Toyota Echo

fun car to drive.. takes awhile to get use to the way you sit in the car (up high like it was a small truck) and the center gauges. Looks are yet to be determined... unless you like dolphins like my wife. the 1.5L VVT-i engine is simply amazing. Great gas milage, 41mph on winter weather hwy driving (lots of rain during the trip) and as others noted, very very zippy engine. I've owned 1.6L and 1.8L rabbit/golfs and this is actually as fast if not faster and i have the auto. Engine's belts will be a b*&^h to work on, but simple tune ups are a snap. Filter in the front bottom of the engine is brilliant unlike other imports that like to hide the filter in the rear. Interior is sharp and simple... just like how i like it. Quality of material is above average for a sub 10,000 USD car. BTW the ECHO name went away in the states, but the car lives on in the Yaris and Scion XD.

Perfect city car; gas/mile very reasonable and affordable; good with the small parking space; simple to clean at winter.

So far I love this car. Even though it is small, it is roomy inside and the trunk space is unbelievable. It is super-efficient on fuel. Any better and it would have to be a hybrid. However, it is expensive to insure. I suppose because it is expected to be a young person's car.

My next car is going to be a Toyota Echo.nice car, fast enough for me handles good, rides nice,nice highway car.

This car is great for people who want a low-stress, low-maintenance, reliable ride. It doesn't have a lot of frills and its looks are a bit peculiar...but the low price and Toyota seal of quality more than make up for that. Cars are a poor money investment...they depreciate no matter what accessories you add to them. So if you're going to put money into a car, you should invest in getting a reliable car and in maintaining it mechanically. Don't waste money on a car with a purple spoiler or vibrating ash tray. A smart car consumer knows this. The ECHO delivers dependability without the unnecessary frills, and I highly recommend giving the Echo a test-drive.

I test drove this car and bought it immediately after. I think it's a headturner (although according to some comments here, a negative type of headturner) but its looks are deceiving. A lot of head room, and the car is higher than most other sedans out there. And talk about great gas mileage! Probably the best of the non-hybrid sedans. I've only had one problem with it, and luckily it happened under warranty: The cable connecting the engine with the stick shift (I prefer stick shifts to auto transmissions) snapped a few winters ago, due to a sudden extreme change in temperature. The part had to come from Japan and it took a month to repair. But parts and labor were both covered, although I had to pay for a rental car (I'm still a little sore at the service center for not giving me a loaner just because I didn't buy it from the dealership that serviced it). But no problems other than that. Warning to those thinking about getting a stick shift, however: It does not change gear... Read more

50/50

Excellent gas mileage. One zippy car, and more quiet than most cars. Excellent turning capabilities, and most of all fun to drive.

Ok - giving a Toyota a bad rating? I'm doing this for a few reasons. Primarily, I can't stand the styling of the Echo. Excuse me fellows, but the speedometer should be in front of me, no matter what you claim. Looking off to the side to see my speed is dangerous, IMO, as it takes my eyes away from the road ahead.

Car is way to small, tires are way to small and the rating is small.

I love this car! I have a 2000 Echo it's been great on gas, i've had no problems at all. Dependable, fun to drive. As for the people that thinks its an ugly car, thats you're opinion. I think it's the cutest and most interesting looking car on the road! As for short people, well this car was made for me! My lease will be up soon, and i can say for sure, i will get a new Echo! Thank you Toyota!

The only safe choice for a sub-compact. The "sub-compact" class is made up of cars that are around the $10k starting price. Some of the only are choices are the Kia Rio and the Hyundai Accent, both of which are garbage. For a $12k, the Echo is one good car. They can go up to 150,000 miles with no major problems, pretty damn good. Don't know why Toyota put a new face on it for 03- it looks even uglier now.

One of the very best economy cars around and a best seller in Canada, Europe and Asia. Designed for the Asian and European Market, the ECHO is known as the Yaris in Europe and Vitz in Asia where in both markets it's sold as a 2 or 4 door hatchback. The North American market ECHO is powered by a lively and fuel efficient 1.5 litre VVTi motor making 105 HP. Matched to a 5 speed transmission 0-100 km/hr (60 miles per hour) takes 9.0 seconds. The ECHO is very roomy with the best seats I've encountered so far in a car in this class. Numerous storage areas abound and the instrument cluster is mounted dead centre of the car where it should be - your eyes do not have to leave the road to read it! As for the style of the ECHO? some will love it or hate it. It is modern and fresh and very European, inspired by the European market Renault Twingo. If you want a roomy, economical, realiable, powerful small car with more room than a Corolla in a smaller space, the ECHO is for you. Fuel consum... Read more

I have a 2000 Echo and it is "ok". I used to think it was the ugliest but recently I have seen two other horrible looking cars that make it look beautiful. I think they were both new Honda's. Anyhow, I drive atleast 150miles a day in it, 5 days a week. I have over 110K on it now, its a little over 2yrs now. The only BIG problem I have with it is the brakes! The suck! I get about 30K out of them and then they have to be replaced! Did I mention, Toyota is the only place you can buy the brakes? Yeah you can have them installed somewhere else but the pads have to be purchased from Toyota! I did neglect the maintenance on it till about 87K however I have no problems with it at all. "knock on wood!" I now do the maintenance on it myself, its easy and cheaper! I only use 10-30 full synth. oil and change it every 3K, put a new K&N air filter in it and it seems to give it abit more get up. I also use that Techron stuff every 3K and I have no problems at all. Hopefully these little... Read more

Ewww! Its hideous, it looks like it had been kicked in the back!

it's toyota,and ....

At 6 feet 9 inches in height, I needed a car that was reliable, fuel efficient for over 100 mile round trip per day commutes, and affordable. After 16 test drives, I chose an Echo. You can't beat the gas mileage and the sticker price. Yeah, it's not the prettiest vehicle on the road but I appreciate the extra 2 inches of head room. If you're a tall person, take an Echo for a drive. You'll be surprised.

Perhaps the ugliest car on the road since the AMC Pacer. The first time I saw an Echo I thought it was some kind of joke - but what are the chances that the designers at Toyota have a sense of humor? There are plenty of reliable cars on the road. Most of them aren't hideously ugly. why anyone would voluntarily choose to drive an Echo is completely beyond me. Maybe Toyota should stick to what they do best: boring but inoffensive.

This car has been great! Great gas mileage and deceivingly roomy. This would be a great car for anyone wanting an affordable comuter car.

It's great on the gas and it's a Toyota, so you can bet it'll be as reliable as the devil. I can't get past the weird styling though. Style wise, Toyota dropped the ball on this one.

This is a great car. I've had mine for a year and haven't had a single problem. It is great on gas...I fill it up about once every week (at the most) and it costs about 14.00 to fill. Music sounds great in this car, there are 5 speakers set up throughout the car. Lots of compartments make it easy to keep the car clean. It is deceptively big inside. I have no problem fitting 4 people comfortably in the car and that's always their first comment. The trunk is also huge. The biggest thing I can say about the car is that it is very reliable.

A great little car! It is surprisingly roomy and rides well.