How does it fare in terms of the following?
1. Price
The Toyota Starlet is one of the most affordable hatchbacks that offer the most bang for your buck. In this price range, it's hard to find a decent amount of space and safety features, even if interior comfort equipment is sufficient, and don't forget that the Starlet is powered by a 1.4-litre engine while most cars in this segment make do with 1.2-litre power plants. The entry-level Starlet, the 1.4L Xi MT, starts from R213 200. View full specs and prices for each Starlet on the Toyota website, here.
2. Space
The Starlet has plenty of room up front, but also on the second row, even for taller adults. The middle seat is not too narrow, although it's only equipped with a lap belt. If you're a family of four, this is hardly an issue. The outer rear seats have easy-to-reach Isofix anchorage points for baby / child seats.
The boot is generously sized and also bigger than what we usually see in this segment. The kids will be able to load their large school bags into it with ease. The same goes for the baby stroller; there's certainly enough room for it (without the school bags, of course).
3. Safety
All Starlets have ABS, EBD and at least 2 airbags, while top spec Starlet XR variants have 6. Vehicle stability control is standard across the board, while automatic models have hill-start assist. (Xi and Xs models are fitted with driver and passenger airbags, while the XR variants also feature curtain and side airbags, bringing the total to six.) The view to the rear is displayed in the touchscreen system on XR models (displayed in the photos).
4. Infotainment
If you love your on-board tech, you'll be glad to hear about the Toyota telematics system, ToyotaConnect, that works via an app on your phone. Each Starlet is also Wi-Fi ready and can be topped up with data as needed. The XR model has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, while the more affordable models have Bluetooth connectivity. There is one USB port up front as well as a 12V power socket, which can be utilised for plugging in another USB-hub to keep everyone's devices charged up. There's another 12V power socket available for rear passengers as well.
5. Fuel economy, power, and ride quality
The Starlet is very fuel efficient: 17-18 litres per km is are to be sneezed at, while its 1.4 engine feels much more punchy than its power figures suggest. Our biggest surprise was on a dirt road which was worse for wear after heavy rainfall. The Starlet handled it with aplomb, never skipping a beat over potholes and deep puddles. The Starlet is based on the Suzuki Baleno, which is built to withstand India's road surfaces, so it certainly makes sense that the suspension does such a stellar job. Traction control is standard across the board for additional safety and surefootedness.
If you have your heart set on a Starlet, why not look for a lightly-used model or a demo model? We found nearly-new Starlets for excellent prices on our site. You can check them out here.
