You often hear that new cars, especially new crossovers, are so similar they (the car companies) might as well get together and just sell one.

The complaint has some merit. It is hard to tell one crossover from another without looking at the badge. But there are still some differences, even if they're not easy to see.

Price, for instance.

What It Is

The Eclipse Cross is Mitsubishi's compact-sized, five-door crossover. It's dimensionally (and functionally) similar to other compact crossovers such as the hot-selling Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V but sells for much less.

Prices start at $23,395 for the ES trim with front-wheel drive and a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine. All-wheel drive can be added as a stand-alone option, boosting the price to $24,995.

The same money won't quite buy you a front-wheel drive CR-V, which stickers for $25,750 ($27,250 with AWD) and you'll need even more money to buy a front-wheel drive RAV4, which starts at $26,525 for the FWD version ($27,925 with AWD).

Similarly, the otherwise-similar Hyundai Tucson's prices start at $24,950 for the FWD version.

A top-of-the-line SEL Eclipse Cross with AWD stickers for $28,995. This one is also available with reclining rear seats — an unusual feature in the segment — and What3words navigation, a feature that's unique in the segment. This system is more accurate than street map-based GPS systems found in rival crossovers.

What's New

The '22 Eclipse is heavily updated, both cosmetically and functionally.

Though the wheelbase remains the same, the overall length has been increased by more than five inches, which gives it a more visually impressive footprint and slightly increases cargo volume as well. The size of the available LCD touchscreen has been increased to eight inches and relocated two inches close to the driver.

What's Good

More for less than you get from others offering essentially the same.

Optional AWD system is more sophisticated than just front to back (and back). It can route power to individual wheels, which enhances both traction and handling. There's also a lock function, for more traction in snow and such.

For once, an easy-to-use touchscreen interface. And radio controls you can fine-tune, using a knob instead of a scan.

What's Not So Good

Rivals come standard with stronger engines ... that use less gas.

Not as much cargo-carrying capacity as rivals such as the RAV4 and CR-V.

VW Taos offers more or less the same ... for less.

Under The Hood

Many crossovers have the same thing under their hoods, regardless of trim.

The Cross is no exception.

All trims come standard with the same 1.5-liter, four-cylinder engine, turbocharged, which makes 152 horsepower and 184 foot-pounds of torque at 2,000 RPM. This engine is paired with a continuously variable automatic, a type of transmission that's also becoming near-standard in new crossovers — though there are a few exceptions to that rule, including the Toyota RAV4 as well as the new VW Taos, which come with conventional (geared) automatic transmissions.

On The Road

The Cross isn't speedy relative to a new Mustang GT. But it is about as speedy as a Mustang GT was back in the mid-1980s. Zero to 60 takes about 8.3 seconds. And relative to other new crossovers, it's smack dab in the middle. Not as quick as the new Taos, which gets to 60 in about 7.4 seconds — but quicker than the Honda CR-V, which takes more than nine seconds to get there.

It has good low- and mid-range pulling power; the Mitsu's 1.5-liter engine makes as much torque as the RAV4's much larger 2.5-liter engine (and much sooner, at just 2,000 vs. 5,000 RPM) and so feels stronger than its horsepower numbers might suggest.

At The Curb

The Cross does a good job of being practical — although not quite as good a job as the new Taos, which has more cargo room behind its second row (27.9 cubic feet vs. 23.4 for the Mitsu) and more total cargo-carrying capacity with its second row folded (65.9 cubic feet for the VW vs. 50.1 for the Cross). The same story plays out relative to the CR-V and the RAV4, both of which also have more room for cargo, behind their second rows and with them folded down.

But the second rows in those crossovers don't recline backward, a feature that's available in the Cross. This makes sleeping in the back a lot more comfortable in the Cross - even if it can't take quite as much cargo as its rivals.

The Rest

Though the new VW Taos undercuts what had been this Mitsu's strongest selling point — a much lower price than others in the class, for more or less the same kind of vehicle — the Mitsu still has a few other things to sell.

These include a better warranty (five years/60,000 miles on the whole thing and 10 years/100,000 miles on the drivetrain) and a better likelihood that you'll be able to buy the Cross for less than rivals, including the Taos.

The Bottom Line

Crossovers are pretty similar — but there are still some important differences. They're just harder to see.

View the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross this week.

Eric's latest book, "Doomed: Good Cars Gone Wrong!" will be available soon. To find out more about Eric and read his past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.

View the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross this week.