Toyota aimed to attract younger customers, according to Autotrader’s history of the Echo. They intended to update their lineup and revamp some of their longtime favorites, including the aforementioned Tercel.
The Echo, Celica, and MR2 are three new vehicles that Toyota released as part of Project Genesis. While the Celica accomplished its goals and delivered admirably, the Echo came up short.
Although the Echo was introduced for the 2000 model year, it was no longer produced by 2004. The first year’s sales were actually quite strong. Toyota sold 50,000 Echos in its first year of production.
It’s believed that the Echo was mistakenly thought to as the new Tercel, which helped Toyota gain some sales momentum. Because the Tercel was a reliable and sturdy compact car, people adored them.
However, the momentum quickly diminished. Sales had fallen to half their initial level by 2002. In 2004, fewer than 4,000 Echos were sold.
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Toyota produces Echo?
Many of us at 2002 Hogback favor compact vehicles over large ones. Why? Starting out, little vehicles give you a feeling of lightness and agility that you wouldn’t get in, example, a wallowing, enormous sport-ute. And what easier way to make a car light than to make it small? Second, lightness breeds speed. And lastly, most little cars are less expensive than large ones.
Toyota has been providing the small, inexpensive end of the market with the capable but rather uninteresting Tercel for the past 20 years. Its benefits included a low price (the most recent Tercel sedan only cost little more than a base-model Korean sedan), the assurance of Toyota reliability, and the promise of high resale value (a three-to-five-year-old Tercel brings about five percent better resale value than a Hyundai Accent or Kia Sephia). The Tercel was routinely outperformed by its Korean and American rivals in terms of performance and driving enjoyment, though.
But Toyota hopes to change all of that with the new Echo sedan. The vehicle’s price, dimensions, and weight are still considered entry-level, but its 1.5-liter engine produces 108 horsepower and has variable valve timing. Its power-to-weight ratio is now comparable to vehicles one level higher, like the Dodge/Plymouth Neon or the Corolla, the Echo’s bigger brother. And the tall-boy design of the Echo is anything but boring.
The Echo appears to be quite little from the outside. It is 0.8 inches shorter than a Chevy Metro sedan and more than 11 inches shorter than a Kia Sephia at 163.2 inches long. Additionally, the Echo is small; only the skinnynest econoboxes are narrower than its 65.4-inch width. But as you can see by looking at the towering greenhouse, it towers over all economy cars except for VW’s fishbowl New Beetle, measuring 59.1 inches tall.
Toyota was able to provide a more spacious interior than the Echo’s modest footprint may imply thanks to its height. The Echo has a front cabin volume of 49 cubic feet and a rear interior volume of 39 cubic feet. This places it in the middle of its class and provides enough room for four people, though five adults are definitely a crowd. All but the hatchback econoboxes’ 14 cubic feet of load capacity are equal to or greater in the tall trunk.
Now, back to that reasonable cost. The entry-level four-door model we tested here costs $10,750. However, in this case, base model truly means base; even power steering is an additional $270, and a digital clock is an additional $70. Unfortunately, those are pretty much the only two solutions that can stand alone. Do you desire the $925 air conditioning? It’s difficult to keep an Echo under $13,235 because it comes with $1560 worth of additional equipment, like power locks and steering, a CD/cassette system, a rear defroster, and a 60/40 split-folding back seat. That is, of course, within a few hundred dollars of a similarly priced Chevy Metro LSi or Daewoo Lanos and at least a few thousand dollars cheaper than comparable Neons and Honda Civics.
The Echo is said to be inexpensive to operate as well. The EPA predicts a fuel economy of 34 to 41 miles per gallon. It got 35 mpg on average, even with the heavy traffic around here. Despite having a high 10.5:1 compression ratio, the engine just needs standard 87-octane fuel. Furthermore, Toyota is well known for producing dependable automobiles.
The Echo’s smart 108-hp, 1.5-liter four-banger outperforms many of its rivals, and its small weight contributes to its rapid performance. More than a second quicker than our previous Sephia and 0.2 seconds faster than a Dodge Neon, the 2128-pound Echo reaches 60 mph in 8.5 seconds. However, the Echo was only slightly slower than the Neon in the quarter-mile run (16.7 seconds, 0.1 seconds behind the Dodge). The maximum speed limit is 112.
We won’t go over all the minor tweaks that contributed to the overall hustling that we discussed in our article from October 1999. All you need to know is that the little engine eagerly and smoothly revs to its rev restriction of 6500 rpm. Unfortunately, there is no tachometer available, so you won’t know how quickly the engine is spinning. Given the tendency of this engine to rev, we believe a tach is essential. Toyota should have at the very least marked the speedometer with shift points so that the driver would have at least some guidance as to when to shift.
Although the Echo can match compact cars like the Neon in acceleration, it couldn’t match the big boys in corners. Skidpad grip is considered entry-level with a 0.77 g rating. The Echo feels like the high, short car that it is, with narrow tires. The tires screech when accelerating around off-ramps, and there is a fair bit of body roll. However, the body roll isn’t unpleasant, and the Echo promptly tucks in the front end when you lift off the gas in a turn instead of bobbing around. The cars in this class are satisfying to drive because you can make the most of their meager performance on the way to work, which is something we wouldn’t advise doing in, say, a Corvette. Additionally, this Echo offers far more performance than a Chevy Metro or Daewoo Lanos.
We also liked how strong the brakes were. Our vehicle also offered $590 anti-lock brakes, which were able to stop the Echo from 70 mph in 193 feet.
Regarding its styling, neither young nor old drivers nor pedestrians turned their heads to obtain a better look. However, let’s give Toyota credit for creating a unique shape.
The five storage spaces in the dash and doors of the Echonot counting its two glove boxesare its most stylish feature up front. The instrument binnacle, which is situated in the center of the dashboard rather than directly in front of the driver, is first intriguing but quickly becomes bizarre, particularly at night when the region of the dashboard in front of the steering wheel is dark. All the necessary controls are easily accessible, and the flat chairs are supportive.
As far as small, inexpensive cars go, the Echo is a great alternative for transportationas long as you don’t stuff it full of options, in which case the larger compacts would be a better choice. It uses every square inch of its compact size and is reasonably speedy and comfy. The future? Maybe this, together with the Echo’s unique design and quirky center gauge cluster, will make it the hottest product since Pokemon cards.
Mr. Don Schneider Call me strange, but I don’t find minimalist econoboxes to be uninteresting or monotonous. Compared to luxury and sports cars, these vehicles speak more well of their producers. For instance, how significant a role does packaging play? Does it sacrifice aesthetically pleasing design? How is the trade-off between power/fuel economy managed? Is it clear that money is spent on improvement? The Echo informs me that Toyota believes its customers want respectable power, space, and refinement from their econoboxes and that they are prepared to make certain concessions in terms of styling, fuel efficiency, and pricing in order to obtain those qualities. It’s a good effort, but I think Ford’s larger Focus might be more effective.
PLATFORM MAKI You shouldn’t anticipate a sporty handling experience from this economical vehicle because of its narrow tires. Driving this tiny car is less of a chore than an enthusiast might anticipate because to the buttery smooth clutch and shift linkages. And if you’re an enthusiast on a tight budget, the Echo’s 108-hp DOHC VVT-i four and up to 41 mpg might be enough for you. Power windows are not an option, but you can choose an AM/FM/cassette stereo with a CD player for a pricey $2485, along with air conditioning and a ton of additional gadgets. Choose the four-door instead of the two-door since it is easier to enter the back of the four-door because it already has a door.
CAROLE WEBER The important factors, not the 0-to-60 time and top speed, of an economy car are how it drives and looks for its price, as well as its gas mileage. Although it doesn’t feel as well-planted as a VW Golf with 15-inch tires or a New Beetle with 16-inchers, nor does it ride as smoothly as the longer-wheelbase Focus, the Echo gets the job done with few nits to pick. The cost of a loaded Echo is comparable to that of a Focus and a Neon (VWs are more expensive), but the Focus’s details requires some getting accustomed to, and the new Neon’s aesthetic appeal ages quickly. Although the Echo may not be as attractive as a New Beetle, it gets better gas mileage and has a larger trunk.
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A Toyota Echo: Reliable or not?
Just before the new century, the strangely shaped and almost comical Toyota Echo budget car made its premiere. The Echo was designed to draw younger American consumers into the Toyota family with its low pricing and Toyota pedigree. It was the Tercel’s replacement and the forerunner of the Scion brand.
But there was one Toyota that, surprisingly, didn’t have much success. The Toyota Echo was one of our editors’ least favorite subcompacts despite having an exceptionally spacious cabin thanks to its tall, narrow greenhouse and an efficient 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that gave it adequate power. The design of the Echo’s odd centered gauge cluster was criticized, and once it was moving, its upright stance and narrow tires made it feel “tippy” at highway speeds and had too much body roll while negotiating tight turns.
Being a Toyota, the Echo undoubtedly has a reputation for being more dependable than the norm. And although while we complained about the Echo’s poor value for the money, largely because Toyota charged extra for basic comforts, the Echo’s gradual depreciation has somewhat made up for that. However, those looking for a used economy automobile on a tight budget have better options that provide higher overall performance and value.
Toyota released the Echo in 2000, and it was in production until 2005. There were sedan and coupe body types available. A 1.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine with 108 horsepower and 105 pound-feet of torque powered every Echo. This was enough power to give the Echo respectable acceleration due to a modest curb weight. With real-world mileage often in the mid-30s, this car’s fuel efficiency was likewise remarkablepossibly the best of any gas-powered, non-hybrid vehicle from the time.
Toyota at the time maintained the base price of the car low by making the majority of its equipment optional. A tilt steering wheel, AM/FM four-speaker stereo, and 14-inch wheels were among the extremely basic standard features. A heavy-duty battery, a rear window defogger, antilock brakes, air conditioning, side airbags, a CD player, and keyless entry were all available options. Even power steering, power windows, power mirrors, a tachometer, and a split-folding back seat were available extras. Side airbags became available in 2001. Toyota started selling optional 15-inch wheels the following year. In 2003, The Echo had a redesign as well. Toyota only made the Echo accessible by special order during the Echo’s final years, which significantly decreased sales.
The Toyota Echo’s roomy interior and trunk were its most striking design elements. There was excellent visibility and plenty of headroom thanks to the tall greenhouse and skinny roof pillars. As long as the noticeable, upright feeling didn’t annoy you, the front seats were comfy, and the legroom in the back seats was sufficient for two grownups. Although the cheap plastic pillar covers, harsh steering wheel, and mediocre foam headliner were standard for this class of vehicle, the inside materials of the Echo were about acceptable. Additionally, getting acclimated to its center-mounted instrumentation required some time.
Those who are thinking about buying a used Toyota Echo should look for a vehicle that is well-equipped. They shouldn’t be much more expensive and should make living with the car considerably simpler.
Why was the Toyota Echo canceled?
The Yaris, which Toyota finally replaced the Echo with, addressed many of the issues of its forerunner. The introduction of the Yaris was dubbed “sweet salvation” by Autotrader.
The Yaris added the amenities that buyers desired as standard without incurring any more costs while maintaining the Echo’s price range. The Yaris’ peculiar design was also corrected by Toyota, who made it much more understated. The Yaris, a mainstay in the manufacturer’s class of compact cars, was introduced in 2007 and continued to be produced until 2020.
Toyota Yaris and Echo interchangeably?
Compared to the ECHO, the Yaris is heavier. More securely holds the road the Yaris. Since the ECHO is lighter, it needs less gas. The seats of the Yaris fold down more easily and are more comfy.
With what vehicle is Toyota replacing the Yaris?
Both a sedan and a hatchback version of the Yaris were available, but Toyota declared that the model has been discontinued in the US.
Gran Turismo was the beginning of it all. Sean has always had a fascination with things that move thanks to his early PlayStation days. He worked as a freelancer for Motor Authority, The Car Connection, and Green Car Reports before joining the Roadshow team. Sean has a 2016 Chevrolet SS, and it does have Holden badges, in the garage.
Is the Toyota Yaris going out of production?
The 2020 model year will be the final one for both the Yaris and the Yaris Hatchback because they have both been discontinued. Your neighborhood Toyota Care Center will still provide excellent service if you currently own a Yaris or Yaris Hatchback. The Corolla and Corolla Hatchback are two different Toyota models that focus value and have a similar sense of fun if you’re looking for an alternative. Alternately, use the search bar below to find a Toyota Certified Used Yaris or Yaris Hatchback.