Navigating the 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse’s interior for oft-used controls is mostly a positive experience, with a few exceptions. To the designers’ credit, stereo controls are limited to the basics – a power and volume knob, a tuning knob, clearly-labeled buttons for seek and scan – and the system features attractive blue backlighting. Praise also goes to the climate controls, consisting of intuitive dials for the temperature setting, fan speed, and air flow direction. Plus, the system heats and cools the interior quickly and effectively. Buttons for the power windows and door locks are logically placed on the door panels, while switches for the power mirrors and fog lights are on the left side of the dash.

Falling into the “needs some work” category is the radio display positioned atop the dash instead of with the head unit down in the instrument panel, and secondary audio controls positioned on the rear of the steering wheel without any markings or illumination.