When Mitsubishi announced that it will revive the Eclipse nameplate for a crossover a few years ago, many enthusiasts went berserk. Now that the Eclipse Cross has arrived, things have settled down. However, many still think that the compact SUV isn't worthy of the "Eclipse" badge. But is the Eclipse Cross really that awful?

Sure, it's not easy to replace an iconic sports compact with a crossover -- it's mostly a design issue here -- but do we really need to bash the Eclipse Cross for its looks? Now that it's finally on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show, we can get a better grip on how it looks in the metal.

Notice how it ascents from the front fender toward the taillights? That's a styling cue you can find on all generations of the original Eclipse. Of course, it's not enough to make the Eclipse Cross an extraordinary design, but it's proof that Mitsubishi at least wanted to link the two vehicles.

To be honest, the Eclipse Cross looks too familiar up front, sharing styling features with all the other Mitsubishi crossovers. But things get better around back, where the light bar that stretches between the high-mounted taillights remind of some versions of the Eclipse sports coupe. The rounded edges of the rear fenders also give it a unique look.

What do you think? Does it look better on the L.A. stand than in the official photos? Let me know in the comments section.

Further reading

Read our full review on the 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross.

Read our full review on the 2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse.