The second-generation Publica that came out in April 1969 incorporated major upgrades in performance and quality, in answer to changes in the social environment. The model lineup included a 2-door sedan, a 2-door van, and a pickup truck (added in October 1969), while the convertible and detachable top versions were dropped.

The body became a size larger, and the engine lineup expanded to include a water-cooled 4-cylinder 1,100 cc engine for the Corolla (replaced with a 1,200 cc unit in September 1969) and a 1,000 cc version of the same, in addition to the existing 800 cc engine. The van was equipped with either a 1-liter or an 800 cc (2U-C) engine. The body dimensions were 3,675 mm in length, 1,460 mm in width, 1,395 mm in height, and the wheelbase was 2,160 mm. The length was 30 mm longer than that of the base model (1,000 cc sedan). The length of the luggage space was 1,300 mm with two passengers and 740 mm with four passengers, and the maximum payload capacity was 300 kg.


In a major model change in January 1972, the body panel was redesigned and semi-fastback styling was introduced. The model variations were expanded and divided into the family-use series and the youth-oriented series. The original air-cooled 2-cylinder 800 cc engine that had been used since the first model generation was discontinued at this time.