The is a subcompact car manufactured by Toyota from 1973 until 1999, replacing the Publica, but retaining the Publica's "P" code and generation numbering. The first generation Starlet was sold as the Publica Starlet in some markets. In Japan, it was exclusive to Toyota Auto Store dealers.
It is the first subcompact car from a Japanese automaker to offer a high-performance variant. These were available in three generations: the 1986–1989 Turbo S (EP71), the 1990–1995 GT Turbo (EP82), and the 1996–1999 Glanza V (EP91). Another variant was the Toyota Sera, a sport compact made in the early 1990s and officially sold only in Japan; the Sera had a unique two-door coupé body and butterfly doors but shared the Starlet's chassis and mechanicals.
The Starlet was briefly exported to North America from 1981 to 1984.
In 1999, the Starlet was replaced by the Vitz—sold as the Echo or Yaris in international markets—and the bB mini MPV, which was later sold as the Scion xB in Canada and the United States and as the Daihatsu Materia in Europe. However, Toyota effectively vacated the European city car market until the Aygo was launched in 2005.
The "Starlet" nameplate was revived in 2020 for a rebadged Suzuki Baleno hatchback, sold exclusively in some African countries (and in India under the "Glanza" name).
__TOC__
First generation (P40/P50; 1973)
Initially launched in April 1973 as the higher-grade and bigger model of the Publica P30, the Starlet was offered with 1,000 and 1,200 cc engines. The coupé's wedgy design was developed from sketches made by Giorgetto Giugiaro. Model codes are KP40/KP45 for the sedan and coupé versions with the 1-litre engine and KP42/KP47 for the larger engined versions. Generally the car looked like a shortened Corolla. The body style was originally available only as a two-door coupé and was often referred to as a "Baby Celica." The four-door sedan arrived in October 1973. Grades offered were Standard, Deluxe, Hi-Deluxe, ST, and SR. The top models were also offered with a five-speed manual transmission.–October 1984
| assembly = Japan
| body_style =
| layout = Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
| platform =
| related = Toyota Tercel
| engine =
| transmission =
| wheelbase = (hatchback) <br /> (wagon)
| length =
| width = at the same time that the 1.2-litre KP62 became available in most export markets. The KP62 was first seen in Sweden in July 1978, where it was equipped with the de-smogged 3K-C engine to meet that country's particular emissions requirements. In Japan, all Starlets except the Van were only available with the larger 1.3-litre engine; the Van model retained the smaller, 1.2-litre, 3K-HJ type.
The 60 series Starlet was the first Toyota passenger car to utilize rack-and-pinion steering. Suspension on 60 series Starlets is in the form of MacPherson front struts accompanied by four link rear suspension with coil springs for hatchback models and leaf spring suspension on van models.
Trim levels were Standard, De Luxe (also known as DX in some markets), GL, XL, S, Si, Sprint, SE and Lisse. Si models have a fuel injected 4K-E engine. Sprint models included the upgraded Toyota Sports Handling Suspension, a tachometer, five-speed (K50) transmission, 1,290cc (4K) engine and a sportier interior compared to other models. The external trimming on Sprint models is also clipped into place, as opposed to being glued on as in other models. Sprint models include the same alloy wheels as featured on early AE86 Corollas as well. Japanese market models did not generally have self-retracting rear seatbelts. Japanese and New Zealand market models have 203 mm front brake rotors, as opposed to many other markets receiving Starlets with 228 mm front brake rotors.
Vehicles fitted with a 2K engine received a smaller differential (X code, ) than vehicles fitted with a 4K engine (U code, ). Differential ratios depend on the trim model and market for each car, with 3.909:1 being common for vehicles with a 2K engine, 4.3:1 for European van models, 3.727:1 for Japanese van models, 3.417:1 for vehicles fitted with an automatic transmission, and 3.583:1 for general applications with a 4K engine. Other ratios also existed for various Japanese market models.
In 1980, the Starlet was facelifted to include square headlights. A second facelift followed in 1983 to incorporate a slant nose front end and a new lower hatch opening.
The 3-door KP61 was the only Starlet ever sold in the US, where it was available from the 1981 through the 1984 model years. The 1981–1982 models came with standard five-speed manual transmissions and tachometers. It is an equivalent to other markets' S model. The 1983–1984 models featured electronic fuel injection (EFI) with the 4K engine, but with a four-speed manual transmission and equipment similar to other markets' XLi model.
Common rust locations on a 60 series Starlet are under the rear hatch seal, around the front window wiper mount, behind the front fenders, and the bottom of the doors.
<gallery widths="200" heights="145">
File:1982 Toyota Starlet DL (15258531949).jpg|Pre-facelift Toyota Starlet DL 3-door hatchback (New Zealand)
File:Toyota Starlet KP61 USA.jpg|1980–1982 USDM Toyota Starlet 3-door hatchback (KP61, US)
File:1980-1982 Toyota Starlet XL.jpg|1980–1982 JDM Toyota Starlet XL 5-door hatchback (KP61, Japan)
File:KP-60 Toyota Starlet.jpg|1980–1982 Toyota Starlet 3-door hatchback (KP60, Ireland)
File:Starlet01.jpg|1983–1984 Toyota Starlet 5-door hatchback (KP60, Germany)
File:Toyota-StarletP60.JPG|1983–1984 JDM Toyota Starlet 3-door hatchback (KP61, Japan)
File:Toyota-StarletP60Sirear.JPG|1983–1984 Toyota Starlet Si 3-door hatchback (KP61, Japan)
File:Kombi08.jpg|Starlet Kombi / station wagon (Germany)
File:Toyota-Starletvan.JPG|Starlet Van (Japan)
File:1982 Toyota Starlet 1.3 Interior.jpg|Interior (UK)
</gallery>