The name Toyota Starlet is closely associated with the very small hatchbacks that were the predecessors of the Yaris. Now, Toyota has decided to launch a city SUV called Starlet Cross in the South African market. The Toyota Starlet Cross looks familiar as it is another case of model swapping between Toyota and Suzuki. This SUV is a twin to the Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor and Suzuki Frunks in the Indian market.
As expected, the design is nearly identical between the three models. The unique touches for Toyota are limited to the front bumper, logos, LED units on the split headlights, and the full-width rear lights.
The reason for the name change is likely because buyers in South Africa are already familiar with the Starlet, making Starlet Cross a more suitable name than Urban Cruiser.
The Toyota Starlet Cross measures 3995 mm in length and is based on Suzuki's Heartect platform. The only engine option in South Africa is a 1.5-liter gasoline engine that produces 103 horsepower and 138 Nm of torque. Buyers can choose between a 5-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed automatic transmission. In both cases, the power is sent exclusively to the front axle.
Meanwhile, the Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor and Suzuki Frunks in India come with a 1000cc turbo hybrid engine, along with a 1200cc gasoline and gas engine.
The Toyota Starlet Cross features either a 7 or 9-inch infotainment screen, three USB ports, and wireless charging. The basic XR version is quite simple with only two airbags, while the top-spec XS version is updated with six airbags. Neither of them is equipped with ADAS systems, aside from Hill Assist Control.
In South Africa, the price of the Toyota Starlet Cross ranges from $16,226 to $19,422. This makes it significantly more expensive than the Toyota Urban Taisor in India, which is priced between $9,231 and $15,553, despite having different engines.
Adrian is an Editor. Psychology graduate with over 4 years in the automotive industry, 3 in front of the camera. Occasionally seen at his family owned tyre shop. He will only buy cars that pass the big bottle test.
