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 1 through 10 of 73.00

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  A Great Little Car. - 2003 Toyota Echo
  By myrick - June 30 - 5:06 pm

  Bought the car in Feb. 2006 and my wife and I have enjoyed it. We bought it with 33,000 miles on it and it just went over 100,000 miles today. The oil gets changed every 3,000 miles and we had new hoses and belts put on last summer and a new A/C relay Fuse last spring but thats about it that we have had to do to it. It was in a wreck about 3 years ago, the left back corner smashed in causing about 4,000 dollars of damage but because of its high resale value it was not written out as totaled so we were able to get it fixed up. It has a few hail dents and some scratches but still runs great. Drove it from Oklahoma to Wisconsin last summer averaging 38 miles to a gallon. Great little car.

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  Great Toyota - 2003 Toyota Echo
  By AquariusGrrl - April 29 - 10:00 am

  I was hesitant to consider the Toyota Echo when I was car shopping, because they were so ugly in the past. I was determined to find an inexpensive practical car didnt feel " cheap". I was surprised and delighted to find that the 2003 Echos had been "restyled", as the Echo brochure proudly pointed out! The new Echos look like small Corollas instead of a squashed looking version of a car. With a spoiler, it looks zippy, and of course it drives great. I am very happy with my choice.

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  its a great car - 2003 Toyota Echo
  By 5e - April 14 - 2:00 am

  small car outside plenty of room inside handles the rode good takes sharp turns fast

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  I Love My little ECHO - 2003 Toyota Echo
  By Very Happy Owner - April 12 - 3:13 pm

  I have had my car for 1 month and I keep finding more compartments. I am very pleased and surprised with the fuel consumption.

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  Great car, but somewhat uncomfortable - 2003 Toyota Echo
  By SignASL - December 27 - 2:00 am

  We have nothing but priase ofr the 2003 toyota echo, except for the comfort and the legroom of the seats. My boyfreind is always the one driving, so I am always in the passanger side seat. There is hardley enough legroom because of the glove depatrment design (which is rounded and sticks out far), and the seat is so uncomfortable due to the back design. If toyota would have allowed for me legroom and better back support, this car would defenatly be a 10!

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  Best Purchase Ive Ever Made - 2003 Toyota Echo
  By M. Rae - October 28 - 10:26 am

  If you are looking for a dependable, fuel efficient vehicle this is the car for you! I have owned my ECHO for nearly 3 years and never had a problem! While all my friends were driving gas-guzzlers, I could easily get buy without filling up for 10 days! The ECHO is fun to drive, not overly complicated, and simply a wonderful car!

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  Great gas, nice car for young single - 2003 Toyota Echo
  By KT - October 19 - 8:16 pm

  It has great mileage. Its very simple, and cute looks. Its not much fun to drive, but its very easy to drive. I recommend it to a young single driver. Its also very reasonable price. It looks like a small car, but it has nice space.

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  My first TOYOTA - 2003 Toyota Echo
  By M Franks - September 27 - 2:00 am

  First of all I would like to thank EDMUNDS for making this possible and a big thanks also for all the helpful reviews.I received my 2003 ECHO 2 weeks ago.Im impressed with my ECHO,but probably more so with TOYOTA.The option availability,pricing and the new style of the car seems to say that TOYOTA reads reviews.This has made the ECHO more exceptable to the public. I was shopping for a new JEEP WRANGLER,but had noticed the new styled ECHOS.After renting one for a week-end I knew what I was going to buy.Im very pleased over all with the new car.The unique styling is cute and gives the car character and spunk.

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  Want security? Buy an Echo! - 2003 Toyota Echo
  By Merryweather65 - December 8 - 10:00 am

  Having owned a VW prior to the Toyota I can assure you the Toyota is a far superior vehicle! With the VW I was always worried about when and where I was going to break down, and how much it was going to cost me. Granted, I have owned the Toyota less then a year, but I already feel much more secure in it then I did in the VW. I have very few bells and whistles (not even a CD player), but with less features there is less to go wrong. The Echo is a simple car, for people who want to get get where they need to go without the worry. Plus, who can go wrong owning a car that gets 40 mpg!

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  great car - 2003 Toyota Echo
  By jdmwiseau - October 4 - 10:00 am

  Great car, I have an automatic and average 43 MPG on the HWY. I must say, Im pleasantly surprised by the power of the 1.5 liter power plant. Wish I had cruise control with all the driving I do but I am not fatigued at all with the 200 plus miles I drive daily. I highly recommend this car for the daily commuter. My other car is a Lexus LS400. I know quality when I drive it.