Bucket Seat: Toyota Starlet Cross XR

Toyota and Suzuki share a strange product sharing agreement, while the two companies remain separate entities, the shared model platforms are becoming a bit weird to the keen observer. Suzuki produce a number of models that have been re-badged and sold locally as a Toyota product, this makes sense if the Suzuki variant wasn't sold here but as in all cases the Suzuki model is launched first, followed by the Toyota "version", the more surprising fact is that even with Suzuki launching their model first, the Toyota model still outsells the original Suzuki model. That is the power of brand loyalty I guess, it all started when the Suzuki Baleno was brought, sales of this 1.5L medium sized hatchback wasn't great, a year or so later, it lands on our shores badges as the "Toyota Starlet" and it sells in its thousands. Even though the car is basically still a Suzuki, but because of the name on the car, it drew in the sales. Fast forward to 2023 and Suzuki launches their compact SUV the Fronx. It looked like Toyota backed off with this model after sales of their Urban Cruiser wiped the floor of its half-sibling the Grand Vitara but low and behold, the Toyota Starlet Cross landed on our shores this year and yes, you guessed it, sales are skyrocketing for it. I spent some time with this model and here are my thoughts on the car. 

DESIGN

The Toyota Starlet Cross has a bold yet compact design, with sharp lines and an aggressive front fascia that set it apart from the more understated traditional Starlet. The front end is highlighted by a prominent grille with Toyota’s signature trapezoidal shape, flanked by sleek LED headlamps and angular DRLs, giving it a stylish, almost upscale look for its category.  In profile, it features roof rails, black body cladding along the wheel arches, and 16-inch alloy wheels (depending on trim), giving it a rugged, go-anywhere appearance. The rear design maintains a compact aesthetic with sculpted taillights that wrap around the body, adding to the car's sporty profile. It is a looker of note with it attracting keen interests from passes by during my time with it, this was also helped by the outstanding colour called "Fine Orange" with Bi-tone Black. There's no faulting it from any angle and with the additional aluminium scuff plates on the front and the back, gives it that off-roading menace look that would be nice to see on the rally track, subtle hint for Toyota there. 

PERFORMANCE

Under the hood, the Starlet Cross typically offers a choice of small-displacement, fuel-efficient engines, often a 1.5-liter inline-4 or a 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder, depending on the region. 1.5-Liter Inline-4 Engine: This naturally aspirated engine generates around 77kW and138 Nm of torque. This particular model featured the 5-speed manual transmission and worked well with this engine that is tuned for efficiency and city drivability, offering adequate acceleration and smooth power delivery. Fuel economy is one of the Starlet Cross's strong points with it being able to deliver up to 5.6L per 100km under optimal conditions The Starlet Cross rides comfortably on city streets, absorbing bumps and rough patches with ease. The suspension is tuned for a balance of comfort and control, making it agile enough for urban driving while still stable at highway speeds. The electric power steering is light, making it easy to maneuver in tight spaces, but it can feel a bit numb at higher speeds. While it’s not a sports car, the Starlet Cross handles corners confidently thanks to its low curb weight and well-tuned suspension. Body roll is minimal, and it’s a stable choice for light off-roading, though it’s best suited for city roads and light countryside trails.

COMFORT

Inside, the Starlet Cross offers a refined, practical cabin with an intuitive layout and ample space for passengers and cargo. The materials are durable, with a blend of soft-touch plastics, textured surfaces, and subtle chrome accents on higher trims. Toyota has focused on ergonomics, making sure frequently used controls are within easy reach.  The seats are well-cushioned and supportive, offering good lateral support for longer drives. This XR model featured bi-colour cloth seats but the material felt really premium. The driver’s seat is adjustable, and in some variants, the steering wheel is also telescopically adjustable, ensuring a comfortable driving position. Despite its subcompact classification, the Starlet Cross has decent interior space. There’s ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room for front and rear passengers, making it suitable for family use. With the rear seats up, it offers around 320 liters of cargo space, expandable to 710 liters with the seats folded flat. The Starlet Cross is equipped with Toyota's latest infotainment system, which varies depending on the market but typically includes a 7- or 9-inch touchscreen display. This system supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, making it easy to connect smartphones for navigation, calls, and music streaming. Standard safety features on the Startlet Cross include: Dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, and stability control come standard across all trims.

VERDICT

The Toyota Starlet Cross is a smart choice for drivers seeking a reliable, economical, and practical subcompact SUV with just enough style and flair to stand out. While at the heart of the car it remains a Suzuki, you can tell Toyota had some influence in the car, with a dependability with a modern, user-friendly design, making it well-suited for urban families, young professionals, or anyone looking for an efficient crossover that performs well in a variety of driving conditions. The Toyota Starlet Cross offers good value, especially for buyers looking for a reliable, fuel-efficient SUV that can handle both city and light off-road driving. The starting price is competitive within its class, and Toyota’s reputation for long-term durability is a strong selling point over it's product sharing partner Suzuki. Additionally, the availability of various trims and options means there’s likely a Starlet Cross model to fit most budgets and needs and its looks are just an added bonus. 

 SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	1.5L, 4-cylinder NA
Gear Box	5-Speed Manual
Torque	138Nm
Power	77kW
Fuel Consumption	5.6L per 100km
Price	R299,900

Bucket Seat: Suzuki Grand Vitara Hybrid

The 2023 Suzuki Grand Vitara Hybrid AllGrip is a notable addition to Suzuki's lineup, blending the company's rich SUV heritage with modern hybrid technology. This model promises a balanced mix of performance, efficiency, and off-road capability, aiming to cater to a wide range of drivers. Now while we are well aware of the splitting image model from the other brand available on the market, Suzuki held the trump card on keeping the hybrid engine for itself, this would make the appeal for the Suzuki slightly more beneficial to the prospective buyer over the other brand which only had the petrol offering. 

DESIGN

The Grand Vitara remains one of the most attractive SUV's in its segment with modern sports  contemporary yet rugged design, featuring bold lines and a robust stance that emphasizes its off-road capabilities. The front fascia is dominated by a prominent grille flanked by sleek LED headlights, giving it a distinctive and assertive look. The AllGrip variant comes with stylish alloy wheels and underbody protection, enhancing both aesthetics and functionality for off-road enthusiasts. I'm particularly fond of the light designs both in the front and the rear with LED designs to enhance the housing they're in. The right amount of chrome to elevate the sharp lines of the front accentuate the cars presence from the front and the bi-colour paint tone with black roof gives that car an elegant look. 

PERFORMANCE

The hybrid powertrain combines a 1.5L petrol engine with an electric motor, delivering a smooth and efficient performance with performance outputs of 76kW and 137Nm of torque. The transition between petrol and electric power is seamless, providing a refined driving experience thanks to the 6-speed automatic gearbox. The AllGrip all-wheel-drive system enhances traction and stability, making it capable on a variety of terrains. Whether navigating city streets or tackling off-road trails, the Grand Vitara Hybrid AllGrip handles with confidence and poise. One of the standout features of the 2023 Grand Vitara Hybrid AllGrip is its fuel efficiency. The hybrid system significantly reduces fuel consumption, making it an economical choice for daily commutes and long-distance travel. Drivers can expect impressive mileage, contributing to lower running costs and reduced environmental impact.

COMFORT

Inside, the Grand Vitara Hybrid AllGrip offers a well-crafted and spacious cabin. High-quality materials and a modern design ensure a comfortable and pleasant driving experience. The seats are supportive, and the driver’s seat offers a good range of adjustments to accommodate various body types. Rear passengers benefit from ample legroom and headroom, making long journeys comfortable. The cargo space is generous, with the option to fold the rear seats for additional storage.

TECHNOLOGY

Suzuki has equipped the 2023 Grand Vitara Hybrid AllGrip with a suite of modern technology. The infotainment system features a large touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, providing seamless connectivity. The vehicle also includes a premium sound system, Bluetooth, and USB ports. Safety features are comprehensive, with adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, and a 360-degree camera system, ensuring peace of mind on the road. Not forgetting the pop up heads up display that can be deployed when wanted and tucks away neatly above the instrument cluster on the dash. 

VERDICT

The  Grand Vitara Hybrid AllGrip is a well-rounded SUV that successfully blends modern hybrid technology with Suzuki’s renowned off-road capability. Its stylish design, comfortable interior, advanced features, and efficient performance make it an appealing choice for a wide range of drivers. Whether you’re looking for a family vehicle, an off-road adventurer, or an eco-friendly commuter, the Grand Vitara Hybrid AllGrip stands out as a versatile and reliable option in the competitive SUV market. Coming back to its evil twin, you can see why Toyota didn't mind opting for the Hybrid option in their line-up as it would be in direct competition with one of their best selling, locally manufactured offering, the Corolla Cross Hyrbid. While the two are very different cars, seeing the price point may make many opt for the slightly bigger model. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	1.5L Petrol Engine with Electric Motor
Gear Box	6-speed automatic
Torque	137Nm
Power	76kW
Fuel Economy	5.6L per 100km
Price	R542,900

Bucket Seat: ISUZU mu-X 1.9

The ever popular SUV segment is booming in the country and whilst many are opting for the smaller fuel efficient models, the larger 7-seater models are still the ones that most have their eye on. But with the increase in fuel prices and high economy averages that come with these big engine SUV's, its not a very attractive segment, this is why Isuzu took the decision to launch their popular mu-X model with a new value orientated 1.9-litre engine and I got the chance to experience it at their local media drive in Durban yesterday. This expands the local model line-up to a total of six mu-X models, the largest range yet for the company. 

“Adding a new entry-level 1.9-litre model significantly broadens the appeal of the mu-X. It is perfect for customers who are drawn to the outstanding space, comfort and versatility provided by our popular SUV, but require greater affordability and lower running costs,” says Kevin Fouche, Department Executive: Product Planning and Programme Management at ISUZU Motors South Africa.

“This is the first time we’ve offered the mu-X with the proven 1.9-litre Ddi engine and at this price point. We believe the timing is perfect due to the continued growth of the SUV segment,” Fouche says. “The competitive pricing makes it an attractive proposition for family-oriented customers making the step up from a sedan, hatchback or bakkie, and we are confident that the proven 1.9-litre engine’s exceptional fuel economy will be a major drawcard too.”

Now I know what you must be thinking, a 1.9-liter engine propelling such a large SUV with 7-seats? Surely its not going to drive well, on the contrary my first impressions were rather surprised. Yes, its not going to win any 0-100km/h races but you have to look at the target market for this sort of car. I hate to use the term but soccer moms are top of the list. Spacious cabin, loads of space in the boot and just the right amount of tech that keeps the mu-X on par with most of the competitors in the segment. The 1.9-liter Ddi motor produces 110kW and 350Nm of torque, which is more that sufficient for the car. Yes with a full load it would tend to feel some strain but nothing out of the ordinary from your other smaller cars. The thing is, with the people who will be driving this model, they won't be in a rush to get that they will need maximum power and torque all the time and the roads would most likely be urban and not highway driving. That being said, on long distances, the mu-X 1.9 can give you well over a 1000km from a single tank, that is a return trip from Durban to Jhb!

Styling wise, Isuzu have done an amazing job, it is one of the most attractive looking SUV's on the market, nothing too brash but modern and stylish that is very easy on the eye. The new Bi-LED headlamps have a sleek finish which integrates well with the front end which has a very edgy molded grille and bumper. The fog lamps are fitting into isometric style housings on either side of the front bumper. It really gives the car a great modern look, the rest of the design is smooth with the back well rounded off with the rear lights being edgy and finished off in a smoked housing. The rims have a turbine blade like inspired design with the alloy colour being a light grey that picks up the profile of the car. 

The interior is extremely spacious, the 7-inch infotainment screen is easy to use and has built-in mobile apps with wireless connectivity. There is a USB B outlet in front with an aux outlet as well as power point,  the second row gets two USB B outlets so there's not fighting over who gets to charge their phones. The car comes with standard air-conditioning, no climate control but if it managed to quell the Durban humidity, I'm sure it will be fine anywhere else in the country. The seats are extremely comfortable and I'm told even the third row seating is comfy for adults, I'll have to check on that when I get it on test but on the road, little to none road noise, the ride quality was unfault-worthy and overall a very pleasant experience. 

Isuzu have something special on their hands with this one, and with a starting price of R708,000 I can see it doing quite well in the local market. 

Bucket Seat: 2022 Hyundai Creta Executive

The Hyundai Creta is probably one of the more popular compact SUV’s in the local market with the first generation doing remarkably well with sales. It offered the consumer a mid-to-large cabin with decent luggage capacity with great fuel economy and that is what the recipe of the Creta is in a nutshell, fast forward to the last model on the market, it’s definitely gotten better in looks and packs quite a bit of tech offering but still has those core values of the original model. I had the opportunity to spend almost 2 weeks with the Creta in which I traveled over 2,300km with it, so I got to know the car pretty well with my time with it, here are my thoughts on it.

DESIGN 

The revised Creta design sees major design changes to the front of the car that sports an almost identical face to that of the new Tucson. The bold new grill which incorporates the new headlights is a striking feature that catches your attention almost immediately, bold borders outline the shape which tapers off to the bottom to join the bottom bumper. The car which was in a metallic red/ maroon suited the car perfectly even with the silver brushed aluminium accents. The car has a great body design with clever lines adding to the bulk look, making it more of a crossover design than SUV.  The rest of the body is pretty similar to the previous model with subtle design tweaks to enhance the appearance. The biggest change on the rear sees the shape of the rear lights change a bit, still sticking to that C shape but with the top line extended, making it look like J now I suppose. They did well to break the design with distinct characteristics, such as the greys, blacks and borders, would have liked to have the roof in a full black colour since there was no panoramic roof offering. The inside remains pretty similar to the pre-facelift model with the cabin being very spacious, and comfortable place to sit in. 

PERFORMANCE 

Powered by a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine, there’s nothing to write home about in-terms of performance but after travelling around most of KZN and parts of the Free State, the true beauty of this car showed itself on the long open road giving me close to 650km on a single tank of fuel! With the engine producing 84kW and 144Nm of torque, it isn’t bad when you require the power and it does brilliantly when coasting, this is also helped a lot by the IVT gearbox that works like a charm, and isn’t as annoying as the CVT boxes found in the other cars. Being a small car, I expected the car to struggle at higher altitudes while cruising at high speeds but to its credit, the car managed to cope quite well, with my cruise control set to 120kph, the Creta breezed as I travelled through the N5 in Free-State. Where you did notice the climate taking a knock on the car was when the range started to drop dramatically, with the box type shape and not very aerodynamic, it was obvious it wasn’t managing well with the dry air outside but like I mentioned, getting close to 650km from a 45-litre tank is pretty good in my books and I while still doing decent speeds. 

COMFORT 

This for me is a critical talking point when it comes to SUV’s in the same segment as the Creta. While the offering may seem great, the manufacturers tend to add cheaper quality materials in the cabin to lower the prices of the cars and while I did complain about the previous model Creta being very plastic, not much has changed in this model but what I can say, the quality of plastic is good (not sure if that’s even a thing you can say), it’s still hard and sounds like crap when you knock on it but it will last you a long time so it’s pretty robust, rest assured it won’t crack or melt in extreme hot temperatures. The seats are great and comfy, sitting for 7 hour straight and I had no complaints, and even no back pains at my old age. The Creta doesn’t have climate control, just you conventional type aircon but it does have a very cool 8-inch touchscreen infotainment unit which has built-in mobile apps which has wireless connectivity. There is two USB ports up front with a 12V power port and a wireless charging mat in this Executive model. The rear passengers have a bench type seat with vents for the air conditioning and one USB port for charging there devices. The cabin is very roomy with lots of headroom, even for a tall guy like myself which helps as you tend to feel claustrophobic in smaller SUV’s like this. The boot space is decent, you can get a set of clubs in there with no issue, and lots of bags as I found out on my multiple trips. Should you require more space, you can drop the rear seats which fold in a 60/40 split for additional loading capacity when required. 

VERDICT 

I wasn’t hugely impressed when I drove the previous model Creta, while the styling was different and they spec’s the interiors colours brilliantly, it didn’t really do much for me. This revised model though, is almost the complete opposite. I guess spending over 30 hours of driving with it meant I got the experience the car more and had time to digest what the car is all about. When taking all of this into consideration and looking at the price tag, you have to say Hyundai have done a great job with the Creta. Even with the entry model with the manual transmission, it’s a very decent offering to what else you have in the market at the moment. Overall, I quite enjoyed my time with the Creta, it’s a weird little car but it works and is great value for money, I suppose that’s the most important thing at the moment for most buyers and you certainly won’t go wrong with this model.

 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	1.5-litre
Gear Box	IVT
Torque	144Nm
Power	84kW
Fuel economy	6.3L/ 100km/h
Price	R469,900

 

Bucket Seat: FIAT 500 Sport

The FIAT 500 is an iconic car, not just for the brand but for vehicles in general. The shape is famous world wide and its easily identifiable, what is truly great about the FIAT 500 unlike some of the other small icons of the past is that the size has stayed generally the same. The cute stocky nature of the car is still the essence behind the brand and while the car has grown slightly over the years, it hasn't transformed into a completely different car, unlike some of the iconic cars of yester-year like Mini and the VW Beetle for example. The model I had on test was the Sport version and while it looked pretty much like your standard 500, it did have some sporty elements to help distinguish it as a sports model, I'll go into detail of that in a bit. Now, many who know me and my size were probably sniggering to themselves when they saw I was driving this car, as I am not the smallest guy around and driving a tiny car like this might not have been the best fit for me but truth be told, I didn't really mind it as I will explain now in the review of this FIAT 500 Sport. 

DESIGN

As far as the term icons go, the FIAT 500 is definitely one that many motoring enthusiast would agree is one. The Italian car maker first launched the model in 1957 and was initially known as "The Cinquencento", it was marketed as a cheap, functional and economical town car and to much extents it still is that but evolved along the years to bring in all the new technology and safety features required in our modern era of motoring, the dinky size of the car and shape still remains the same making it the perfect little run around for town driving. The styling has evolved as well, giving the car a modern interpretation of the classic design, keeping those iconic lines and Italian flare. The unit I had, came in Passion Red and being the Sport, changes are made to bumpers, side skirts giving it a more dynamic look and attitude, along with a rear spoiler to complete the sporty look. In the front the grill is more pronounced and there is front fog lights with chrome detailing. The FIAT 500 Sport receives 16" Alloy Wheels which come in black with brush aluminum outlines. Just incase all this sportiness isn't enough, they slapped a "Sport" badge on the side above the front wheel arch and the side mirros are finished off in black too. Another addition is the panoramic sunroof which really makes the car look great with the black roof contrasting well with that Passion Red paintwork. 

PERFORMANCE       

With the FIAT 500 being so tiny, you don't need a mammoth engine to power it, neither can a mammoth engine fit in it as well but under the hood you'll find a 0.9L front wheel drive motor that delivers 62.5kW of power and 145Nm of torque, its basically a go-kart, you're driving a go-kart but with a shell of a well equipped car, now while many might be thinking, what can that little motor do? Well a lot in a car like this! Remember the car is tiny, weighing in at 930kg's, this car is actually quite punchy when you driving it. That 5-speed gearbox is a charm to use and with the small steering wheel it gives off that perfect go-kart like experience. With the short wheel base and great turning circle radius, the maneuverability of the 500 Sport is exceptional, apart from driving around town, in and out of parking lots hasn't been as fun for me until I got this car! Front wheel suspension is independent-wheel, MacPherson type with lower transversal wishbone secured to an auxiliary crossmember, anti-roll bar connected to the shock absorber while the rear is inter-connected wheel through torsion beam and anti-roll bar. Fuel economy on the 500 Sport comes in the same as the others with a claimed 4.7L per 100km, with my rather rash driving style I was getting little over 5.6L per 100km which still isn't too bad, maximum speed on the car is maxed at 173km/h. 

COMFORT

Now with a tiny car like this, there surely can't be a lot of room in the interior and yes, you are correct, it is a bit cramped for large guys like me but was I uncomfortable? The answer is no, the seats are well designed  and have great leather finish with the 500 sign stitched in, making it not only look great but super comfy as well. There was more than adequate room for me to sit, which obviously compromised the leg room for the rear passenger but the way the cabin is designed, it makes everything more functional for anyone to drive the car. For example the height of the gear selector is higher than what you'd expect it to be, sitting just below the climate control panel on the dash, making it easy to reach and change gear. The car has a nice large 7-inch touch screen infotainment screen which has an easier to use UIF but also has pre-loaded mobile apps for Android and Apple phones. The instrument cluster is fully digital as well and has incorporated everything quite neatly in its single circle design. The quality of materials used in the cabin is amazing, I honestly thought I'd be in for a lot of cheap plastics but truth be told, I couldn't find any, even the leather steering wheel is wrapped in feels so luxurious. One thing that took some getting used to was where the window buttons were, but that wasn't really an issue but just something one would have to adjust to when having this car. The cabin features lots of chrome detailing and 500 badges on the dash and front seats. The rear seats are also finished off in that great leather but with the tight space, rear passengers will definitely feel cramped and might suffer from motion sickness if traveling at high speeds. The boot is indicative of the size of the car but not bad in terms of practicality, you can drop both seats to increase capacity as I even managed to get my golf clubs in there!

VERDICT

When people look at cars in a practical sense, I don't think the FIAT 500 will come to mind quite often, its size is one of the main reasons for this but when you have to think about who the buyer of this car would be and what reason they are buying it for, it starts to make a whole lot more sense. It's the perfect town car or for running around in our modern terms. Its small, light on fuel, great on short distance driving. Has more than enough room for your shopping trips, commute to and front work. While you may think this would be more aimed for students or females, I actually loved my time with it, it made for a fun commute to work in the morning. The boot had enough space for my laptop bag, lunch bag and gym bag, with space for some shopping. Lunch time trips in the car was fun, as everyone wanted to go with me even with the coupe doors and tiny rear passenger space. While some will say the novelty of this car will ware off, I beg to differ, the driving experience alone will make you feel like a kid with a new toy every time you get behind the wheel of it. The brand still remains true to what the essence of the car is, an affordable city car, so it stays on brand and does so brilliantly.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	0.9L
Gear Box	5-Speed Manual
Torque	145Nm
Power	63.5kW
Top Speed	173km
Price	R281,900