The Toyota Starlet Cross is another rebranded Suzuki that revived the

The South African versions of the Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor and the Suzuki Fronx have different engines

The Toyota Starlet name is closely associated with subcompact hatchbacks – from the Yaris’ grandfather to today’s renamed Suzuki Baleno. Now Toyota South Africa has decided to use this legendary name for an urban SUV, creating the Starlet Cross.

The Toyota Starlet Cross looks familiar because it is another example of brand engineering. This SUV is the twin brother of the Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor and Suzuki Fronx for the Indian market.

More: Toyota Starlet may be reborn as 150-horsepower GR hatchback

As expected, the styling of the three cars is almost identical. Toyota-specific touches are limited to the front bumper, badging, and LED graphics on the split headlights and full-width taillights.

The reason for the name change is likely that South African buyers are already familiar with the Starlet, so the Starlet Cross is a suitable choice for a small SUV. After all, both Starlets are based on Suzuki chassis, and there is no Yaris Cross in the region to create unnecessary competition.

Toyota South Africa

The 3,995 mm (157.3 in) long Toyota Starlet Cross is based on Suzuki’s Heartect architecture. The only powertrain option in South Africa is a naturally aspirated 1.5-liter gasoline engine that produces 103 hp (77 kW / 105 PS) and 138 Nm (102 lb-ft) of torque. Buyers can choose between a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission. In both cases, power is sent to the front axle only.

For reference, the India-spec Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor and Suzuki Fronx offer a choice of mild-hybrid turbocharged 1.0-litre and naturally aspirated 1.2-litre petrol/CNG engines.

Inside the Toyota Starlet Cross, we found a 7-inch or 9-inch infotainment display, three USB slots, and a wireless charger. The entry-level XR trim is very basic, with only two airbags, while the flagship XS upgrades to six. None of them have ADAS, except for hill-start assist control.

Toyota Starlet Cross prices in South Africa range from 299,900 rupees ($16,226) to 359,300 rupees ($19,422). This is significantly more expensive than the Toyota Urban Taisor coupe in India, which is priced between 7.74 lakh rupees ($9,231) and 13.04 lakh rupees ($15,553), despite having a different powertrain.

Toyota South Africa