Toyota Starlet — MPG & Fuel Costs 2025
Toyota's legendary 90s supermini. Bulletproof mechanical reliability, simple design, and low fuel costs.
The Toyota Starlet (specifically the EP91 generation) is legendary in the UK for its near-indestructible reliability. It was the precursor to the Yaris, offering basic, honest transportation.
It features a simple, naturally aspirated 1.3-litre 16v petrol engine that requires minimal maintenance. Because of its lightweight shell, it offers surprising agility in town.
Real-world fuel economy is very respectable, with most models averaging a solid 38-42 MPG in daily commuting, showing that simple, lightweight cars are naturally frugal.
TL;DR
38 MPG
Real-world petrol
45L
Tank capacity
£61.56
Full tank (petrol)
16.4p
Per mile (petrol)
Real-World Fuel Economy: The Toyota Starlet achieves an estimated 38 MPG in real-world UK driving conditions, accounting for a 12% WLTP real-world penalty.
Forecourt Fuel Cost: Refueling the 45-litre tank completely costs approximately £61.56 at average UK fuel price rates.
Fuel economy at a glance
38
Real-world MPG
Petrol
42.8
Official WLTP
Petrol
Annual fuel costs by mileage
| Annual mileage | Petrol |
|---|---|
| 5,000 miles/yr | £818 |
| 7,400 miles/yr(UK average) | £1211 |
| 10,000 miles/yr | £1637 |
| 15,000 miles/yr | £2455 |
| 20,000 miles/yr | £3273 |
| Full tank (45L) | £61.56 |
| Cost per mile | 16.4p |
Based on UK average fuel prices: petrol 136.8p/L · diesel 142.1p/L. Prices updated regularly.
How does the Starlet compare?
Tips to get better MPG from your Starlet
The Starlet is extremely light (under 900kg); driving defensively yields excellent MPG.
Maintain the simple ignition system (spark plugs, distributor cap) to ensure complete combustion.
Keep speed at 60-65 mph on dual carriageways to optimize aerodynamic drag on this retro hatch.
Is the cheaper petrol station worth it?
In a Toyota Starlet achieving ~38 MPG real-world, if you fill 36 litres and the alternative station is 10p/litre cheaper:
£3.60
Gross saving on fuel
£0.49
Cost of 3-mile detour
£3.11
Net saving ✓
You could drive up to 22 miles round-trip before the saving disappears entirely.
Calculate for your exact situationPopular variants
Frequently asked questions
What is the real-world MPG of the Toyota Starlet?
The Toyota Starlet achieves approximately 38 MPG in real-world petrol driving — around 12% lower than the official WLTP figure of 42.8 MPG due to real driving conditions. Diesel variants achieve around N/A MPG real-world.
How much does it cost to fill a Toyota Starlet?
The Toyota Starlet has a fuel tank of 45 litres. At the UK average of 136.8p/litre for petrol, a full tank costs approximately £61.56. Diesel costs approximately £63.95 for a full tank.
What is the annual fuel cost for a Toyota Starlet?
At the UK average annual mileage of 7,400 miles and current petrol price of 136.8p/litre, a Toyota Starlet costs approximately £1211 per year in fuel. At 10,000 miles/year the cost rises to £1637. Actual costs vary with your driving style and mileage.
Is it worth driving to a cheaper petrol station in a Toyota Starlet?
In a Toyota Starlet doing ~38 MPG real-world, driving 3 miles round-trip to save 10p/litre on a 36-litre fill nets approximately £3.11 after the extra fuel cost. You could drive up to 22 miles before the saving is eaten up. Use the WorthThePump calculator for your exact situation.
How much does the Toyota Starlet cost per mile in fuel?
The Toyota Starlet costs approximately 16.4p per mile in petrol at current UK prices. Over a typical commute of 30 miles per day, that is approximately £4.92 per day in fuel.
What is the WLTP MPG figure for the Toyota Starlet?
The official WLTP fuel economy figure for the Toyota Starlet is 42.8 MPG. However, real-world MPG is typically 10–15% lower than WLTP due to cold starts, air conditioning, motorway speeds, and varying loads. WorthThePump uses a 12% real-world penalty to give a more accurate estimate.
Related guides
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