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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  The Three Echos - 2003 Toyota Echo
  By saminoz - November 24 - 2:00 am

  Im now on my third Echo. Moving between the US and Australia, I just keep buying Echos. I love this car!

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  Cheap and Reliable town commuting - 2001 Toyota Echo
  By lostfido - November 19 - 10:00 am

  I have had this vehicle for two years now. Its not a bad little car overall. Im a chronically single computer geek, so the embarrassment in front of potential in-laws clause doesnt apply to me. :) I like my life. I dont have issues with the styling, so Im not going to comment on it. When I bought this car, my objectives were to get the cheapest possible car vs. potential durability. I like to think I achieved that by getting the cheapest model from a very reputable car maker. The basic model was sufficient for me: no cd player, no side-beam air bags, and etc. Besides its great for a fat person on a budget (like me!).

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  Wow - 2002 Toyota Echo
  By Wow - October 8 - 4:40 am

  I have had a great experience with this little car! Great on gas, great on oil! No leaking problems or burning oil at all. This car is quality. I commute nearly 80 miles a day, and this car has had no problems.

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  2003 Echo 4Dr Sedan - 2003 Toyota Echo
  By CarFan - October 4 - 5:10 pm

  Dependable, economical & fun small car to drive - especially during times of high gas prices. This car is excellent for city driving and ok for shorter highway trips. Its light weight makes it easily swayed by passing trucks and not the best traction on snowy roads. It could use cruise control & arm rests.

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  I may make the foreign car leap... - 2000 Toyota Echo
  By rcfk - October 3 - 10:07 pm

  Just got this little car so I can park my big ol Ford F-150 gas guzzler for a while. Was not expecting much- but it is surprisingly fun to drive. It feels much larger than its subcompact size, and the trunk is rather roomy. The check engine light was on when I got it, and like everyone else, its O2 sensors. It is by no means a sports car, but with 198,000 miles on it- there are NO rattles and it feels solid. The interior is in remarkable condition considering the age and miles. It was filthy when we got it- we gutted the interior and cleaned everything and it is very close to new looking now- proving the durability of the interior. I dont think I will regret this purchase.

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  an older model - 2004 Toyota Echo
  By emery - September 26 - 10:00 am

  Shaky steering wheel was really bad but dealer finally fixed it, mostly, tho it still does shake. Wipers were bad when new and just got worse. Do not clean the windshield.

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  My Favorite Car Ever! - 2001 Toyota Echo
  By Clark - September 22 - 2:43 pm

  I bought this car by accident, while waiting for a Nissan 350Z to arrive at the dealer. After driving it for a week, I canceled the order on the Nissan and saved $26,000. This is a reliable, efficient and great looking design. I dread the day it no longer runs.

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  Great little car - 2004 Toyota Echo
  By dickrwh - September 20 - 2:00 am

  A great little car. I average high 40s fuel economy in the city even though it is rated low 40s. My highway mileage is somewhat lower since I tend to drive too fast. It seems to have a natural highway speed resonance of about 80-85. I have sometimes found myself over 100 mpg.

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  Best little car out there - 2000 Toyota Echo
  By echo1 - September 18 - 10:00 am

  When my boyfriend totalled my old Carolla, I had no idea what was out there, and checked just about everything. The minute I got into the Echo it was great, and has stayed great for the last 2 years. Great car for the price, great reliability, no problems, great gas mileage (and I do a lot of stop-and-go traffic), and amazing amounts of space for such a small looking car! It has moved half my apartment, and stands up to LA traffic. I would highly recommend it.

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  love the toyota ECHO - 2002 Toyota Echo
  By mongo - September 12 - 10:00 am

  Great little commuter car, very relible vehicle