Overview & Reviews

For 2003, the Echo receives a new look with a redesigned front and rear fascia. The front bumper and fenders feature sharper and more prominent lines, a new chrome-slat grille and new headlamps with a distinctive bulb layout. Optional round foglamps accent the new front-end design. In the rear, a new trunk lid with chrome plate garnish, a new bumper and redesigned combination clear-lens taillights provide a more upscale look.

A new Appearance Package adds aerodynamic body enhancements, including overfenders that blend into the front and rear underbody. A rear trunk spoiler incorporates the LED high-mounted stop lamp.

The standard 14-inch wheels get a new wheel cover design, and, for the first time, the Echo can be had with optional 15-inch wheels. The new styling is topped off with five new colors.

• Good gas mileage, speedy acceleration, roomy and functional interior, Toyota reliability.

• Cartoonish styling, annoying gauge placement, tilt-a-whirl handling, deceptively low base pricing.

User Reviews:

Showing 41 through 50 of 73.00

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  Its worth every penny!!! - 2003 Toyota Echo
  By Meagan - July 1 - 6:10 am

  If you are a young person looking for a cheap yet reliable car, the toyota echo is perfect for you! its great on gas and very fun to drive. its almost like a toy. I love the placement of the odometers and just the way it looks all around. If you are looking for a gas saver then this is definently the car! Before this car, I had a Honda Civic, which i wrecked and i could have got another one but i chose the echo instead because i have heard so many good things about it. I love my toyota echo!!!

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  281k and still going - 2003 Toyota Echo
  By Doug - May 29 - 2:00 am

  Bought this car in 2007 with 213k miles, driven daily since and now at 281k miles. Doesnt use oil, needed few repairs, gets great mileage, and is comfortable enough to take on a trip.

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  Best Little Car - 2003 Toyota Echo
  By rickolano - April 29 - 2:14 am

  The car aint sexy, it isnt good for Christmas shopping cause boxes dont fit in it like a 26" TV nor in the trunk. BUT BUT BUT>... Its the most reliable car Ive ever had. I have owned Chrysler New Yorker, VW Jetta, Ford Capri, Ford Mustang, and Ford Pinto. This has outlasted all of them and cost the least in all areas. At just over 100,000 miles I had to replace the two drive belts, flush the radiator and transmission (never done before now). Easy to change your own oil and spark plugs. On my 3rd set of tires. Now a low droning humm indicates I need a rear wheel bearings replaced. Gas mileage is awesome and I wont give this car up nor sell it. The cost to own is just too damn reasonable

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  Best car on the road - 2003 Toyota Echo
  By SER - February 24 - 10:46 am

  I am extremely upset they quit making these. If I could, I would never buy any other car forever. This is the best car I have ever owned by far. I am a mechanic and do all my own work on my cars. This car never needed anything other than routine maintenance until 167,000 miles when it needed a left front wheel bearing. It gets the best gas mileage of any car other than hybrids. We get 45 mpg hwy. It is actually fast too -- plenty of passing power. At first I did not like the tallish look of it, but it grew on me. The car is like a miracle, I dont know how they did it, but it pulls everything you ever wanted in a car, like tight steering radius, good handling, power, MPG together into one.

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  My Echo - 2003 Toyota Echo
  By Echo Driver - February 23 - 10:00 am

  I havent had my Echo but 5 months, so I cant speak to long term reliability. In consumer reviews it is rated as excellent. I do know for certain it is one of the lowest priced new cars. Gas mileage on mine is currently 47 mpg. Awesome! I highly recommend the Echo.

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  Near Perfect Sedan - 2003 Toyota Echo
  By Pete Rock - December 30 - 2:00 am

  Despite what appears to be harsh criticism from the auto industry, you will be hard pressed to find a any actual Echo owners complaining about their cars. The 2003 Echo is a well-built vehicle that lives up to Toyotas quality reputation. The interior is highly functional and comfortable, and the ride is smooth. Even though this is a small car, the engine technology is top of the line which translates into solid power and excellent gas mileage. Sure, there are plenty of Honda Civics and Ford Focus out there that would be safe purchases, but hey, how about something that your next door neighbor doesnt already have in his garage?

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  Fun, efficient, economical car - 2003 Toyota Echo
  By jmw131 - October 22 - 5:50 am

  I find the car to be fun to drive, very efficient with the 34-38 mpg, and very economical, i got it for $8,200 from a dealership in excellent condition with 37k miles. I didnt like the steering at first but got used to it. I was surprised at the power it had for its size. I couldnt have gotten a civic for anywhere close to this purchase price and if you dont care about the look like a married man like me doesnt then its great.

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  Best car I have ever owned and I am 57 - 2003 Toyota Echo
  By nickel1951 - August 13 - 9:20 pm

  I bought this car used after owning a 2001 Echo for six years. I sold the 2001 to my son who was just graduating from college and bought this car for myself. I have never bought another car that was identical to the one I had had for six years already before but this car is special. I actually made my son promise to sell me the old car back when he wants to get rid of it so I can have a backup. The only thing that was not satisfactory in either car were the floor mats. I have no idea why, but they wore out quite quickly. The dealership even gave me a full replacement after the first year and those wore out as well. I bought some after market ones from Walmart and they have been fine.

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  We love our ECHO - 2003 Toyota Echo
  By disa2k - August 13 - 10:00 am

  My husband and I drove an ECHO back in 2000 and fell in love with it; however we couldn’t afford one at the time. We just bought a 2003 4dr/manual and we love it. Very roomy and you can’t beat the gas mileage. We do think the manual is a little peppier than the automatic.

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  2003 Toyota ECHO - 2003 Toyota Echo
  By Sharon - June 14 - 2:53 pm

  Its even good in snow! Amazing! Once around Erie there were two cars off the road in a squall, I called and the dispatcher said there were 200 cars off the road in that county! AND I just kept going without a problem! I dont get tired on long trips of 8-11 hours!