Toyota South Africa has confirmed to TopAuto that a new Starlet is on the way, but has not revealed when the hatchback will arrive.
“Following the success of the current-generation Starlet in our market, it is [natural] that the new-generation model will continue to form part of Toyota SA Motors’ product line-up,” said Toyota South Africa.
“We are unable to provide introduction timing at this stage.”
This news follows the recent South African launch of the second-generation Suzuki Baleno, the car upon which the Starlet is based.
What to expect
If you’re familiar with the current-generation Suzuki Baleno and Toyota Starlet then you’ll know there’s not much separating these vehicles – apart from the manufacturer badges, and a higher price for the Toyota.
There are also five Starlet specifications to choose from, whereas there are only three Balenos.
However, all eight of these hatchbacks are powered by a 1.4-litre engine producing 68kW and 130Nm, and can be paired to both a manual and automatic gearbox.
Additionally, the siblings offer many of the same features spanning their various equipment levels.
The next-generation Toyota Starlet should follow the same formula as that of its predecessor, by offering the Baleno’s engine and most of its equipment.
New Baleno
Suzuki’s new Baleno is fitted with a more powerful 1.5-litre petrol engine producing 77kW and 138Nm. A four-speed automatic or five-speed manual gearbox then takes care of sending drive to the front wheels.
Standard features in the Suzuki now include a 7-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, cruise control, climate control with rear vents, hill-hold assist, electric windows and mirrors, a leather multifunction steering wheel, and dual front airbags.
In the range-topping Baleno GLX, you also get a 360-degree camera system, keyless entry and start, all-round LED lights with daytime running lights, a heads-up display, six airbags, and a 9-inch central screen.
We expect the new Toyota Starlet to also offer these features as well as the same engine.
Keyword: New Toyota Starlet confirmed – What we know so far