The Toyota Starlet—known in Japanese as トヨタ・スターレット (Toyota Sutāretto)—stands as one of Toyota’s defining subcompact models, produced from 1973 through 1999. It was conceived as the successor to the Toyota Publica, yet Toyota retained the original “P” code and generation numbering lineage from the Publica days. At its origin, the first generation bore the name “Publica Starlet” in some export markets. Within Japan’s domestic market, it was sold exclusively through Toyota’s Auto Store dealership network, giving it a particular niche positioning in Toyota’s lineup.

Over the course of its life, the Starlet holds the distinction of being the first subcompact from a Japanese automaker to offer a genuine performance version. These sporty variants appeared across three successive generations. The first such model came in the late 1980s as the Turbo S (EP71), produced between 1986 and 1989. Then, between 1990 and 1995, came the GT Turbo (EP82), which remains highly coveted among enthusiasts. Finally, from 1996 to 1999, Toyota produced the Glanza V (EP91), capping off the lineage of performance Starlets.

In addition to these hot-hatch models, a close mechanical relative of the Starlet was the Toyota Sera: a two-door sport compact produced in the early 1990s, featuring striking butterfly doors (sometimes also called “gullwing” or vertical-opening doors). While the Sera was sold officially only in Japan, it shared the Starlet’s underlying chassis and mechanical components.

The Starlet’s reach wasn’t limited to Asia. For a brief period from 1981 to 1984, Toyota exported the Starlet to North America, marking its only foray into that region under the Starlet nameplate.

By 1999, Toyota retired the Starlet name in Toyota’s conventional global portfolio. Its role would, in effect, be taken over by the Toyota Vitz (known as the Echo or Yaris in many international markets). Simultaneously, Toyota’s bB mini MPV (later rebranded in certain markets as the Scion xB or Daihatsu Materia) assumed duties in the compact urban segment. Notably, after the Starlet’s discontinuation, Toyota left the European small-city car segment largely unoccupied until the advent of the Toyota Aygo in 2005.

Though Toyota officially ended the Starlet’s run in 1999, the Starlet nameplate experienced a revival in 2020—but in a new form. In selected African markets, the Starlet was reborn as a rebadged Suzuki Baleno hatchback, while in India that same vehicle was marketed under the Glanza name.