New Toyota Starlet Cross vs Starlet vs Urban Cruiser – The differences you need to know about

Shopping for an affordable Toyota in South Africa just got a lot more complicated, as there are now three separate cars that ostensibly offer the same thing.

The three vehicles in question are the Starlet, the newly launched Starlet Cross, and the Urban Cruiser, which share the same engine and model line-up but crucially have different price tags.

Despite their similarities, the Starlet asks for a minimum of R252,100, while the Cross and Urban Cruiser require at least R299,900 and R342,500, respectively.

With that in mind, it’s worth breaking down what each of these models has to offer to see where the differences lie, and which one is the best deal.

The key differences

The first thing to clarify is that the Starlet is a hatchback, while the Starlet Cross and Urban Cruiser are crossovers.

As its name suggests, the Starlet Cross shares a platform with the Starlet, though the former is slightly larger owing to its body style.

The Urban Cruiser, meanwhile, is the biggest of the group, as you’d expect from its window sticker.

You can see a breakdown of the three cars’ dimensions in the table below:

The telltale sign that the Starlet and Starlet Cross are built on the same platform is that they have the same wheelbase, but other than that, the crossover is a bit larger in every direction.

The main advantage of the Cross is its improved ground clearance, which may come in handy on South Africa’s roads, but the Urban Cruiser is the clear winner in terms of size, ground clearance, and boot space.

Effort was put into the visuals of each vehicle to ensure that they appear distinct from one another, starting with a unique grill for each model.

All three sport slim LED daytime running lights, while Starlet Cross has a singular rear lightbar that the others don’t, and it features a rear skid plate that is absent on the hatchback.

Depending on the trim level, the Starlet comes with 15-inch steel or 16-inch alloy rims, while every Cross is fitted with 16-inch alloys, and the Urban Cruiser boasts larger 17-inch steel or alloy wheels.

The most important attribute that unites the Toyota family, however, is the engine, as all three run on the same 1.5-litre, naturally-aspirated petrol block with 77kW and 138Nm.

Likewise, the gearbox selection is the same, as buyers can either go for a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic shifter, and every model in the line-up is front-wheel drive.

The only real difference comes in the form of fuel consumption, owing to the variations in the size and weight of each badge.

Unsurprisingly, the hatchback is the most frugal of the group with an average of 5.7l/100km, while the Starlet Cross uses 5.8l/100km, and the Cruiser is the thirstiest at 6.1l/100km.

The interior of each car is fundamentally the same, save for a few alterations in the colours of the panels and upholstery, as the Starlet has a navy theme while the Cross is burgundy, and the Cruiser is black.

One thing to note is that the hatchback is the only one to be offered in an entry-level XI trim, as the others are only sold in XS and XR guise.

The Starlet XI therefore sets the benchmark with rear parking sensors, hill assist, fabric seats, automatic air conditioning, a multifunction steering wheel, four speakers, and a 7-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

This spread is mostly the same for the base Cross and Cruiser, though both of these also come with cruise control and a reverse camera.

The top-end XR units for all three vehicles then add a larger 9-inch touchscreen, keyless entry and start, and chrome finishes for components like the door handles.

Interestingly, the Starlet and Starlet Cross XR can have up to six speakers, while the Urban Cruiser is capped at four.

The range-topping Starlet Cross also has three unique items, likely as a result of it being the newest of the group, including a panoramic camera system, a wireless charging pad, and a heads-up display.

Pricing

The price comparison between the trio is made easier by the fact that they share the same trim levels, ranging from XI to XS and XR.

The prices for each Toyota is as follows:

Considering that the Urban Cruiser lacks an automatic XS option, it is by far the most expensive choice if you are set on a self-shifting model.

Every Toyota is sold with a 3-year/100,000km warranty. The Starlet also comes with a 3-service/45,000km service plan, while both crossovers are bundled with an extended 4-service/60,000km plan.

Toyota Starlet

Toyota Starlet Cross

Toyota Urban Cruiser