Starlet Cross proves why its doing great things for Toyota
A recent trip to Jozi brought an opportunity to reacquaint with the popular Toyota Starlet Cross in its happy hunting ground. Starlet Cross of course being the Toyota version of Suzuki’s standout Fronx. It benefits a subtle facelift as part of the rebadge process, but under the skin there’s no difference.
In Fronx form, this car scooped our Best Test award two years ago. The car that impressed us most of all those we tested in 2023. And it’s of course also available at your local Toyota dealership in this Starlet Cross guise. It certainly looks the part. The re-hash makes it into a bit of a mini-me RAV4. Which is a good thing. The Starlet Cross of course has that advantage of price. It’s as keen as hell. Never mind, it’s a Toyota…
Meet Starlet Cross. The entry Toyota Crossover
Based on Toyota and Suzuki’s Crafted Futurism DNA it shares with the Grand Vitara and others, Starlet Cross gets a typically Toyota crossover hexagonal grille under a chrome flashing that links the two with dual-layer DRL headlamps atop that Toyota famous badge. Interesting fog light clusters, the edgy lower grille and skid plate garnish at the bottom spreads around the sides to the back contribute to an aggro stance.
It has 16” face polished alloys framed in bold creased metal and polycarbonate wheel arches under a swooping coupé roofline. Talking about that roof, it sports both rails and a tailgate spoiler as well as a shark fin antenna on top. And there’s front, side, and rear skid plate garnish at the bottom. The pert rear end is particularly pleasing with almost non-existent overhang and a full width LED taillight bar. Completes a cocky stance.
With an SUV like 170 mm ground clearance at just under four metres long and 1.76 m tall, riding on a 2.52 m wheelbase, Starlet Cross fits five adults with ease. The 304 litre boot has a full-sized 16” spare wheel and 195/60 tyre under it and grows to 605 litres with the 60:40 split rear bench seat stowed.
A comfortable, interesting and spacious cabin
Step into the spacious silver and faux leather trimmed cabin to find a cheeky and fully understandable 9” CarPlay, Auto and Bluetooth central infotainment system. It includes a 360-degree composite camera reversing video and is supported by wireless phone charging and a 12V charging socket up front. And dual rear USB charging points. We did miss a wireless charging pad though.
Controlled in part by the leather-clad height and reach adjustable multi-function electric power steering wheel, Starlet Cross has colour information screen instrumentation and heads-up display. There are power windows all round, central locking, auto climate control, rear-seat ventilation, and an armrest centre console box.
Other niceties include keyless entry with push-button start, dual lit sun visor vanity mirrors and lit glove compartment and footwells. Not immediately apparent, this little Toyota also benefits luxury vehicle sound dampening. To deliver cabin quietness levels uncommon to this market segment. Some of us never quite enjoyed the red cabin finishes, but here are other colour options
Starlet Cross agile, Frugal but suffers on Reef
Powered by a perky and fuel-efficient 77 kW 138 Nm 1.5 litre four-cylinder petrol engine, Starlet Cross’ lightweight 1,010 kg kerb mass endows it with an impressive power-to-weight ratio. Ours had the five-speed manual gearbox driving the front axle, which made it a bit more engaging. Like all naturally aspirated cars, it may have delivered a pleasing set of performance test results back home, but it is a bit lazy up on the Reef. Were you need to change down gears quite a bit to keep it on the boil.
It’s super frugal whichever way you cut it though, and a cheerful car to drive. Starlet Cross impressed in every driving respect. It sounds good, feels good and is quiet and confident on the road. Push it and it is agile and dynamic enough. Much of that has to do with Suzuki-bred lightweight Heartect platform, which is also safer. Starlet Cross packs MacPherson-strut front and torsion beam rear suspension, with rack-and-pinion steering.
Talking safety, there’s ABS anti-skid and EBD ventilated front disc braking and electronic stability control. Add front, front side airbags and side curtain Isofix anchors. Security is by digital immobiliser and security alarm, by the way. Peace of mind is also part of the deal thanks to a massive 5-year and 200,000 km warranty and a 4-year/60 000 km service plan.
Starlet Cross a fine Toyota crossover baseline
Getting back to the gist of this one, this splendid new Starlet Cross delivers a splendid baseline to Toyota’s grand crossover range. One aspect our Jozi driving experience did bring out however, was that touch of altitude sickness.
Of course that applies to all naturally aspirated cars in this neck of the woods. But not all Starlet’s rivals lack turbocharging. And while that may not necessarily be free of its own issues like lag and launch sickness, a properly tuned downsize turbo would make all the difference. That is of course not an issue at all at coastal and regular driving altitude. But then most of SA does live at altitude…
It’s taken off like a rocket in the sales charts too. For damn good reason, we think. Based on one of the finest products of the world’s foremost small car maker, Starlet Cross is just another fine arrow for that incredible Toyota bow. – Michele Lupini
Road testing: Giordano Lupini
ROAD TESTED: Toyota Starlet Cross 1.5 XR manual
77 kW 138 Nm 1.5 litre petrol
5-spped manual FWD
*TESTED:
0-60 km/h: 4.37 sec
0-100 km/h: 9.56 sec
0-120 km/h: 14.86 sec
400m: 16.7 sec @ 135 km/h
80-120 km/h: 6.65 sec
120-160 km/h: 12.05 sec
CLAIMED:
VMax: 175 km/h
Fuel: 5.6 l/100 km
CO2: 131 g/km
Range: 675 km
Warranty/Service: 3y 100K/4 service 60K km
LIST PRICE: R347K
*Tested at coastal altitude
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