NEW car warranties have come a long way since the days when we got just 12 months when we bought a car.

Mitsubishi broke the mould, when it was the first car maker to introduce a three year warranty across the range, and I remember lamenting that all the other manufacturers ignored this for years.

But it actually did the Japanese company a great deal of good, increasing sales across the board because buyers found their cars so reliable.

Now, there is a range of models from all makers with five years' warranty covering 60, 80 or even 100,000 miles.

But before it pulled out of new car sales in the UK, Mitsubishi was still ahead of the game, giving five years warranty, five years breakdown cover and a very impressive 10 years cover on the engine and drivetrain.

The company is now an aftermarket only business here in Britain, ensuring that the 400,000 of its vehicles on the roads in this country continue to get full backup and support.

The good looking Eclipse Cross was one of the last models sold new here.

It's a high riding medium soft roader that makes for smooth going in the urban environment, with stand out styling and in the Mitsubishi tradition, the option of four wheel drive.

Few companies know more about SUVs than this one, which has been making them for many more years than most.

Manual models come with a six speed, smooth-changing gearbox and front wheel drive, while the continuously variable automatic, which emulates an eight speed, can be had with 4WD that engages automatically when it's needed.

Acceleration and in-gear urge from the only engine option - a new 1.5 petrol turbo with 160bhp - are both excellent, and it's smooth and quiet unless provoked up the rev range.

In the manual, 60 miles an hour comes up in 9.4 seconds and it's capable of 36 miles per gallon, while the sprint takes 10.1 in the automatic, and it's rated at 34mpg.

The engine pulls happily from tickover speeds in all gears, and gives plenty of urge above 2,000 revs for overtaking.

It is also accomplished and stable through corners, with little roll and good support from the comfortable well-shaped seats.

There's loads of grip and it tracks tightly through with good balance and decent feedback from the steering.

Others who have written about it say that comfort rates four out of five stars but I'm afraid I beg to differ.

On a 120 mile trip over every type of surface I found it a little lumpy at low speeds in town, and also a bit unsettled at speed on everything but billiard table smooth tarmac.

Now this car had 18-inch alloy wheels and low profile tyres. Perhaps it was this that spoiled the comfort - as it does with so many cars. Smaller wheels and higher profile tyres are almost always more comfortable.

Mid-range Design SE comes with an alarm, four electric windows, height adjustable driver's seat, loads of airbags, traction control, cruise control, alloy wheels and climate control.

The DAB stereo comes complete with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth and steering wheel audio controls.

The Eclipse Cross is an easy urban cruiser to drive and to own, with a high driving position giving a great view all round.

And of course, the added winter security of 4WD to keep going when others grind to a halt is a must for some.

It has that top class warranty and comes from a company with an enviable record for reliability.

Pay about £10,950 for a '20 20-reg Design SE manual 6 speed, or £15,800 for a '21 21-reg Exceed 4WD automatic.