Cross facelift First current South African UNI-S retail generation, offered in CS, CL and CE grades.
Facelift History Current South African facelift specification. No South African facelift has been announced since the UNI-S entered local retail sale in 2026.
Facelift Launched Since Current specification Not Applicable
Facelift Version Ending Current Not Applicable
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active active
Segment Compact crossover SUV Compact SUV
Vehicle Type Passenger vehicle Passenger car
Spec Eclipse Cross UNI-S
Length 4545 mm 4539 mm
Width 1805 mm 1865 mm
Height 1685 mm 1680 mm
Wheelbase 2670 mm 2656 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 180 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 155 mm 167 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 63 l 51 l
Boot/Cargo Space 437 l 475 l
Kerb Weight 1490 kg 1505 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2100 kg 1825 kg
Payload Capacity 610 kg Not Officially Disclosed
Towing Capacity 1600 kg Not Officially Disclosed
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.3 m 5.66 m
Front Headroom 1003 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Rear Headroom 932 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Front Legroom 1039 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Rear Legroom 943 mm Not Officially Disclosed

In depth: how these cars differ

This Eclipse Cross and UNI-S comparison uses the exact South African derivatives selected above. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: Eclipse Cross 52 vs UNI-S 59.

Efficiency index: Eclipse Cross 51 vs UNI-S 55.

Safety-equipment index: Eclipse Cross 76 vs UNI-S 92.

Practicality index: Eclipse Cross 64 vs UNI-S 68.

Ownership-cover index: Eclipse Cross not separately scored vs UNI-S not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

UNI-S leads by 8 points

UNI-S has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Eclipse Cross remains close.

Evidence leader 69 /100
Lead 8 points
Data 67% source coverage
69
#1 Evidence leader

UNI-S

67% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Efficiency 55
Performance 59
Efficiency 55
Safety 92
Practicality 68
Leads by 8 points
61
#2

Eclipse Cross

83% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 76 Check Efficiency 51
Performance 52
Efficiency 51
Safety 76
Practicality 64
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance UNI-S +7 Efficiency UNI-S +4 Safety UNI-S +16 Practicality UNI-S +4

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

UNI-S

Performance 59/100
Efficiency 55/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 68/100

Eclipse Cross

Performance 52/100
Efficiency 51/100
Safety 76/100
Practicality 64/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Changan UNI-S leads the specification evidence index with 69 pts vs 61 pts for Eclipse Cross

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, UNI-S leads. However, Eclipse Cross may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Eclipse Cross vs UNI-S questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.