What did Toyota replace the Echo?

The Echo was replaced by the Toyota Yaris. In most markets the Yaris family became the standard subcompact badge, though Japan uses the Vitz name for the same vehicle family and some regions retained older branding for a time.

Background: The Echo's role in Toyota's lineup

The Echo was Toyota's entry-level hatchback in North America and several other markets during the late 1990s and early 2000s. It offered compact dimensions, light weight, and strong fuel economy, appealing to urban buyers seeking affordability and practicality. As Toyota streamlined its small-car lineup, the Echo gradually ceded space to the Yaris, the global badge that would unify the segment across many regions.

Replacement timeline by market

Here's how the Echo's replacement unfolded in major markets and what badge the successor carried.

• United States and Canada — Replaced by the Toyota Yaris for the 2007 model year; the Yaris hatchback carried forward the Echo's compact footprint with updated styling and features.


• Europe and other markets — The Yaris name became the standard subcompact badge in most regions; Echo branding faded as Toyota aligned with the global Yaris lineup by the early-to-mid 2000s in many countries.


• Japan — The Echo was not the primary local subcompact; the equivalent car is the Vitz (export versions were marketed as Yaris); the Echo name was largely phased out in favor of the Vitz/Yaris family.

In short, Toyota consolidated its smallest-car line under the Yaris umbrella in most regions, ending the Echo name in new-car catalogs while retaining regional naming where it already existed.

What buyers noticed: design, features, and driving experience

As Toyota shifted from Echo to Yaris, buyers encountered updated styling, interior packaging, and safety features. The Yaris generations that followed offered improved infotainment options, better interior materials, and more advanced safety systems, all while maintaining the compact footprint and urban practicality that defined the Echo era.

Key differences between Echo and Yaris

The switch from Echo to Yaris brought several practical and branding changes that affected buyers and dealership experiences.

• Badge and branding: Echo was replaced by Yaris in most markets; Japan used the Vitz name for the same family in local markets.


• Design evolution: Yaris adopted updated styling and interior packaging aligned with Toyota's global subcompact line.


• Technology and safety: Later Yaris generations introduced more advanced safety systems and connectivity options than early Echo models.

These changes reflect Toyota's aim to simplify its subcompact lineup and deliver a more consistent global product.

Summary

Toyota replaced the Echo with the Yaris as the global subcompact hatchback, with regional naming variations (Vitz in Japan and Yaris in most other markets). The transition occurred during the mid-to-late 2000s and shaped the way Toyota has packaged its smallest cars ever since.

Overall, the Echo's legacy lives on in the Yaris family, which continues to serve as Toyota's entry-level hatchback in many markets around the world.

Did the Toyota Echo become the Yaris?

In many regions, the car was always sold with the "Yaris" name. Except for Japan, where it was called the "Platz" (sedan) or "Vitz" (hatchback). Due to Project Genesis in North America, the original 2000 Toyota Yaris was renamed into something more hip, as "Echo" to appeal to the millennial car drivers.

Why did Toyota kill off Scion?

Toyota discontinued the Scion brand due to a combination of declining sales, the inability to connect with its target younger demographic, and internal redundancy with the Toyota brand itself. The 2008 financial crisis impacted young buyers' ability to purchase new cars, and competitors like Hyundai and Kia offered more appealing value propositions, making it harder for Scion to succeed. Ultimately, Scion's models were no longer compelling enough and cannibalized sales from Toyota's own entry-level cars, so the brand was absorbed into the Toyota lineup.
 

• Failed to connect with target audience: Scion was created to attract younger buyers, but it struggled to win them over in significant numbers. The vehicles were not seen as compelling enough, and the target demographic's financial limitations also played a role. 
• Internal competition: Scion's lineup became too similar to Toyota's own compact cars, such as the Corolla. Since the Toyota brand offered better resale value and brand recognition, consumers often chose the Toyota over a Scion, even when both were sold at the same dealerships. 
• Intensified market competition: Other brands, particularly Hyundai and Kia, improved their offerings with better styling, longer warranties, and stronger marketing, increasing the competitive pressure on Scion. 
• Product lineup issues: Some Scion models, like the FR-S, were praised by automotive press for their handling but lacked desired features like a more powerful engine option, which hurt sales. New models also failed to generate sufficient interest. 
• Financial strain: Declining sales and the cost of maintaining the separate brand made it a financial burden for Toyota. 

In February 2016, Toyota announced it was ending the Scion brand and folding the remaining models into the main Toyota brand, allowing them to continue to be sold as Toyotas.

What car replaced the Toyota Echo?

The Toyota Yaris replaced the Toyota Echo in North America, with the Yaris arriving for the 2007 model year. In other markets, the Echo was the first generation of what was sold as the Yaris, so there wasn't a direct replacement but rather a name change for the same model line.
 

• In North America: The Yaris was a new model that took the Echo's place in the subcompact segment. 
• Globally: The model sold in North America as the Echo was known as the Yaris in many other parts of the world. 
• The Echo's legacy: The Echo was the first generation of this subcompact, and its discontinuation after 2005 led to the second generation, which was sold in North America as the Yaris. 

Is Toyota Echo discontinued?

The car was discontinued after the 2005 model year and was essentially replaced in Toyota's lineup by the 2007 Yaris. The Echo also had spiritual successors in the 2004 xA and xB subcompacts from Toyota's newly launched Scion brand.