A small star shining brightly

Brief history of the Starlet

The Toyota Starlet is a subcompact vehicle manufactured by Toyota from 1973 to 1999. The first generation of Starlet was sold as the Publica Starlet in some markets.

The Starlet was a small compact sedan, which was the smallest Toyota made at the time. It has gone through 5 generations going from rear wheel drive to front wheel drive, a 3, 5 and even 4 door body type and also a removable roof model.

There were three generations of the turbocharged Starlets: the Turbo S 1986–1989 (EP71), the turbo GT 1990–1995 (EP82), and the Glanza V 1996–1999 (EP91). Another variant was the Sera, manufactured in the early 1990s and officially sold only in Japan;

The Sera had a unique two-door coupe body and gullwing doors, but shared the chassis and mechanics of the Starlet.

The Starlet has competed in rally championships and won awards along the way.

The Starlet EP81 took part in the WRC Acropolis Rally in Greece and won the A5 class. The car has also competed in the Starlet One Make Race in Japan, the Indonesian Touring Car Championship and rallies in the Caribbean.

From 1981 to 1984 the Starlet was briefly exported to North America.
In 1999, the vehicle was replaced by the Vitz, sold under the name Echo or Yaris in international markets.

Relaunched after 21 years, the Starlet, "a little shining star", returns to the B segment, specially prepared for the African market, as a city car, but spacious and comfortable to enjoy the road.
The Starlet is an entry-level Toyota model, with good performance and an affordable price. It offers a modern exterior design, a spacious interior and very rich equipment levels.

Modern exterior

The exterior design follows a classic hatchback profile, with a short, downward sloping nose and a rounded tailgate. A chrome V-shaped grille with the Toyota logo in the center is connected to two headlights arranged vertically. The side profile features upper and lower fold lines that follow the contours, creating a feeling of movement. The prominent wheel arches give the Starlet a real presence on the road.

The rear design revolves around the large red LED taillights. These lights are connected by a trapezoidal recess in the lower part of the bumper. The overall result is a compact and elegant design.

Interior design

The interior design gives priority to space and ergonomics, without compromising on aesthetics. The suspended central part contains the ventilation, infotainment and air conditioning equipment. The contour lines create a sense of harmony with the exterior design. A large three-spoke steering wheel incorporates control buttons.

Engine and performance


The Starlet is powered by a 1.4-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine. This engine is agile and facilitates daily travel. Its power is 68 kW at 6,000 rpm and 130 Nm at 4,200 rpm.

Two transmission choices are offered, a 5-speed manual gearbox and a 4-speed automatic gearbox.

Safety and security

All Starlet models are generously equipped with safety and security features that include active electronic aids such as ABS, EBD and Brake Assist (BA).
For details on quality, specifications and price, please contact your local distributor.