In a world where individuality is highly sought after, twins have never been considered a failing in this regard, so the same must apply to the relationship between Toyota and Suzuki and the emergence of the Starlet Cross which has as its (almost) identical sibling, the Fronx.
The Starlet Cross strengthens Toyota’s position in the compact car market and the passenger vehicle category. It joins other models in the compact car segment, including the Vitz, Starlet, and Urban Cruiser.
There are a number of low mileage pre-owned Toyota Starlet models to be had - click here
Glenn Crompton, TSAM’s vice president of Marketing, says: “The Starlet Cross is a remarkable addition to our diverse vehicle lineup in the local market. This aligns perfectly with our sales and marketing strategy, which is to deliver unmatched customer satisfaction by adapting to the evolving market and lifestyle preferences of our consumers. The new addition will certainly complement our existing and comprehensive passenger car lineup as they continue to uphold strong positions in their respective segments.”
Compared to its ‘sister’ there some Toyotarisation of the look at the front with the honeycomb grille and chrome accents bringing it firmly into line with other models in the Toyota stable. The grille is flanked by LED headlamps and the twin LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) give the nod to the Urban Cruiser.
At the rear, connected LED taillights (with a Starlet-specific light signature) extend from end to end, complemented by a rear skid plate and roof-end spoiler.
Get the best deal on your car's insurance - click here
The vehicle stands at 1 550 mm in height (+50mm compared to the Starlet) and 3 995 mm in length, with a wheelbase of 2 520 mm.
With a ground clearance of 170mm (+30 mm versus the Starlet) and a width of 1 765 mm (+20 mm versus the Starlet), the Starlet Cross offers ample space and rides on 16-inch wheels.
The 1,5-litre powertrain generates 77 kW at 6 000 r/min with138 Nm of torque at 4 400 r/min, with the choice of a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission.
Driving the Starlet Cross reinforced the opinion I formed of its sister – as the car is likely to spend most of its time in a city and urban setting, the automatic is really a no-brainer in the traffic. While some may criticise the 4-speed as being ‘old’ technology, real-world driving proves it is efficient and handles to the job without any issues.
There is, obviously, some hunting of ratios on steep inclines or when momentum is lost, but this is brief and it quickly finds the right rhythm again – our launch run without trying too hard netting an overall consumption of 6,3 l/100 km.
Can I afford it - check out our finance calculator
Standard across all variants are features such as Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Hill Assist Control (HAC), and anti-lock braking with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD).
The vehicle is equipped with six crash bags, including front, side and curtain bags in XR models, while the XS comes with driver and passenger crash bags.
The cabin decked out with a three-tone dashboard with finishes in charcoal, silver, and Bordeaux and cloth upholstery wraps the comfortable seating.
The Starlet Cross has an infotainment system with a centrally mounted display supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity (9-inch in XR, 7-inch in XS models)
Related Content - Initial launch announcement
All XS models come with three USB chargers, cruise control, a leather tilt steering wheel and four speakers. The XR model builds on these features, adding a tilt/telescopic steering wheel, electrochromic rearview mirror, colour multi-information display, wireless charger, driver seat height adjustment, push start, smart entry, heads-up display, 360-degree panoramic view monitor reverse camera and 16-inch machined alloy wheels.
Pricing
- 1.5 XS Manual Transmission – R299 900
- 1.5 XS Automatic Transmission – R322 300
- 1.5 XR Manual Transmission – R339 300
- 1.5 XR Automatic Transmission – R359 300
All Toyota Starlet Cross models come standard with a 4-services/60 000 km service plan and a 3-year/100 000 km warranty.
Colin Windell
Proudly CHANGECARS
