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The Starlet was a massively popular price-leader model for Toyota in Australia between 1996 and 1999, competing with Ford and Mazda’s mechanically identical Festiva and 121 twins.
Powered by a 1.3-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine, the small FWD three- and five-door hatch was offered with a five-speed gearbox or three-speed auto transmission.
The line-up currently starts at $1,930 for the Starlet Life and ranges through to $4,070 for the range-topping Starlet Max.
Check out real-world situations relating to the Toyota Starlet here, particularly what our experts have to say about them.
PERHAPS you should ask yourself why our governments haven't standardised with most of the world on left-hand drive. That would fix your complaint immediately. The reason carmakers don't standardise is the cost of engineering cars for right-hand-drive markets. Jumping between cars all the time I, too, occasionally wipe the windscreen when I don't mean to, but do it once and you learn not to do it again. It's not a big deal in my view.
YOUR Starlet should run on regular unleaded without pinging, so I'd suspect crook fuel. Try different outlets using different brands, making sure you buy from a high-volume outlet so you're not buying old fuel.
The Toyota Starlet is available in a number of variants and body types that are powered by ULP fuel type(s). It has an estimated fuel consumption starting from 5.7L/100km for Hatchback /ULP for the latest year the model was manufactured.
| Year | Body Type | Fuel Consumption* | Engine | Fuel Type | Transmission | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Hatchback | 5.7L/100km | 1.3L | ULP | 5 SP MAN | |
| 1998 | Hatchback | 5.7L/100km | 1.3L | ULP | 5 SP MAN | |
| 1997 | Hatchback | 5.7L/100km | 1.3L | ULP | 5 SP MAN | |
| 1996 | Hatchback | 5.7L/100km | 1.3L | ULP | 5 SP MAN | |
The price range for the Toyota Starlet varies based on the trim level you choose. Starting at $1,930 and going to $4,070 for the latest year the model was manufactured. The model range is available in the following body types starting from the engine/transmission specs shown below.
| Year | Body Type | Specs | Price from | Price to | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Hatchback | 1.3L, ULP, 5 SP MAN | $1,930 | $4,070 | |
| 1998 | Hatchback | 1.3L, ULP, 5 SP MAN | $1,930 | $4,070 | |
| 1997 | Hatchback | 1.3L, ULP, 5 SP MAN | $1,930 | $4,070 | |
| 1996 | Hatchback | 1.3L, ULP, 5 SP MAN | $1,930 | $4,070 | |
The Toyota Starlet has a number of different wheel and tyre options. When it comes to wheel size, these range from 13x5 inches for Hatchback in 1999.
| Year | Body Type | Front Tyre Size | Front Rim | Rear Tyre Size | Rear Rim | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Hatchback | — | 13x5 inches | — | 13x5 inches | |
| 1998 | Hatchback | — | 13x5 inches | — | 13x5 inches | |
| 1997 | Hatchback | — | 13x5 inches | — | 13x5 inches | |
| 1996 | Hatchback | — | 13x5 inches | — | 13x5 inches | |
The dimensions of the Toyota Starlet Hatchback vary according to year of manufacture and spec level.
| Year | Body Type | Height x Width x Length | Ground Clearance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Hatchback | 1400x1625x3740 mm | 135 mm | |
| 1998 | Hatchback | 1400x1625x3740 mm | 135 mm | |
| 1997 | Hatchback | 1400x1625x3740 mm | 135 mm | |
| 1996 | Hatchback | 1400x1625x3740 mm | 135 mm | |
The Toyota Starlet has maximum towing capacity of 600kg for the latest model available.
| Year | Body Type | Braked Capacity from | Braked Capacity to | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Hatchback | 600kg | 600kg | |
| 1998 | Hatchback | 600kg | 600kg | |
| 1997 | Hatchback | 600kg | 600kg | |
| 1996 | Hatchback | 600kg | 600kg | |
