A lot of Bang for your buck

Introduction: I thoroughly enjoyed driving this sub-compact SUV, hailing from the Suzuki Maruti plant in India. In my humble opinion I think that this car will sell well due to its decent pricing range and abundant array of standard features, often seen on way more expensive competitor alternatives. My wife actually said that this is the type of car for our daughters, when they are 18 years old, because in addition to the price and features, it scored a full five-star safety rating from the stringent European safety authority. The Toyota Corolla Cross scored 85% for adult occupants, 83% for child occupants, 87% for vulnerable road users and 82% for its safety assistance systems.

Engine/ Economy/ Drive/ Comfort: The Starlett Cross has a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that delivers a maximum 77kW of power and 138Nm of torque to the front wheels and the smooth 5 speed manual transmission works well between the gears with the correct dosage of revs. Toyota claim a 5.6 Liter combined average fuel economy, but I got to 6.6, which is still excellent considering my “Push me to the Floor” Parlotones type driving! The Machined alloy 16-inch wheels managed all that I threw at this vehicle, whilst sticking to the legal speed limits in and around Durban. Comfort levels in the front and rear were impressive and my passengers had good legroom and enough height to accommodate those humans taller than me, which is the majority of the planet.

Features: The huge list includes many standard features: Park Distance Control – Standard, Rear Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) - Standard, Brake Assist (BA) - Standard, Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) - Standard, Hill Assist Control (HAC) - Standard - Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) – Standard, Standard Air conditioner – Auto, Audio System, Toyota Display Audio, 9-inch Reverse Camera, Display Audio/ Panoramic View Monitor, Bluetooth, Standard Door Inside Handles, Chrome Floor Carpet Trim, Carpet Front Armrest, Standard With Slide Front Seat Vertical Adjuster, Driver Manual/ Glove Box, Standard Light, Light Remind Warning – Standard, Heads Up Display (HUD) – Standard, Rear View Mirror, Electro chromatic (EC), Key Reminder Warning – Standard, Luggage Room Lamp – Standard, Multi-Information Display, Standard TFT Colour,4.2-inch, Power Socket - Front - 12V, Power Steering, Electric (EPS), Electric Windows – All, Rear Air conditioner, Cooler Air Vents, 2nd Row Seats, 60:40 Manual, Room Lamp – Standard, Seat Trim – Fabric, Shift Lever & Knob, Urethane, Chrome, Speakers - Standard 6, Speedometer – Analog Tachometer, Steering Column Adjustments, Manual Tilt, Telescopic, Steering Switches, Standard/ Audio, Telephone, Cruise Control, Steering Wheel - 3 Spoke Leather, USB - Standard 3, Door Courtesy Lamp, Standard Wireless Charger, Standard Front x1, Centre Console, Standard Cup holder

Toyota Connect Enabled, Standard Android Auto & Apple CarPlay Connection, Standard Cable Android Auto, Wireless CarPlay, Luggage Tray, Standard USB Type A, Standard 2PCs, USB Type C, Standard 1PC, Keyless entry, Immobiliser Alarm, Centre Rear Seatbelt, Standard 3-Point, Child Lock, Standard Rear door, Child Restraint System (ISOFIX), Standard 2 Front Brake Ventilated Disc, Front Seat Belts ELR, Pretensioner Force Limiter, Rear Brake Drum, Rear Seat Belts, Standard/ ELR, Seat Belt Warning - Front + Rear, Wireless Door Lock, Standard Smart Entry, Rear Window Demister, Standard Airbags - Side, Curtain, Driver, Passenger

 

Interior/ Exterior/ Boot: The Starlett cross boasts a beautifully appointed interior with all that one would require at their fingertips when driving or when playing with the infotainment screen while waiting patiently for that extra maths lesson to end. The exterior looks, meet with my outdoor natured approval and the front sports 3D trapezoidal slats and the LED head and rear light cluster design looks rugged and eye catching. The 304 Liters of boot space appears bigger than that due to the deeper than normal boot, which I liked a lot. With 170 millimetres of ground clearance, you can be assured that you can go into the country for a picnic or if you are a Fly fisherman like me and are wanting to drive up that middelmannetjie to that secretly hidden trout dam, you can.

Price/ Warranty/ Service Plan: From R339300, 3 years / 100,000km, 4 Services / 60,000km,

12 months / 15,000km

 In Summary: The big question is whether, I would buy the Starlett Cross or not? My answer is a resounding YES, because this small SUV, is going to give a lot of satisfied customers years of enjoyment, for all the reasons mentioned already. Whether they are young at heart, older in their living years or simply adventurous in town and country spirit, this really could be the vehicle of choice for many.

*This article is written in my opinion only. For detailed information on the specs, please contact Toyota SA*