Overview & Reviews

In an effort to better protect occupants of this lightweight economy car, Toyota makes side airbags optional for 2001. Brilliant Blue Pearl is a new color.

• Good gas mileage, speedy acceleration, roomy and functional interior, likely to be reliable.

• Cartoonish styling, dopey gauge placement, lousy handling, deceptively low base pricing.

User Reviews:

Showing 41 through 50 of 91.00

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  Dangerous car!!! - 2001 Toyota Echo
  By concernedmom - October 14 - 11:23 am

  I was like everyone else, I loved this car at first. The gas mileage was great (38mi./gal), but the day I wrecked it changed my mind. If anyone else had been in the car with me, they wouldve died!! It folded like an aluminum can!!! Please reconsider this car and buy something safer. I didnt have side airbags, but there was dual front airbags. I hit a deer and then hit the passenger side against a tree. The airbags did not deploy and I received a concussion from the passenger door. The whole car folded in half and I was only driving 45mi/hr.!! If you have family, please dont buy this. Their lives will be at risk. Be safe and choose a better car, any passengers with me wouldve been killed.

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  solid toyota product - 2001 Toyota Echo
  By jztoronto - August 2 - 7:00 am

  i dont agree with the edmunds review this car is a tank, 170k and NO MAJOR REPAIRS just change the oil. typical toyota best maker in the world for the money. the interior has as much space as more exp corrola. not bad in the snow with snow tires. terrific mileage and the trunk is as big as a camrys trunk. styling is def different and not for all but the build quality is solid engine and tranny is typical toyota. if u had 170 km on an audi for example you are 12k in repairs lol. the reviews knock the appearance but ill guarantee that the build quality is solid. def not for a single guy but if you buy this you are ok for repairs

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  GREAT little car - 2001 Toyota Echo
  By A. Miller - July 29 - 10:13 am

  I have owned this car for over 2 years and have had no trouble whatsoever. I think the write up by Edmunds is completely off track, and I think this is the best car money can buy. It has a spacious trunk, plenty of room for 2 adults and 3 kids. It has plenty of pep but still gets 40 mpg. No cruise control on mine was a mistake, and power windows would be nice.

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  6.5 years after first review - 2001 Toyota Echo
  By ottrb - March 12 - 10:12 am

  We still own our 2001 echo. It now has 171,000 miles on it and no problems yet. Only repair has been the downstream O2 sensor. I replaced it myself--bought the diagnostic tool,maintenance repair manual CD and O2 sensor and came out ahead of the game. The reliability of the Echo is outstanding. After having owned American cars for over 30 years I now own two Toyotas--the Echo and an 03 Highlander. And I wonder why it took so long to see the light and get rid of the American junk. Maybe (according to Edmonds) the Echo was overpriced but after 10.5 years of reliable ownership the Echo has more than paid for itself in reliability and value.

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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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  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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  My Little Echo - 2001 Toyota Echo
  By sarahjh - August 8 - 2:00 am

  First it seemed as if I was sitting on a board..a hard wooden board. The seats needs more padding. Hate to reach over to lock the doors. No salesman offered me extra options such as automatic windows, etc !!

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  Ignore bad press - The best value! - 2001 Toyota Echo
  By Jan - June 6 - 3:10 pm

  This car is a delight to drive and own. Interior and storage room are far greater than much larger cars (including my Camry) and far more thoughtfully designed. The instrumentation took a second to get used to, but now I resent conventional look- through-the-steering-wheel displays. This is more natural and allows you to continue surveying the road. Super fuel efficient and surprisingly safe -. My Echo handled a bad side collision (I was plowed into) like a trouper. Not a hair was mussed. I thought the handling was nimble and responsive. Its a 1.5 liter and takes a moment to get up to speed, but I dont gun it from a stop anyway.

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  Cute as a Button! - 2001 Toyota Echo
  By sarah - May 1 - 9:43 am

  I have owned my Roxy Echo for over 6 months, and I wouldnt change a thing about it. I have a 4 door with all the optional features, and despite what this review says about the cost versus what you get, I think this is one of the most fun to drive cars on the market! A lot of people cannot get past the look of the echo, but I dont understand why. Even though its about the gas mileage, I love the look! Then again, Im an eclectic kind of person who wants to drive something unusual and still hip. I also have to say that its easy to get into-its taller to provide more room-and that really helps because im not short! I was looking for an SUV, but fell in love with this echo!

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  Excellent Value and Safe - 2001 Toyota Echo
  By MSmith - March 7 - 1:50 pm

  I bought a 2001 4-door, Auto. Trans. Toyota Echo twice. 2 weeks apart. The 1st Echo was destroyed by an idiot that smashed into me while he was trying to cross 4 lanes of traffic. The front end of my Echo was completely crumpled, both airbags deployed, and the car was completely totaled. I was so impressed by this cars ability to protect me and my boy (he was completely unharmed, and I only suffered seat belt abrasions), I imm. bought another one to replace it. It has been 4 years now, 96k miles, and I have had only two minor probs: the CD player got fried the 1st year for unknown reasons and the gear shift light doesnt always light up. Also: I avg. 36 mpg despite my jack-rabbit starts.