Toyota Starlet First Drive Review: Brighter and faster for 2022

What’s new?

Let’s be completely honest - the first Starlet didn’t knock anybody’s socks off but offered excellent value for money with a relatively loaded spec sheet and a frugal 1.4-litre engine, for the practically inclined. With its new sexy urban exterior, however, buyers need not sacrifice substance for style anymore. 

 

Ready for the city and beyond

 

The improved Starlet is ready to take on the urban jungle in sharp new sheet metal and catchy styling, which comprises sleek headlamps with daytime running lamps, C-shaped, chrome-trimmed, fog lamp housings and an eye-catching honeycomb grille. At the rear, the C-shape is echoed by the 3D-taillight signature and rear garnish for a perter behind. 

 

 

On the Xi and XS models, a rear spoiler is added for improved aerodynamics. Viewed from the side, a keen eye will notice restyled side panels and a stronger shoulder line, while the edge of the rear glass has been lowered slightly for better outward visibility. The A, B, and C-pillars are still blacked out for that floating roof effect, and the Starlet stands 3cm higher in its boots than before. 

 

 

Inside the new Starlet

 

The Starlet's interior has enjoyed a thorough refresh too, courtesy of a new, dual-toned dashboard layout with an upmarket, flowing design. The dark blue of the bottom panel is repeated in the doors and on the seats, which elegantly brings the theme together.

Xi and Xs models are adorned with faux carbon fibre details while the Xr gets smatterings of chrome. The starlet also features a redesigned, three-spoke steering wheel with a sporty flat-bottom edge and satellite controls for excellent ergonomics.

 

 

The larger, hi-res infotainment touchscreen (7 inches in the Xi and Xs, 9 in the Xr) now resides on top of the dash for a clearer view from the driver’s side, while air-conditioning outlets have been placed directly underneath. (Xr models have rear air vents too and automatic aircon is a standard across the board).

 

Once you plug in your phone, Apple CarPlay or Android Auto functionality is activated immediately, with lovely large, clear icons that appear on-screen. Toyota offers free onboard Wi-fi with the full suite of Toyota Connect telematics, but data is a free 15GB once-off which can be topped up via Vodacom on the MyToyota app. The new Suzuki Baleno, which also launched this week, doesn’t feature anything like this.

The kids will be glad to hear that the Starlet also features four fast-charging USB ports across the board so that they too can charge their phones when on the move.

All five seats have also been enhanced for better support and the rear seat (which can be split 60/40) offers a generous amount of legroom. The voluminous boot can swallow up to 314 litres’ worth of luggage.

 

Driving the new Starlet

 

After breakfast, we hopped into an automatic Starlet, in top-spec Xr trim, at the V&A Waterfront for a leisurely drive along the Atlantic Seaboard, Hout Bay, and Chapman’s peak. Cape Town, at a sunny 28 degrees, was flaunting its splendour, and it felt more like late spring than early winter. 

 

 

It was my turn behind the sporty steering wheel first, and I quickly came to the conclusion that this is all the car you’ll ever need if you reside in Cape Town, or any town, for that matter: The Starlet is easy and fun to drive, and its suspension is built for roads in far worse condition than the Western Cape’s (it makes mincemeat of speed bumps thanks to softish suspension). And, when you’re driving an auto, time spent in traffic is a lot less painful. 

 

 

With my favourite playlist booming over the decent sound system, I couldn’t help but enjoy myself immensely, taking in the beautiful views of the indigo-and turquoise-coloured ocean below, while piloting the light-footed hatch which is absolutely stress-free to drive. The steering feel is slightly on the vague side but it isn’t going to put anyone off, unless that someone is used to driving premium coupés with razor-sharp handling every day.

As I’ve already mentioned, the new Starlet gets a more potent 1.5-litre engine with an output of 77 kW and 138 nm versus the previous 1.4 powerplant’s 68 kW with 130 Nm of torque. This output increase will be more tangible in the manual models but it feels powerful enough in the auto for the average Joe’s daily needs. The fuel economy in the city came to about 6.6 litres per 100 km, but traffic was quite heavy.

 

 

All models are equipped with ABS, EBD, (hill-start assist is new), and stability control, while the Xi and Xs models have rear parking sensors. The Xr-variant gets a rear-view camera too. All models have two airbags but the Xr model is equipped with curtain airbags, bringing the total to six.

 

Pricing

Prices have only gone up by R1000, despite the larger engine and added spec and Starlets are sold with a 3-year/45 000 km service plan.

1.5L Xi MT	5-speed manual	R226 200
1.5L Xs MT	5-speed manual	R239 100
1.5L Xs AT	4-speed automatic	R261 100
1.5L XR MT	5-speed manual	R294 400
1.5 XR AT	4-speed automatic	R313 300

Verdict

 

The Starlet, which competes with the Polo Vivo and Polo, measures up impressively, with plenty more convenience features for the money. Going head-to-head with the most affordable Vivo, the 1.5L Xi MT (entry-level) Starlet is R9000 cheaper but makes the Vivo look a bit sparsely-specced in comparison where convenience features, space, and tech are concerned.

 

Watch out Polo - the Starlet’s coming for your customers.