Toyota introduced the second generation of the Yaris in 2005 for both European and North American markets and made it available with either five or three doors.
Yaris tried to disrupt the supermini segment with its vast interior space and soft look. In addition, it counted on Toyota's reputation for building reliable cars. But despite these, it lacked behind its European competitors, especially in the three-door version.
Penned as a cute-looking vehicle, the Yaris' front fascia featured a pair of headlights relatively vertical than horizontal and a grill that looked like a scaled-down version of the one featured on the larger Avensis. Thanks to the short overhangs and the tall, bubble-like greenhouse, it offered an airy interior. From its profile, the long doors eased access for all passengers. Finally, at the back, the car featured an almost vertical drop on the tailgate but with a rounded shape.
Inside, the carmaker placed a hard-plastic dashboard fitted with multiple storage spaces in front of the driver and three more on the passenger's side. That was possible thanks to the center-mounted instrument cluster, which provided all passengers aboard a good view of the speedometer. For the rear seats, Toyota installed a split-folding and sliding bench. Thus, it could offer better legroom or bigger trunk space when needed.
Under the hood, the carmaker installed a choice of three engines: two with gasoline and one turbo-diesel paired with a five-speed manual as standard. For specific markets and engines, the Yaris was also available with a five-speed automatic transmission.