Goodbye Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, hello Grandis? 2025 Mitsubishi Grandis to debut in Europe as hybrid rival to Nissan Qashqai, Kia Seltos, and Haval Jolion

Mitsubishi has revealed its next new small SUV model, the Grandis.

It will sit above the ASX but below the Outlander in its international line-up, offering both mild and full hybrid drivetrain options.

This new Mitsubishi Grandis revives a nameplate which was once worn by an MPV model sold in Australia between 2004 - 2009, but this new iteration will take a more traditionally SUV-like shape.

The Grandis is based on its French counterpart, the Renault Symbioz, just like the new-generation ASX is based on the Renault Captur. Both ride on the French marque’s CMF-B platform.

The car is yet to be fully unveiled, but Mitsubishi’s European division shared some teaser images of the final car. The brand said it will be joined by another similarly-sized vehicle which will serve as a fully electric alternative.

The interior has not yet been teased, and few other details other than references to a “roomy interior” and a “full suite of ADAS technologies” although the brand said the Grandis will feature a Google-based multimedia suite. It is also expected to share its sliding second row and versatile interior layout with the Symbioz.

If the Grandis follows in the footsteps of the Europe-sourced ASX, it will share its engine options with the incoming Renault Symbioz. This includes Renault’s new hybrid set-up, which pairs a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with a new type of six-speed hybrid transmission that the brand claims can drive under fully electric mode up to 80 per cent of the time thanks to its four standard forward gears and dual electric motors on the front axle.

Mitsubishi is yet to field a plugless hybrid system in Australia, only its plug-in hybrid Outlander and now-discontinued Eclipse Cross. The new Grandis seems ideally-specified to replace the Eclipse Cross.

Mitsubishi is on the ropes after cancelling its ancient but still strong-selling previous-generation ASX, Eclipse Cross, and Pajero Sport models due to ADR changes mandating a higher performance version of auto emergency braking.

This has had the effect of reducing Mitsubishi’s range to just the Outlander and new-generation Triton, although the Renault-sourced replacement ASX (which the brand once said it didn’t really want in Australia as it lacked “Mitsubishiness”) will join the range later in 2025.

A spokesperson for Mitsubishi Australia stopped short of confirming the Grandis for our market, but added “being part of an alliance [with Renault] it’s always something we can look into” and that the brand would “continue to build on its momentum” toward its 2030 plans which include an array of new products. It’s hardly a stretch to imagine the vehicle making its way here as the brand is already raiding its Euro catalogue to source the ASX and any hybrid system it can get its hands on will help it with looming new vehicle efficiency standards (NVES). Additionally, the Symbioz is already available in right-hand drive for the UK market.

Renault’s distributor in Australia hasn’t been quick to add the brand’s innovative new plugless hybrid models to its line-up, instead repositioning the Renault brand as a more EV-focused marque, aiming to fill the price-bracket below with more rough-and-tumble combustion models sourced from its Dacia marque in Europe, seemingly part of a gamble these models will appeal to a more adventure-curious Australian buyer.

Mitsubishi’s next move will be to launch an updated Outlander with a larger battery later this year to live alongside the incoming ASX. Beyond that, it will also no doubt be looking to add a new-generation Pajero Sport based on the new Triton, while suggestions of a full-fat Pajero replacement continue to ruminate.