What was the last year of the Toyota Echo?

2005.

The Toyota Echo was introduced in North America in 2000 as a compact hatchback and was gradually phased out in favor of the Yaris across most markets during the mid-2000s. Exact last-year dates varied by region, with the United States and Canada ending Echo sales in 2005.

Timeline and regional endings

Note: The following highlights show how the Echo was replaced by the Yaris and when Echo-branded production or sales ended in major markets.

• United States and Canada: final model year 2005.


• Europe and most other markets: Echo-branded sales ended by the mid-2000s as the Yaris name took over; exact year varied by country.


• Australia and some Asia-Pacific markets: Echo continued in limited form into the mid-2000s before transitioning to the Yaris; year varied by market.

In summary, while 2005 marks the definitive end of the Echo in North America, regional endings spanned the early to mid-2000s across the globe as Toyota unified its small-car lineup under the Yaris name.

Why Toyota shifted to the Yaris

To streamline branding, production, and marketing across markets, Toyota consolidated its subcompact offerings under the Yaris name. This reflected broader industry moves toward global nameplates and shared platforms in the mid-2000s.

1. Brand unification: using a single global nameplate simplified marketing and dealership messaging.


2. Product lifecycle: the Echo platform evolved into the Yaris family with updated safety, efficiency, and technology.


3. Economies of scale: shared engineering and parts reduced costs for Toyota and customers.


4. Market positioning: the Yaris offered refreshed styling and features aligned with shifting consumer demand in the subcompact segment.

These factors led to the Echo being phased out in most markets in favor of the Yaris during the mid-2000s.

What followed the Echo in Toyota's lineup?

The Toyota Yaris became the global successor to the Echo, bringing updated styling, safety features, and efficiency. It served as Toyota's renewed entry in the subcompact hatchback market and reflected Toyota's emphasis on a cohesive global small-car strategy.

Summary

The Toyota Echo ended production in 2005 in North America, with regional end dates ranging from the early to mid-2000s in other markets as Toyota transitioned to the Yaris nameplate across its global small-car lineup.

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. 

Why was Toyota Echo discontinued?

Despite rocketing to the sales charts in 2000 (mainly due to the success of its predecessor, the Toyota Tercel), Echo sales fell through the roof in 2004, with only 4,000 units sold to American buyers. Toyota pulled the plug in 2005, but the Echo remained in production worldwide as the Yaris.

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 are common problems with Toyota Echos?

Top Toyota Echo Problems

• Check Engine Light Due to EVAP System.
• Cleaning May Correct Faulty Mass Air Flow Sensor.
• Crank sensor may fail, warranty may apply.
• Toyota issues recall on brake master cylinder.
• Toyota recall for brake booster issue.
• Timing chain/sprockets may need replacement due to wear and problems with VVTi.