Toyota Starlet Cross (2024) Launch Review
The Starlet Cross has superseded the Urban Cruiser as Toyota South Africa Motors’ most affordable small crossover. We drove the newcomer up in Gauteng this week.
We escaped a sodden Cape Town in favour of sunny Pretoria and our mission was simple: sample what (spoiler alert!) would immediately become one of the best-value vehicles on sale in South Africa and one that I fully expected would sell like proverbial hotcakes. I refer, of course, to the new Toyota Starlet Cross.
Now, as new as the Starlet Cross is to Toyota, it is, in fact, the twin under the skin of the Suzuki Fronx, which was launched in SA last year. Here, sans comical nameplate and Suzuki emblems, the Starlet Cross retails from just under R300k to R360k depending on which type of ‘box and trim grade you want.
All derivatives are powered by one of the SA vehicle market’s ubiquitous drivetrains: Suzuki’s naturally aspirated 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine paired with either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. That combo does duty in a wide assortment of Toyota and Suzuki small passenger cars, including the latter marque’s iconic Jimny off-roader. That’s certainly a testament to its robustness and a known entity when it comes to the after-sales experience which is, frankly, what Toyota truly excels at.
Budget crossovers are getting better – and multiplying
Before we get to the car itself, let’s reiterate that the B-SUV segment (in which the Starlet Cross and its Fronx half-sibling operate) – budget crossovers – is one of the liveliest ones in the South African new-vehicle market. Suzuki has been a force here – really opening it up with that initial Vitara Brezza model, which Toyota would eventually commandeer as its Urban Cruiser. We’ve compared those old models.
We’ve also seen Renault and Nissan enter the fray with the Indian-built Kiger and its cousin, the Magnite, as well as freshly minted models from China, such as the Haval Jolion, Chery Tiggo 4 Pro and Omoda C5. But I’d argue that the Fronx and this, the smartly titled Starlet Cross, are the most compelling offerings.
The Cross moniker has long been synonymous with hatchbacks that have been given an off-road flavour – think black body cladding, grey skid plates and a slightly raised body – so to tag this suffix to Toyota’s volume-selling Starlet, which won the budget car category of the 2020/21 #CarsAwards, makes sense.
Then there’s the fact that it shares the eye-catching coupe-like profile of its half-sibling, which makes it an even more attractive prospect. And, considering that the new Starlet Cross is meant to appeal to a youthful and adventurous demographic, specifically hikers, bikers and a veritable smorgasbord of other kinds of “outdoorsy types” between the ages of 25 and 39, I think they’ve well and truly nailed the brief.
Visually, there’s not much between the Starlet Cross and Suzuki Fronx beyond different badges and logos, save for a unique light signature (LEDs at the rear) and bumper layout. Like the Fronx, the Starlet Cross has a 3-dimensional trapezoidal grille (flipped vertically in this case), an assortment of sporty skid plates and garnishes including the non-functional roof rails and a chrome beltline along its profile.
At each corner, you’ll find a chunky 16-inch inch alloy wheel, while the body itself can be had in a choice of 6 monochrome paint finishes in base XS trim. If you opt for a pricier XR variant, however, you’ll have the extra option of your choice of 3 bi-tone paint jobs for an even trendier aesthetic, if that suits you.
Climb aboard and you’ll encounter a pleasant cabin featuring black and, um, berry compote-hued fabric seats, a leathery helm and a continuation of the chrome accents from the exterior. Under the bonnet, the 1.5-litre mill avails 77 kW/138 Nm to your right foot, irrespective of which transmission you’ve opted for.
We’re not breaking new ground here – this is a tried and tested urban runabout in a fresh suit. A manual variant will reportedly consume a miserly 5.6 litres per 100 km, with the auto delivering a return of 5.8. There are no surprises to report, the Starlet Cross driving experience was precisely what we expected it would be: predictable and honest. It’s a capable handler, and fairly confident on asphalt or gravel roads.
Sure, it won’t light a fire in your belly, but it will get you to your destination in relative comfort – and well-entertained, thanks to a 9-inch infotainment screen on our XR test unit (the XS gets a 7-inch item), in-car wifi, wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto, wireless charging (XR) and more. USB ports run rife fore and aft in the cabin, with good safety tech, including 6 airbags and a 360-degree camera (on the XR).
The auto aircon serves all passengers thanks to rear vents; occupant- and luggage space is satisfactory.
How much does the new Toyota Starlet Cross cost in SA?
| Starlet Cross 1.5 XS manual | R299 900 |
| Starlet Cross 1.5 XS auto | R322 300 |
| Starlet Cross 1.5 XR manual | R339 300 |
| Starlet Cross 1.5 XR auto | R359 300 |
Prices (in July 2024) include a 3-year/100 000 km warranty and a 4-services/60 000 km service plan.
See also: Toyota Starlet Cross (2024) Price & Specs
Summary
We spent half a day navigating bristling city centres and the suburbs before trundling along rural- and farm roads in the Toyota Starlet. But it didn’t take more than a few moments behind the ‘wheel to suss out that the model is likely to be a sales smash for Toyota. When the 2nd-gen Urban Cruiser became a bigger, more grown-up car than its predecessor, it left a gap that the chic Starlet Cross has now filled.
Yes, it’s budget-friendly and reasonably practical, but also attractively styled to appeal to the young –and young at heart. As I did for its Fronx half-sibling, I wholeheartedly endorse the Starlet Cross as a simple, honest small crossover that straddles the line between cheap and cheerful, but promises to be a good investment (if such a thing can exist in the world of depreciating assets) – that is the Toyota way.
Related content:
Suzuki Fronx (2024) Video Review
