The 2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse Special Edition (SE) trim was released for the sports coupe’s final production year. It offered flared fenders, a black roof and side mirrors, unique badges, and other upgrades that set it apart from the GS
, GS Sport
, and GT
trims. Mitsubishi may not be the first brand you think of when it comes to today’s powerful cars, but for over 20 years, the Eclipse GT
was one of the most popular—and affordable—sports cars on the market. Its standout body style, impressive performance, and manual transmission options made it an appealing option for car buyers that wanted a gutsy little sports car for a starting MSRP that was less than a Ford Mustang
. If you’re thinking about buying a used 2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse Special Edition, check out this guide from licensed broker app and car insurance
expert Jerry
. We’ll break down the car’s specs and pricing information, plus show you the quickest way to lower your Mitsubishi Eclipse insurance cost
. Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds
Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds
4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers What is the 2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse Special Edition?
After four generations, two decades, and its iconic appearance in The Fast and The Furious, Mitsubishi decided that their plucky sports coupe should go out with a bang. The 2012 Special Edition (SE) trim took the car’s already dynamic-looking exterior and added flared fenders, a black roof and side mirrors, unique decals, and high-intensity headlights—all for the affordable starting price of $25,530.
2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse overview
Before we take a deep dive into the Special Edition, here’s an overview of the 2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse.
While earlier generations of the Eclipse were comparable to the competition in terms of power, by the late 2000s it was clear that the Eclipse couldn't keep up with similarly priced sports coupes and convertibles like the Chevrolet Camaro
or Hyundai Genesis
. Even the performance-oriented Eclipse GT only offered a lackluster 265-horsepower
V6 engine—while both the Camaro and the Genesis had engine options that exceeded 400 horsepower. It was also criticized for its somewhat cramped interior and cheap plastic hardware. The 2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse was available as a coupe or convertible and had four trim options: GS, GS Sport, SE, and GT.
The base GS model came with a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with 162 horsepower, manual transmission, 18-inch wheels, air conditioning, keyless entry, cruise control, an adjustable steering wheel, folding rear seats, and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player.
The GS Sport added automatic transmission, fog lights, a sunroof, heated power mirrors, leather upholstery, a power-adjustable driver seat, Bluetooth compatibility, and a six-CD changer. The SE trim is basically a GS Sport with improved styling—but more about that later.
Finally, the top-of-the-line GT trim included automatic climate control, an iPod adapter, and improved performance with a standard V6 engine, more powerful brakes, and a sport-tuned suspension.
What’s special about the Special Edition?
While performance enthusiasts may smirk at the idea of calling the 2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse a sports car, the Special Edition (SE) trim certainly made it look the part. It had most of the same features as the GS Sport trim—including its uninspiring 162-horsepower engine—but adds some aesthetic improvements such as:
A black roof and matching black side mirrors
SE badges and side stripes
18-inch wheels with a unique dark finish
High-intensity headlights
According to Kelley Blue Book, you can expect to pay between $7,669 and $9,652 for a used Mitsubishi Eclipse SE in 2022, with the typical listing price landing somewhere around $8,983—that’s less than half of the car’s 2012 starting MSRP of $25,530!
2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse Special Edition vs. GT
Although the Special Edition adds value in terms of visual upgrades, drivers looking for better specs and improved performance should check out the 2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT
instead. With a typical listing price of $9,596 in 2022, spending an extra $600 or so gets you the GT’s 3.6-liter V6 engine, bigger brakes, and a sport-tuned suspension. Do those features make the GT a better buy? In most cases, yes. If you’re more concerned with your car’s value and performance than special badges and flared fenders, the GT offers drivers a more powerful engine, better stopping power, and a smoother ride for a cost that’s just slightly higher than the Special Edition (SE) trim.
How to find the best 2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse Special Edition insurance
A lot of work goes into picking out the perfect used car. You’ll spend time comparing models, special editions, trims, and prices—then have to test drive cars, and in most cases, haggle over cost. By the time you’ve purchased your new car, the last thing you’ll want to do is spend even more time shopping for car insurance
. But with Jerry
to help, you can find affordable coverage without phone calls or visits to sales offices. Jerry is a trustworthy insurance comparison app
that shops for low prices with dozens of different insurance companies. Just answer a few quick questions, and you’ll be browsing cheap quotes in seconds. Pick the policy you want, and Jerry handles all the work—from phone calls and paperwork to getting you signed up for your new policy and canceling your old one. On average, Jerry users save $800+ a year on their car insurance.
“It never occurred to me to look for more insurance quotes, but I’m so happy I saw Jerry
. After using the app, I am saving $2000+ a year through my new Progressive plan. It blew my mind!” —Jarod M.
RECOMMENDEDNo spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms
