toyota liftback yaris 2008 is it a good car for a beginner??

no it is under powered and does not come with abs brakes or side curtain air bags not a good idea for a new driver look at scion same company better safety options for about the same money or look at 3-5 yr old corolla with airbags and abs

You can NEVER go wrong with Toyota, and I do think that smaller cars are better for a beginner; they're easier to maneuver and good on gas mileage.

a beginner should be driving something that doesn't matter much, like a used car, because if something should happen to it, it'd be much more upsetting to damage a new car.