Overview & Reviews

The oddly proportioned and slightly cartoonish Toyota Echo economy car debuted just before the start of the new millennium. A successor to the Tercel and precursor to the Scion brand, the Echo was meant to bring younger U.S. buyers into the Toyota family via its low price and Toyota heritage.

However, this was one Toyota that uncharacteristically failed to garner much success. Although the Toyota Echo offered an impressively roomy cabin thanks to its narrow and tall greenhouse and an economical 1.5-liter four-cylinder that propelled it with decent pep, the car's faults made it one of our editors' least favorite subcompacts. An unusual centralized gauge cluster was deemed poor in design, and once underway, the Echo's small tires and upright stance contributed to a "tippy" feel at highway speeds and excessive body roll when navigating tight corners.

No doubt the Echo, being a Toyota, enjoys a reputation for higher than average reliability. And though we complained of poor value for the dollar -- mostly due to the Echo's low price resulting from Toyota charging extra for common conveniences -- the Echo's slow depreciation has offset that somewhat. Still, anyone on a budget and shopping for a used economy car has better choices that offer greater overall performance and value.

Most Recent Toyota Echo

The Toyota Echo was launched in 2000 and ran through 2005. Sedan and coupe body styles were offered. All Echos were powered by a 1.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine capable of 108 horsepower and 105 pound-feet of torque. Thanks to a light curb weight, this was enough power to give the Echo decent acceleration. Fuel economy was also impressive, with real-world mileage typically in the mid-30s, quite possibly the best of any non-hybrid, gas-powered car from this time period.

At the time, Toyota kept the car's base price low by making most of its features optional. Standard equipment was very basic, including AM/FM four-speaker audio, a tilt steering wheel and 14-inch wheels. Optional was an all-weather package (including a heavy-duty battery and rear window defogger), antilock brakes, air-conditioning, side airbags, a CD player and keyless entry. Even power steering was an option, as were power windows and mirrors, a tachometer and a split-folding rear seat. In 2001, side airbags became available. The following year, Toyota began offering optional 15-inch wheels. The Echo also got a restyling in 2003. In the car's final years, Toyota made the Echo available by special order only, which caused sales to drop drastically.

Design-wise, the Toyota Echo's most impressive features were its spacious cabin and trunk. The tall greenhouse and narrow roof pillars offered unobstructed visibility and lots of headroom. Front seating was comfortable as long as the pronounced, upright feel didn't bother you, and rear seat legroom was just fine for two full-size adults. Interior materials on the Echo were about average for this class, though the cheap plastic pillar covers, hard steering wheel and foam headliner were subpar. Also, its center-mounted instruments took some getting used to.

Those seriously considering the purchase of a used Toyota Echo should seek out a well-equipped model. They shouldn't cost much more and should make the car much easier to live with.

User Reviews:

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  greatly improved suspension design - 2005 Toyota Echo
  By richie - May 19 - 5:16 am

  These comments apply to 3 identical new Echos purchased from July-October 05,equipped with 15" wheels,175 section tires. Fine road grip. Heavy duty roll bars completely eliminate body roll. Corners flat. Nimble power steering, very precise, goes where pointed. Crosswind stability vg- etc. Very firm ride, no float on heaving road, a little rough on bad pavement (See my "8" rating for Comfort.)(Would rate it "10" with 2 or more people,or on good roads). Shifting easy, but downshifts from 5th to 4th take a little aligning. Stoplight Grand Prix acceleration a blast,shocks the unwary.Recommended tire inflation shows up small bumps...Reducing to improve ride gives PRONOUNCED understeer on fast turns

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  Great Car!!! - 2004 Toyota Echo
  By Dijon Baker - April 16 - 10:00 am

  I really love my new ECHO, it is such a nice little car. It is comfortable and fun. I like having a nice car that is easy on the wallet but also a great car. I really like the exterior styling and the front seats are good for seeing a lot of what goes on outside. The only bad thing is the engine. A 1.8 liter engine, like the Corollas would be nice because it needs a little more power.

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  i love this car... - 2000 Toyota Echo
  By mgaige - April 16 - 10:00 am

  Have always enjoyed the car i hated the closeness to the ground of the other cars (i have arthritis and it hurt to get in and out of the cars) w/ the sales man showed me this one and I fell in love with the height, headroom, trunk room, and storage spaces I love the center placement for the speedometer- i dont break my back getting her in and out of the back seat. the get up and go is wonderful, i never have to worry about getting on the highway

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  I LOVE this car! - 2005 Toyota Echo
  By Bonnie G - April 15 - 9:50 am

  This is my 2nd Echo! I love the handling, gas mileage, peppy performance. Dont know what your testers were driving!! Im hanging on to this one!

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  Echo review - 2001 Toyota Echo
  By caraone - April 2 - 10:00 am

  Its a great little car. Maneuverable, nice ride, awesome gas mileage, roomy interior.

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  its veli good - 2002 Toyota Echo
  By echorulez - March 12 - 6:03 pm

  its a great car. runs great, fun to drive around in.

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  Ugly but practical, and economical - 2001 Toyota Echo
  By autooracle - March 6 - 9:56 pm

  Uglier than a Pontiac Aztec. But reliable, economical and fun to drive. The best use of space from any manufacturer of any small car.

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  Students Dream - 2000 Toyota Echo
  By EBarber - March 3 - 10:00 am

  I have had nothing but good things to say about my Toyota Echo. I get excellent gas milage and with gas prices so expensive it is truly wonderful to get 42 miles to the gallon. I am a college student who wanted something affordable as well as dependable.

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  This car is a Trooper - 2001 Toyota Echo
  By josh_reeves - February 13 - 3:34 am

  I have only good things to say about this car. Excellent mileage; EPA estimates are LOW. I get 35 mpg easily. Small, but the interior is bigger than it looks. Cost only 11K brand new. Speedometer is in the middle, back windows roll all the way down (yea, thats right). I have 190K hard miles on mine, through some rough times, and its still going strong - an absolute trooper.

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  Great Car - 2003 Toyota Echo
  By Amy - February 6 - 11:43 am

  I was all ready a Toyota fan with my first two cars being Camrys.I love my Echo.I bought it off the lot new.This car has been great, I have not had a single problem with it.I love the spunk it has and I live in Atlanta, GA where there are hardly parking spaces but my Echo always finds room in tight spaces most cars cannot fit into.Also driving in traffic is great because of the space issue- it can weave easily when needed.I love the truck space and small compartments.Any improvement I have suggested is petty compared to the overall package.After reading eveyone elses reviews I will have to say that we all have the same little gripes but I know that I am glad to have made this my 1st new car.