In 1999, Toyota introduced the Yaris/Vitz on the market as its leading contender in the small segment and offered it in three main versions: hatchback with three or five doors and a four-door sedan.
After Corolla grew in size and entered into the compact-segment, Toyota needed a smaller vehicle to fill the space left empty by its top-selling vehicle, and the Yaris was the answer. The Japanese carmaker used the Yaris for most of its markets, including the European continent. In 2003, the Yaris received a well-deserved facelift before being completely changed in 2006.
The design team tried to make the Yaris look like a happy vehicle, and the result was just right what they intended. Its front fascia revealed a pair of teardrop headlights that intruded into the front bumpers. In five-door shape, the little vehicle offered better access to the rear seats, especially for children.
Inside, the car's bubble shape allowed a bigger interior room thanks to its high-mounted seats. A unique element for the Yaris 5-doors was the LED display installed inside the instrument cluster, which was placed on top of the dashboard and tilted toward the driver's seat. Thus, it was difficult for anyone else to read the car's speed while the driver had a better view of the road.
Under the hood, Toyota installed a choice of four engines, with the 1.4-liter turbo-diesel unit being the most fuel-efficient. Depending on the market and engine version, Toyota offered the Yaris with an automated 5-speed gearbox.
load press release