Toyota Echo Reviews

Debate is raging over the relative merits of diesels and hybrids, and while both are considered an economical choice, they also have their drawbacks. Hybrids, such as Toyota's Prius cost more to buy and the fuel savings are not necessarily that great.The Echo replaced the Starlet as the smallest model in the Toyota range in 1999. It was a trendy little car and brought a touch of style and class that had generally been lacking in small cars, particularly the bland Starlet.There were three models in the range: a three-door hatch; a more practical five-door model that would better suit a small family looking at downsizing; and a four-door sedan.Compared with other small cars, the Echo was fairly sparse when it came to standard features. South Korean rivals had standard airconditioning, a CD player and power steering, but you had to pay extra for them in the Echo.Build quality was something that didn't cost any extra and for many that made up for the lack of frills. Power steering was added to the standard features late in 2002, and airconditioning came in 2003. Despite its size, the Echo is quite a big car inside, at least given its external dimensions. It has a short but tall stature, and Toyota was able to conjure up some useful interior space.The upright seating is comfortable, provides good legroom and makes it easy to get in and out.Toyota offered the choice of two engines, a 1.3-litre in the hatch and a 1.5-litre in the sedan and sporty Sportivo hatch. The 1.3-litre pushed out 63kW at 6000 revs and 122Nm at 4400 revs. Its larger cousin had 80kW at 6000 revs and 142Nm at 4000 revs.Though the small engine gave adequate performance and was the most economical, the 1.5-litre is the better engine all round. A five-speed manual was the standard gearbox on offer, but there was also a four-speed auto.Toyotas are renowned for their reliability and owners have few troubles with their Echo. Some report a few squeaks and rattles that seem to come from the body. They're not necessarily a big deal, but can be annoying. Check for clicking sounds while making turns. It could signal trouble from the CV joints.If you want to save money at the bowser, here's one way of doing it.

You have to hand it to Toyota, when it sets out to do something it usually does it well. In the case of the Echo, though, it’s probably a case of doing it too well. The Koreans changed the hatch market when they brought in the concept of the cheap and cheerful chariot with low driveaway pricing that made it tough for the big established carmakers to compete.Toyota, the car maker that has to be involved in every market segment going, had a crack with a couple of models, but barely landed a punch on the segment stars from Seoul. The problem was that the Toyotas were always priced at a premium, the company believing that discerning buyers would pay more for a well-engineered car that boasted an array of technology the Koreans couldn’t match.But the small hatch market wasn’t tuned to sophistication, buyers were happy with the Korean ‘drive away, no more to pay’ concept, which made it tough for Toyota. Price was the key ingredient to success and carmakers like Toyota had problems matching the Korean stickers.So it was with the Echo, a well engineered little hatch or sedan that delivered a level of technology, build quality and standard features that set it apart from the main players in the segment. Unfortunately it also came at a price that set it apart.MODEL WATCHThe Echo was a breath of fresh air after the stodgy Starlet, Toyota’s previous entry in the small hatch segment. Unlike its predecessor the Echo was smartly styled, undoubtedly aimed at the young and cool, who bypassed the Starlet in droves.It came as a three-door hatch in base form, but was also offered as a more practical five-door, and the oldies were looked after with a booted sedan. While the hatches, the three-door in particular were attractive, the booted sedan looked like a styling afterthought, it wasn’t in the least appealing with its boot looking like it had been stuck on at the last minute when it was too late to do anything better.The swoopy design of the exterior was carried through to the interior, which was well laid-out with a central dash pod and had plenty of useful storage bins and boxes for all of life’s daily necessities for the young on the run.For power the Echo hatches had a double overhead cam 16-valve 1.3-litre four which boasted Toyota’s VVTi variable valve timing system to ensure it had enough zip to keep it competitive. The fuel-injected powerplant had class leading power with peak power of 63 kW and top torque of 122 Nm.The sedan relied on a larger, more powerful motor. At 1.5 litres it also had double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, variable valve timing and fuel-injection, which all went together to produce 80 kW and 142 Nm.Transmission choices were a five-speed manual, which had a nice shift in the usual Toyota manner or a four-speed auto.Steering was non-assisted rack and pinion on the hatches at the launch in 1999, but power steering became standard in 2002. It was standard from the outset on the sedan.Standard features on the three-door included a driver’s airbag, adjustable column, cloth trim, engine immobiliser, and radio cassette sound with a couple of speakers. Add to that a CD player and a couple more speakers and you have the standard features of the five-door.The sedan also boasted a remote control boot release, and a CD player from 2002 when it also got remote central locking.ON THE LOTThe trade has a nickname for the Echo, which for reasons of good taste won’t be repeated here, but suffice to say it isn’t kind. It is in fact a reflection that they are hard to sell on the used car market. Few wholesalers will handle them, and dealers aren’t keen to have them in their yards because they move so slowly. If you really want one, and why not, look for an independent dealer with one sitting in his yard, and haggle hard as you might just negotiate yourself a bargain.1999 Echoes will have around 50,000 km on the clock, and you’ll pay up to $13,000 for a three-door hatch, $1000 more for a five-door hatch, $1200 for a four-door sedan. Add a further $2500 for ’02 models.IN THE SHOPEchoes are still showing low mileage and won’t have reached the point they need a major service involving a belt change and the like, but it’s worth checking for a service record for peace of mind.Toyota engines are generally bulletproof as long as they are serviced so don’t expect any problems under the bonnet. Same goes for the transmissions and driveline.Likewise there doesn’t seem to be any major problems with the suspension, steering or brakes. Even after clocking up 75,000 km in short time our reader from the NSW south coast hasn’t had to replace brakes.Trim and body work stands up well in typical Toyota style so don’t expect bits and pieces to fail off, distort or break. Seating trim is generally hard wearing, will show signs of wear on sides of driver’s seat, but it’s nothing to be concerned about.Generally look for dings and dents along the body sides, and corners of the bumpers, which might indicate a careless or uncaring owner. Look of course for colour mismatches, distorted panel seams and poor fitting doors, bonnets and boots that might indicate crash repairs.OWNERS VIEWMichael Pitt’s wife thought the Echo looked “nice”, she also liked the colour, which he admits is no way to buy a car, but despite the unusual purchase process he says he’s happy with it. He says it’s comfortable and economical, he reports 5.7 L/100 km, but is critical of the road noise, its susceptibility to side winds and says its ventilation is poor.Casey Padey has racked up 75,000 km in just two years at the wheel of her Echo, mostly travelling to and from Sydney from her south coast NSW home of Mogo. She loves its looks, says it’s cute, and has had no problems with it.LOOK FOR• Cute styling makes it a stand out in the generally boring hatch market.• VVTi four-cylinder engine gives it the performance to match hatches with bigger engines• Renowned Toyota reliability means relatively trouble free run in the long term• Practical interior with comfortable seating and lots of useful storage• Little side protection against parking lot scrapes• Capable little hatch around town or on the open roadRIVALS• Daewoo Matiz – 1999-2002 – $8600-$11,100• Daihatsu Sirion – 1998-2002 – $9000-$15,500• Mitsubishi Mirage – 1996-2001 – $10,000-$13,800

Toyota would say it is the Echo's value, not the bottom line, and there is also a powerful premium attached to any vehicle that wears the Toyota label.But no one denies sales of the Echo went ballistic when Toyota Australia negotiated a deal with Japan and chopped the bottom line to $14,490 complete with aircon and power steering.The price has been bumped up a little since that $2600 rollback last year. It rose to $14,740 on January 1.But there is no sign of any loss of consumer confidence in a car that comes complete with a passenger airbag, power steering and airconditioning. And that T badge.Toyota sold 4373 Echos in the first quarter this year for a 21 per cent share of the baby-car class. Hyundai's Getz was second on 3786 and 18.5 per cent.This is despite the Getz being more than $1000 cheaper, with a five-year warranty, and a much newer model than the Toyota.The Getz is the closest challenger but there are plenty of other classy contenders in what's officially known as the light-car class.The Honda Jazz and the Mazda2 are the best of the babies, and we also rate the new Ford Fiesta highly if you cannot stretch to the meaty bottom lines of the Japanese pacemakers.And the Echo? Well, it's been around a while and time is never kind to any car until you arrive at a classic.The Echo was first seen in 1999 and has barely changed.It was radical when it came here – very tall and very short – but it doesn't look nearly so advanced in 2004. It is still compact and upright, but so is the Getz.But it fits in better now because the shape, sketched by flamboyant Greek designer Sotiris Kovos, is no longer radical.And the digital instrument readout in the centre of the dash, which was so advanced it needed a change to Australian Design Rules before it could be included in the car, is just as familiar.So is the car's 1.3-litre engine, which is below the class mark on size but benefits from variable valve timing and an emphasis on torque, and the front-drive mechanical package with predictable front MacPherson-strut suspension and disc-drum brakes with 14in steel wheels.The big difference now is that the Echo comes with power steering and airconditioning as part of every deal, and that is the ideal combination for most small-car shoppers.A driver's airbag is essential, too, and the T-car has it.The new deal has made the Echo the top choice with young women and taken over the spot once reserved for the Excel.The latest Getz doesn't have the looks they like, though it is still powering strongly and has a funky cabin.But the Echo shouldn't be dismissed as a girls-only car because a lot of savvy commuters have put it on their shopping lists – and it's also doing well with two-car and three-car families.On the RoadIT'S been a long time since we first drove an Echo and after the latest pace-setters – particularly the spunky new Fiesta – we expected to be disappointed.It didn't help that Toyota, which is far more focused on its hot newcomers including the hybrid Prius and all-wheel-drive Kluger, had trouble tracking down a suitable Echo.A base-model car was eventually found, but it came after almost 12,000 kilometres with the daughter of a company chief.So, not the best start. Still, the Echo came across fairly well.It drove tight, the styling has become more familiar and welcome over the past three years, and we still like the digital display.It's also roomy and comfortable, with plenty of storage space.Compared with its rivals, and the Getz and Fiesta are the most obvious – the Hyundai on price, the Ford because it's new – the Echo doesn't have the impact or the driving enjoyment that have become much more common in light-car contenders.It rides well and the handling is all right, but it's clear it is a price-fighter with the emphasis on reliability.Still, there are plenty of cars it does beat, including the dowdy Kia Rio – the Rio sedan was one of the biggest disappointments of last year – and the funky but flawed Daihatsu YRV, as well as the latest Daewoo hopefuls and the outdated Proton Satria.It is louder in the cabin than the Getz, though the grippy tyres on the Fiesta make it about the same for road noise, and the CD sound system is nowhere near good enough to compensate.The Echo is easy to park, light to steer and is good on fuel. We also like the number of storage nooks around the dash, though it's nothing like the 30-plus Ford is claiming for the new Territory.The seats are also pretty plump, but the dash – even with the bright and funky digital dials – is just a big slab of grey plastic.The Echo gets along all right, but the 1.3-litre engine doesn't show much enthusiasm. It failed our personal steep-hill torque test – needing a backshift to first where the bigger-engined Fiesta flew up in second – and gives you no encouragement to push beyond the mid-range on the tachometer.But it's unlikely most shoppers will be checking the details. They'll be mesmerised by the price and the Toyota label. And that's more than good enough for a lot of shoppers.THE BOTTOM LINE 16/20It's getting old, but still looks perky and the price is nice with a T-badge on the nose

Toyota's new dish on the hot hatch menu, the Echo Sportivo, looks great but lacks sports car flavour.  Hot hatches with special herbs and spices are putting personality back into small cars.Tastier new contenders are arriving regularly, with everyone from Hyundai to Volkswagen - and even BMW and Benz -- looking for a new hero hatch.  There are two types of hot hatch today: hot lookers and spicy drives. Few cars combine both.You only have to look at Toyota's new contenders. Its Corolla Sportivo has a muscular turbo motor that makes it a pocket rocket, while the Echo Sportivo is all about looking good.Toyota says the cars are the start of a new sub-brand in its mainstream family, aimed at younger buyers who want more from their compact cars without the premium price tags of the Celica and the MR2.  But the Echo still has a price problem. It jumps to more than $20,000 by the time you drive away, and it falls well short of the Corolla Sportivo on driving enjoyment.It's a baby car, selling against the Holden Barina, the Hyundai Accent and the rest, but has a price that puts it up against everything from the new Nissan Pulsar to the Peugeot 206.  The recipe for Echo Sportivo is simple: Toyota Australia took the 1.5-litre engine from the Echo sedan and dropped it into the hatches, then added plenty of dress-up gear to give it the essential street cred.The engine has 17kW of extra go, but falls a long way short of fire-breather status with only 80kW and 142Nm of torque, despite some pretty hi-tech engineering. And there's nothing new in the suspension or brakes.Sportivo also means after-market extras on the Toyota menu, and the Echo has body-coloured side skirts, door handles and door frames.  The cabin also gets sports front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear knob, carbon fibre-style panels in the doors and metal scuff plates on the door sills.The value-added goodies also run to power steering, CD sound and remote central locking -- but the essential air-con is a $1453 extra that punts the price out of the ballpark.  Toyota emphasises the basic $19,990 price for a three-door manual Echo Sportivo, but there is also a five-door model and an optional safety pack at $1220 for anti-skid brakes, a passenger-side airbag and seat belt pre-tensioners.DrivingTHE Echo Sportivo is a good-looking car with plenty of extra spice.  The body bits give it more impact, the cabin changes make it more inviting and enjoyable, and it has the flair to compete with anything in the hot hatch class.Until you turn the key. The Echo's Sportivo engine is really just the one that's always been available for the sedan, but wasn't fitted because Toyota needed a price leader and the 1.3-litre motor was the powerplant for the job. It's definitely not Sportivo.Then again, it gets along pretty well with a good spread of torque and no peaks or valleys. It is extremely smooth, as you'd expect in a Toyota, with good response and no nasties as you close on the red line.  It feels like a motor with plenty of room for improvement, though there's no need to tweak the impressive fuel economy.The test car averaged just a tick over seven litres/100km during a mixed run of driving, and the digital fuel gauge was still reading a half-tank despite covering almost 300km.  It is quiet at highway speeds and cruises nicely, though you need to plan any overtaking moves with care.The gearbox is slick and tight, but the light clutch can occasionally catch you out. The steering is also light, with a wheel that combines leather grip with silver highlights. It's typical of the cabin treatment, which is one of the best around today for youngsters.The digital dials in the centre of the dash look trendy and work extremely well, though they take a bit of adjustment. The front seats are roomy and supportive and the back is surprisingly good.  There's plenty of head space and a wide range of adjustment, with the flexibility of sliding the whole bench back to boost luggage space.It's tough to criticise the Echo because it looks good, it's well finished and it has obvious appeal.  But a few minutes on greasy Melbourne roads, where the chassis failed to cope with the conditions, highlights the extra work needed to really qualify as a Sportivo car.The baby Toyota is short and fat -- at least in the footprint -- which means it's no sports car.  It gets a lateral pitching in corners that's hard to balance, possibly because it has limited suspension travel, and it just pushes straight ahead any time you try to get enthusiastic.Toyota can do better and make it more rewarding.  People will be prepared to pay for the Echo Sportivo, even if it's only to get a Toyota badge, but the price of the added spice doesn't match the flavour in the dish.Toyota Echo SportivoPrice as tested: $21, 990Engine: 1.5-litre four with overhead camshafts and fuel injectionPower: 80kW at 6000 revsTorque: 145Nm at 4200 revsTransmission: Five-speed manual, front-wheel driveBody: Five-door hatchbackDimensions: Length: 3635mm, width: 1660mm, height: 1510mm, wheelbase: 2370mm, tracks: 1440mm/1420mm front/rearWeight: 900kgFuel tank: 45 litresFuel conumption: 7.1 litres/100kmSteering: Power-assisted rack-and-pinionSuspension: Fully-independent with front MacPherson struts and torsion beam rear with coil springsBrakes: Ventilated front discs and rear drumsWheels: 5.5x14 alloysTyres: 175/65 R14Warranty: Three years/ 100,000kmRivalsPeugot 206***(from $20,990)VW Polo***(from $22,490)Holden Barina****(from $13,990)Nissan Pulsar hatch ***(from $21,690)Plus: Looks good; well builtMinus: It's no hot hatch