TOYOTA Starlet 3 Doors 1984-1989 Photos, engines & full specs

The little Starlet evolved from a sporty little coupe with rear-wheel drive to an econobox with front-wheel drive that raised the Japanese carmaker popularity due to its reliability.

In October 1984, Toyota introduced the third generation of the Starlet in Japan and unveiled it in the U.K. in February 1985. It was a complete makeover when compared to the previous, second-generation model. Toyota sold almost 800,000 units from the Starlet 70 until 1989 when it replaced it.

While it was just 20 mm (0.8 in) longer than its predecessor, it offered more interior room thanks to the front-wheel-drive solution. It was also 55 mm (2.2 in) wider and led to more room for the rear passengers. It was finally a supermini hatchback that could accommodate up to five adults inside. At the front, its flush to bodywork headlights and black plastic wrapped-around bumper was on par with the Volkswagen Polo or the Renault 5.

Inside, the third generation of the Starlet, also known as the Starlet 70, featured a minimalist design with a straight dashboard that sported a rectangular instrument cluster. The ventilation controls found their place on the front side of the dashboard, between the front occupants. There was no center stack nor center console, but the carmaker installed a push-button radio as standard. In the back, the bench was designed for three adults. Yet, it was primarily suitable for three kids.

Under the hood, Toyota introduced two new engines with three valves per cylinder. At steady speeds, it offered an incredible 4.5 l/100 km (52.3 mpg-US) fuel consumption for those times. That was achievable also thanks to the five-speed manual gearbox. For specific markets, Toyota added a turbocharged 1.3-liter engine as well.