Toyota Vitz
The Toyota Vitz is a subcompact car produced by the Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota from 1999 to 2019 in a three- or five-door hatchback body styles. The "Vitz" nameplate was used consistently in Japan, while most international markets received the same vehicle as the Toyota Yaris, or as the Toyota Echo in some markets for the first generation. The Vitz was available in Japan from Toyota's Netz Store dealerships. Toyota began production in Japan and later assembled the vehicle in other Asian countries and in France.
By 2010, the first two generations had achieved in excess of 3.5 million sales in over 70 countries, including more than 1.4 million in Japan.
In 2019, the "Vitz" nameplate was dropped in Japan due to faltering sales and the unification of the Toyota sales network there, and the vehicle was replaced by the XP210 series Yaris. Since 2023, the nameplate has been used for a rebadged third-generation Suzuki Celerio sold in Africa.
First generation (XP10/XP20; 1999)
The first generation XP10 series Vitz was designed by Sotiris Kovos at Toyota's ED2 studio in Europe. It was first unveiled at the 1998 Paris Motor Show. Production began in late 1998, with a Japanese on-sale date of January 1999; European sales commenced two months later as the "Toyota Yaris". When introduced to Australasia in October 1999, the "Toyota Echo" name was used, as was the case in Canada when released there in 2003 for the 2004 model year. The "Echo" and "Yaris" names were also given to the export version of the related Japanese market Toyota Platz sedan, also available as a coupé in North America. Often sold alongside the hatchback and marketed as a single line of vehicles, exterior panels common between the Vitz and Platz were restricted to the front doors. However, as Vitz and Platz were designed using the same platform, the mechanicals are largely identical and both share a common dashboard module. There was also a "Yaris Verso" or "Echo Verso" variant sold in some export markets from late 1999, based on the Japanese "Toyota FunCargo". The Verso MPV utilizes the same running gear as the Vitz, but features a more spacious interior.At its introduction in 1999, it won the Car of the Year Japan Award.
What became the XP10 series was shown earlier in concept form at the 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show. This concept, titled "Funtime" was developed under the leadership of Shuhei Toyoda, who also commissioned two additional models based on the same platform: the "Funcoupe" and the "Funcargo", the predecessor to the forthcoming production model FunCargo. Styled in Brussels by Toyota's European Office of Creation, the "Fun project" as it was known, was envisaged to underline the versatility of shared platform engineering. These concept vehicles morphed into the New Basic Car program, with each separate NBC model designated a number, NBC1 in the case of the Vitz three-door. The name Vitz is the phonetic Anglicized spelling of the German word Witz which means "wit". Toyota claims the contrived name Yaris is "intended to convey a European impression", while Echo "is intended to Echo nothing."
Instead of conventional analogue instruments, the Vitz utilized digital instruments which were mounted in a "pod" in the center of the dashboard. When sales commenced in the Canadian market this was not the case, with Toyota opting to fit a conventional speedometer, still mounted in the center of the dashboard.
In 2003, the facelifted 'Phase 2' Vitz was released with different bumpers and 'teardrop' front lights.
Facelift
Yaris TS / Vitz RS / Echo Sportivo
Safety
ed the dual-airbag equipped XP10 series in 2000, rating the car 29 out of 37 for adult occupant protection, or four out of five stars. The pedestrian rating is 13 points or two of out of four stars. In July 2004, ANCAP tested the XP10 with only a driver's airbag fitted, resulting in a 23.64 out of 37 grading, or three out of five stars. The 2010 edition of Monash University's Used Car Safety Ratings, found that the XP10 provides a "poor" level of occupant safety protection in the event of an accident.Markets
Asia
The Japanese launch of the Vitz occurred on 13 January 1999, and along with the related Platz, was retailed through the Netz Stores.The Vitz "RS" was introduced in October 2000. The "RS" featured revised front and rear bumpers, a mesh grille, black-tinted headlamps, front fog lamps, side skirts and alloy wheels. Interior upgrades include, sports-oriented front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a leather and chrome gear shifter, and metallic door sill scuff plates. Two engines were available in the "RS", the 1.3-litre 2NZ-FE and the 1.5-litre 1NZ-FE. More powerful brakes and a firmer suspension calibration were also fitted to the "RS".
The Phase 2 Vitz RS was also available in a turbocharged version modified by Toyota Racing Development mainly for the domestic Japanese market, and outfitted with an IHI Rhf4 turbocharger with boost. Produced in limited numbers, the TRD-tuned "RS" sported the 1.5-litre engine, and produced and offered a time of 7.9 seconds.
The Yaris was also sold in China as the Xiali Vizi from December 2002 to 2012, equipped with a 1.0 and 1.3-litre engine.
Australia
The XP10 series was introduced to Australia on 8 October 1999 as the "Echo", replacing the Starlet. Both the three- and five-door hatchback variants were available, which sold alongside the four-door Toyota Platz-derived Echo sedan. Sourced from Japan, Australian-market Echo hatchbacks received the 1.3-litre 2NZ-FE engine with a standard five-speed manual transmission and optional four-speed automatic. The base model was fitted with a driver's airbag and cassette player, although the optional safety pack added a passenger airbag and anti-lock brakes. Power steering was made standard equipment in October 2002. The Echo "Sportivo" was introduced in March 2001, fitted with the 1.5-litre 1NZ-FE engine with manual transmission only. Compared to the models equivalent to the Echo "Sportivo" in other markets, the Australian variant is distinguishable with its locally developed T-CAM body kit and downgraded 14-inch alloy wheels.Sales of the facelifted hatchback range commenced in March 2003. At the same time, the price dropped and standard equipment was increased, with air conditioning, a CD player, and remote keyless entry included, although the safety pack was deleted as an option all together. Consequently, ANCAP tested the Echo in July 2004 and demoted it from a four- to a three-star safety rating. ANCAP had previously based its four-star rating on the test conducted by Euro NCAP, which was performed with the passenger airbag fitted. Following the reassessment, Toyota reintroduced the safety pack from 1 December 2004 for the 2005 model year. In June 2005, Toyota Australia launched the Echo "Rush" three- and five-doors. Additional equipment fitted over the base model included 14-inch alloy wheels, front power windows, and front fog lamps.
Europe
The Vitz, marketed as the "Yaris" in Europe, was initially available with gasoline-powered inline-four engines in displacements of 1.0 and 1.3-litres, both featuring Toyota's VVT-i technology. The use of sophisticated engine management systems was said to give the equivalent of 1.4-litre performance from the 1.0-litre engine, while maintaining low fuel consumption and emissions. In 2001, the range was expanded via the addition of the hot hatch "T Sport", fitted with the 1.5-litre engine. After March 2002, a 1.4-litre D4-D diesel engine offering was also included in the lineup.In most European markets, the Yaris was a stronger seller than the Starlet that it replaced. The XP10 was voted European Car of the Year in 2000, and also the 2000 Semperit Irish Car of the Year.
From 31 January 2001, the Yaris was produced in the Toyota Motor Manufacturing France, in Onnaing, to supplement Japanese-made units.
European-market Yaris was also exported to Israel as well as in Morocco.
During the arrival of its successor, the first-generation Yaris had sold over 1.2 million units in Europe.
North America
The Vitz hatchback was not sold in North America until 2003, when it launched only in Canada under the "Echo" name for the 2004 model year. Prior to this, only the Platz-based Echo sedan and coupé were available in Canada. The hatchback was introduced in Canada only due to the higher sales achieved by the sedan and coupé compared to the United States, where they have failed due to low demand. Minor changes were made to meet Canadian safety requirements such as larger bumpers. The Echo hatchback was offered in four different trims in Canada, the LE being the standard version available in three or five door variants. The CE was an economy version only available with three doors and did not feature power steering, a rear wiper or a four-way speaker system, while the RS was only available with five doors and featured an aero package, aluminium alloy wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob along with sport seats.Although an RS version was offered, it consisted of cosmetic changes only. All Canadian-bound Echo hatches were sold with the 1.5-litre 1NZ-FE engine and rated at.
In 2004, for the 2005 model year, a tachometer was added.