Changan CS75 Pro vs Toyota Starlet Cross

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

Changan CS75 Pro in South Africa

Changan CS75 Pro

1.5T AT 5S CE Petrol 7-Speed DCT Current
ZAR 474,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 138 kW 🔧 300 Nm ⛽ 13.33 km/l
VS
Toyota Starlet Cross in South Africa

Toyota Starlet Cross

1.5 XR CVT Petrol CVT Current
ZAR 375,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 77 kW 🔧 140 Nm ⛽ 18.5 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Changan CS75 Pro vs Toyota Starlet Cross: the short answer

CS75 Pro has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Starlet Cross remains close.

Starlet Cross starts ZAR 125,000 cheaper CS75 Pro from ZAR 429,900 · Starlet Cross from ZAR 304,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification CS75 Pro Starlet Cross
Maximum Power CS75 Pro138 kW Starlet Cross77 kW
Maximum Torque CS75 Pro300 Nm Starlet Cross140 Nm
Engine Size CS75 Pro1494 cc Starlet Cross1498 cc
Combined Fuel Economy CS75 Pro13.33 km/l Starlet Cross18.5 km/l
Ground Clearance CS75 ProNot Officially Disclosed Starlet Cross185 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

CS75 Pro

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Practicality

Starlet Cross

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

CS75 Pro

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Starlet Cross

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec CS75 Pro Starlet Cross
Model Introduced Year 2025 2022
Generation Current South African CS75 Pro generation with two equipment grades and two seating configurations. First generation Starlet Cross for SA market
Facelift History No South African facelift has been announced since the present CS75 Pro range entered local sale. Introduced to SA in 2022 as a Starlet-based crossover
Facelift Launched Since Not Applicable 2022
Facelift Version Ending Not Applicable Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active active
Segment Mid-size SUV SUV
Vehicle Type Passenger car SUV
Color Note - White Pearl, Silver Metallic, Black, Blue, Red
Dealer Stock Note - Top grade in the South Africa lineup
Tare Mass Kg - 1080 kg
Spec CS75 Pro Starlet Cross
Length 4730 mm 4055 mm
Width 1870 mm 1740 mm
Height 1720 mm 1575 mm
Wheelbase 2786 mm 2520 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) Not Officially Disclosed 185 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) Not Officially Disclosed 125 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 55 l 42 l
Boot/Cargo Space 620 l 270 l
Kerb Weight 1550 kg 1080 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1925 kg 1480 kg
Payload Capacity Not Officially Disclosed 400 kg
Towing Capacity Not Officially Disclosed 1600 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius Not Officially Disclosed 5.1 m
Front Headroom Not Officially Disclosed 991 mm
Rear Headroom Not Officially Disclosed 940 mm
Front Legroom Not Officially Disclosed 1039 mm
Rear Legroom Not Officially Disclosed 881 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This CS75 Pro and Starlet Cross comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: CS75 Pro 59 vs Starlet Cross 34.

Efficiency index: CS75 Pro 52 vs Starlet Cross 70.

Safety-equipment index: CS75 Pro 76 vs Starlet Cross 70.

Practicality index: CS75 Pro 79 vs Starlet Cross 55.

Ownership-cover index: CS75 Pro not separately scored vs Starlet Cross 43.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

CS75 Pro leads by 13 points

CS75 Pro has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Starlet Cross remains close.

Evidence leader 67 /100
Lead 13 points
Data 65% source coverage
67
#1 Evidence leader

CS75 Pro

65% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Practicality 79 Check Efficiency 52
Performance 59
Efficiency 52
Safety 76
Practicality 79
Leads by 13 points
54
#2

Starlet Cross

87% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 70 Check Performance 34
Performance 34
Efficiency 70
Safety 70
Practicality 55
Ownership 43
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance CS75 Pro +25 Efficiency Starlet Cross +18 Safety CS75 Pro +6 Practicality CS75 Pro +24

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

CS75 Pro

Performance 59/100
Efficiency 52/100
Safety 76/100
Practicality 79/100

Starlet Cross

Performance 34/100
Efficiency 70/100
Safety 70/100
Practicality 55/100
Ownership 43/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Changan CS75 Pro leads the specification evidence index with 67 pts vs 54 pts for Starlet Cross

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, CS75 Pro leads. However, Starlet Cross may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

CS75 Pro vs Starlet Cross questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.