I like it, but liked my CRX better
Sometimes a vibrating rattle when stopped. A couple times it down shifted on level road for no reason. Air conditioner could be better.
A very good small car. Lot's of room and 38 to 40 m.p.g.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 22nd June, 2005
A solid, inexpensive car that makes a statement...
...and that statement is not "I am cheap." It's "I am a smart shopper."
I've only owned this car for a little while. Nothing has gone wrong with it aside from a few things that were fixed by the dealership at the time of purchase. These include:
*Rear defroster repaired.
*Antenna lubed (it was stuck in the retracted position).
*Plastic grille on front of the car was snapped back into position.
*A small plastic piece of trim was re-attached.
The ECHO is great for singles, college kids, or people who just want a good, solid compact car and can pass on the frills. When I pay for a car, I like to think my money is going toward the manufacturing of a reliable vehicle... not into a light-up cup holder or musical ash tray. On the other hand, there are a couple of things that are not standard on the ECHO that I would have liked to have, such as anti-lock brakes.
The ECHO handles responsively, turns tightly, and drives well in rain, snow, etc. It does lean a bit in strong winds. Otherwise, you really don't feel as if you're driving a small, lightweight car. The interior is extremely roomy and the driver sits high. But again, you'll feel how light the car is when you go to pop the hood or roll down the window. My Pontiac required the strength of 20 men to pop the hood... not so with the ECHO.
I can't really comment on reliability yet, since I've only had the car for 2 months. But judging from other reviews and ratings, I expect few problems.
A lot has been said about the ECHO's peculiar stylings. Although my last car was sleek, I was ready for a change. I've always been a fan of the slightly un-glamorous appearance of certain cars, like Volkswagens. At any rate, I'll take my quirky-looking ECHO over an unreliable sports car with poor fuel economy any day.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 14th March, 2005
A cheap to maintain little bug
The battery went dead because I did not turn the lights off.
The gas gage started acting strangely, but now it works fine without and repair.
This car is great on gas!
This is not the car for you if you want performance--the car doesn't have much pickup, but ECHOs are not meant for performance anyhow.
However, if you are a tall person, be aware of this car. My son was about 5'8 or so when I bought this car. Now, a year later, he's 5'10. His head is close to bumping the ceiling. He cannot sit in the back seat because his head hits the ceiling and is very uncomfortable.
Altogether, this car is great on gas, the performance is OK, but the car is not meant for tall people.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 4th May, 2004
I am 6'5 and I cannot believe how much headroom I have in the 2003 Toyota Echo - even if the seat is in the upright position I still have room.
My last car was a 1992 Mercury Topaz which is not for a tall person at all so this is a blessing to me.
This review is completely twisted.
The Toyota Echo has lots of room for the driver and passenger in front, and it is basically designed for two people, with lots of room. It is actually a very roomy vehicle for two.
But if you are tall and want to sit in the back row in a two-door vehicle (as the one I tried was) you are out of luck.
Best value car there is. Who needs an SUV?
Nothing.
No manufacturer's defects whatever, well-made and solid.
Runs well, handles nicely, looks good. Small on the outside, large on the inside.
Handles well despite small size - 15-inch wheel option helps.
Best low-price car around (although accessories that would be standard on other cars can run up the price).
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 19th January, 2003
The best small car in the world!!!
This car is a joy to drive.
There is nothing wrong with this vehicle at all.
This car is very quick.
Very easy to handle, almost no road noise what is great compare to other small cars.
The headlights are fantastic, at night drive it is a big plus.
The seats are comfortable, the heat is great. This little car has lots of room inside.
This is the best car I ever had!!!
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 6th December, 2002
This surprises me. I am 6'7" and was able to sit in the front seat better than other compacts. In fact, I think the Echo is one of the tallest cars on the market - taller than cadillacs... Certainly, the brochure boasts a lot of headroom too.
QUICK??? obviously the first car youve ever owned.
He owned a car prior to the Echo, according to his report.
Read before putting fingers in gear.
Very true, manual always gives a lot better performance. If you look at any same vehicle on the market and compare the 0-60 and 1/4 time, the manual will always be 1 second faster then the automatic. That little 1.5 liter with a manual is respectable. Every teenager with a Honda Civic has that same 1.5 liter engine, has a lot of potential!
Best best car ever!! for a small car it's reliable on a highway and quiet.
11th Aug 2005, 15:14
The 'vibrating rattle' would be the ABS kicking in. It has a pronounced 'thrumming' noise. Should only happen on a sudden or hard stop.