Toyota’s most affordable crossover, the Starlet Cross made its debut in 2024 and is already dotting the roads in abundance. As is the case of its smaller sibling, the Starlet, it is the twin to the Suzuki Fronx and Baleno. It is essentially the Starlet on steroids.
The main difference between the Starlet Cross and its seemingly smaller sibling is higher ground clearance, grey skid plates, black body cladding around the wheel arches and on the side sills, the bumper, grille, light design, new colours and roof rails.
The drive
Where the Toyota Starlet Cross really shines is in local run-about driving. It provides an extremely comfortable drive and performs well. Granted, within this kind of driving if you encounter hills often you might find it a bit bothersome.
As expected of any vehicle under the guise of affordability, anticipation of hills and overtaking is absolutely essential. I am accustomed to this in my own day-to-day car, so it does not normally bother me but in the Starlet Cross it was quite noticeable. At times, I felt that if you needed to gear down to fourth or third, you had to go down even lower to gain the necessary power.
Once you move to highway driving it could be a bit disappointing. You can gain speeds steadily and maintain them easily but should you also be forced to slow down on an incline or need to unexpectedly overtake, the performance is lacking. Handling, however, is sturdy and cornering comes with Toyota confidence.
It has a 1.5-litre, naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine. This provides 77 kW of power while the torque sits at 138 Nm. I feel a bit more power would not be amiss but if that is what you want it may be better to take a step up into the next segment with the Toyota Corolla Cross. The engine and power is also how the frugal fuel consumption is achieved.
The tested vehicle was the 5-speed manual option. If I bought the car this is probably the model I would choose as the other only has a four-speed automatic transmission. While this is adequate especially as a primarily run-about car, it does impact performance even more. At the launch of the Fronx, Suzuki mentioned that there were no plans in the immediate future to change this which is a pity.
Claimed fuel consumption is 5.6l/100km while we achieved 6.7l/100km. This is no doubt impressive but that particular test period was a very busy time so the 6.7 reading was still with more than three quarters of a tank left.
It is not surprising the fuel consumption is impressive because the Suzuki platform the Starlet Cross shares is well-known for its fuel efficiency. I would have liked to see what the consumption was with only a quarter tank left but, ultimately, the consumption definitely has potential for improvement.
The design
The Starlet Cross is meant to be aerodynamic and styled to turn heads. The 3-dimensional surface of the crossover contrasts light and shade to emphasise its athletic profile.
A defining design aesthetic is the chrome garnish on the front grille and reprofiled LED headlamps. These enhance visibility and add a touch of sophistication. Twin LED Daytime Running Lights are borrowed from the Urban Cruiser.
At the rear, the Starlet Cross has LED taillights (with a Starlet-specific light signature) extending from end-to-end. It features a rear skid plate and roof end spoiler for a sporty yet functional finish.
The tested vehicle also featured plated door belt garnish and distinctive black and chrome side sill garnishes to add to its sporty demeanour. The design is completed with 16” wheels with a unique finish.
The interior features hard plastics in places but this serves both practical and economic purposes. While I normally hesitate to say a Toyota is affordable, the Starlet Cross is priced reasonably for what you get. The test vehicle did have soft touch leather on parts of the dash and door.
The Starlet Cross was actually the third test vehicle in a row featuring dual-tone seats mixing brown (or Bordeaux) and black. I am not convinced of this decision, but this is very much a personal preference. Brown accents often elevate the perceived sophistication and perhaps this was the intention. Granted, both the interior and exterior appear higher end initially.
The seats also feature vertical lines which are also something I am increasingly seeing in new vehicles as opposed to the usual plain or stitched pattern. There is also chrome accents throughout. This adds to the modernity of the Starlet Cross.
Something that is interesting is that many think crossovers are bigger than hatches. I believe this is seldom the case, including with the Starlet Cross. The interior is essentially the same as the Starlet – the seemingly bigger vehicle comes from a marginally larger exterior design and higher ground clearance. Ground clearance is increased by 30mm and it has an extra 20mm of width.
A case in point is the middle console between the front seats. It was so small that I could not fit my phone inside properly. It was both amusing and an example of the folly of assuming all crossovers are bigger inside.
This does not, however, mean the Starlet Cross is not a good size. It is more than adequate for a family of four. Even the boot is fair size as it has extra depth. It would likely be large enough for a short holiday. If you have prams and lots of luggage it may not quite be the best holiday vehicle, but it does have a braked towing capacity of 1 000kg.
Stepping inside
The higher derivative, the Starlet Cross XR, has wireless charging capability. This is particularly appreciated as Toyota’s most affordable crossover. Many vehicles in this segment and below leave out features like this to save on costs.
If your phone is not wireless charging enabled or you prefer to plug in using a cord, there is a USB port in the front and both a USB and C-Port in the rear.
Features in the Starlet Cross that I think all vehicles should have
- A good-sized infotainment screen (9.1’’) that does not catch the glare of the sun
- Climate control with the ability to quickly adjust it using knobs or buttons
- The ability to adjust screen brightness, turn certain safety features off, adjust light brightness and various other options with a button and not only on the infotainment screen
- Android Auto and Apple CarPlay that connects seamlessly when you start up
Other features in the Starlet Cross include climate control, AC vents in the rear, cruise control and a leather tilt steering wheel.
The XR model adds tilt/telescopic steering wheel, electrochromic rearview mirror, colour multi-information display, driver seat height adjustment, start button, smart entry, heads-up display (notable in a vehicle in this price range) and 360-degree panoramic view monitor reverse camera (with the option to change the view).
Safety
One of my favourite safety features in the Starlet Cross is on start up it displays a 360-degree augmented reality view of what is around the vehicle. If there is an obstacle you did not notice before climbing in or something not detected by the sensors, this should prevent mistakes like that.
You can also activate the cameras if you need to check your surroundings which is not only limited to activating when you switch to reverse. This is aided by motion sensors that indicate on the driver information screen whether movement is detected around the vehicle before you even start.
Other standard safety features include:
- Vehicle Stability Control
- Hill Assist Control
- ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution
- Six airbags – front, side, and curtain airbags – in XR models and driver and passenger airbags in the XS
- Electric demister
- ISOFIX points
Would I purchase the Starlet Cross?
It is important to consider that there is a near identical crossover under a different name plate on the market. The main differences are in their interior and exterior design. The one comes in marginally cheaper (around R100 difference in repayments per month in the entry level model) and it has a better warranty and service plan.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the Starlet Cross and it would be one of my top considerations in this segment presenting quality, value for money and many extra perks. For most, the decision will come down to brand loyalty, reputation and to the vehicle design you like better.
Good to know
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre, naturally aspirated four-cylinder
Transmission: 5-speed manual or 4-speed auto
Power: 77 kW
Torque: 138 Nm
Fuel consumption(claimed): 5.6l/100km
Fuel consumption (achieved): 6.7l/100km
Price: from R299 900
Warranty and service plan: 4-services/60 000km service plan and a 3-year/100 000km warranty. Additional service/maintenance/warranty extensions available
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