Starlet crossover for SA

TOYOTA announced it would add the Suzuki Fronx to its local line-up, but with its own badge, of course, and with some minor styling changes.

That's because Toyota and Suzuki have a share agreement in place.

While the Toyota-badged Fronx will be marketed in countries as the Taisor, the Japanese automotive giant revealed that in South Africa it will be the Starlet Cross, which makes perfect sense as the Starlet is already well-known locally.

By the looks of it, Toyota Motors South Africa will add this vehicle to its local offerings mid-year.

So far, Autodealer has established that the Starlet

Cross line-up will comprise four derivatives at launch, each powered by the ubiquitous 1.5 litre, four-cylinder petrol engine from Suzuki.

This power plant sends

77kW and 138Nm to the front axle via either a five-speed manual gearbox or a four-speed automatic transmission.

While Toyota has yet to announce official specifications for the South African-bound cars, according to Autodealer's source, the XS grade will include items such as 16-inch alloy wheels, LED headlamps, automatic air conditioning, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, a seven-inch touchscreen system, cruise control, rear parking sensors, and a reversing camera.

Safety features for the XS will include ABS with EBD, stability control, hill ascent control, dual front airbags and ISOfix child seat anchors.

XR trim level will add items such as silver (as opposed to black) side-sill garnish, four extra airbags (for a total of six), an electro-chromatic interior mirror, a colour instrument display, a nine-inch touchscreen, a 360-degree camera system, a head-up display, push-button start, wireless smartphone charging, an illuminated glovebox, and tilt-and-telescopic adjustment for the steering column.

Pricing at this stage is pure guesswork, but a good indication of what prospective Starlet Cross buyers will have to budget for is the current Suzuki Fronx's sticker price of R288 900.

Autodealer will report more on the Starlet Cross as soon as Toyota reveals more details.