Mitsubishi's Eclipse Sportback EV Costs More Than the Leaf It's Based On

Mitsubishi has spent years cultivating a value-focused image, but its newest electric offering doesn’t exactly play to that strength. The Eclipse Sportback EV, which shares its bones with the Nissan Leaf, carries a starting price of $39,740 — putting it roughly $8,000 above the current Leaf’s entry point.

The comparison requires some nuance. The 2026 Leaf represents the outgoing version of Nissan’s hatchback, while an updated Leaf with a revised cabin arrives for 2027. Mitsubishi’s new EV is built on that newer foundation, so the two share interior design and available cabin technology. Even accounting for that generational gap, though, it’s hard to imagine the 2027 Leaf jumping $8,000 over its predecessor, which suggests the Eclipse will remain the pricier choice.

Mitsubishi counters that its version arrives “exceptionally well-equipped,” hinting that it may line up closer to a mid- or upper-tier Leaf rather than the base model. Without full standard-feature lists for both vehicles, that claim is difficult to verify. What is clear: only one option will be offered, a $2,600 Technology Package, pushing the Eclipse comfortably past $40,000.

Mechanically, the two cars are near twins. Both use a 75-kWh battery feeding a single 214-horsepower front-mounted motor, and both feature a NACS charge port capable of 150 kW, with a claimed 10-to-80% charging time of 35 minutes. The divergence shows up in range: Mitsubishi quotes 282 miles, while the Leaf tops out at an EPA-rated 303 miles. That gap likely traces back to trim strategy — the base Leaf S+ FWD earns the 303-mile figure, while the better-equipped SV+ drops to 288 miles, suggesting Mitsubishi is effectively starting at SV-level content. Even so, the Leaf SV+ begins at $35,805 with destination included, keeping Nissan the cheaper route.

What happens next will be an interesting experiment in badge engineering. Two subtly different versions of the same car will sit on dealer lots, and shoppers will have to weigh equipment levels and styling against dealer access and pricing. Nissan’s larger retail network should make its version easier to find, while Mitsubishi may lean on standard content to justify the premium. In practice, the deciding factor could simply be which showroom is willing to sharpen its pencil.