The strengths in my particular Echo include the optional features that came with it (mentioned above in my summary). If I had gotten just the base model without the clock or A/C and no CD nor tape player, I doubt I would be as happy with my purchase. If you buy one new, you have to pay through the nose for all of the extra features, so I would recommend finding a newish used one with the features you want. Other than that, the strengths are the gas mileage, roomy interior and trunk, storage space, cute and peppy, center dash, Toyota quality.

Subpar windshield wipers, small car so it blows around in the wind a bit. Hard to find a used one!

I bought my lil' black Echo about 2 months ago and it seems to be very good so far. I got it used with 57,000 miles on it. It had all the optional features I wanted (CD/tape combo, folding rear seats, clock, A/C, power locks, auto transmission). I was very lucky as it seems it is a bit of a challenge to find a used Echo! It took me about 2 months of checking local dealerships and the classified ads before I found this one. I actually found this one at a Dodge dealership, and I they knew nothing about this type of car. It was priced approx. $1,300 below the Blue book price, so I got a pretty good deal. The tires on it are brand new, so I didn't get to experience the infamous factory tires. I also haven't had a chance to drive it in winter yet (I'm in Wisconsin), so we'll see how that goes. It isn't terribly steady in a high wind, but if you're used to driving smaller cars, you're used to that anyway. I have driven it in a hard rain, and the windshield wipers aren't the best, but the defroster works great. The center dash mount is wonderful and there is so much storage space! I'm a pack-rat and I finally have a place to put EVERYTHING! I especially like the double glove compartment. The gas mileage is also wonderful - I am getting over 40 mpg on the highway even with the A/C on. The trunk is spacious and the engine is "vroomy" and peppy, except going up a hill. If you turn off the overdrive then it's no problem getting up the hill. There is plenty of leg room and head room for tall people. My brother is 6 foot 6 and he's driven mine and he now wants to buy an Echo of his own, so that's an example of how roomy the interior is. The car is very cute and I get a lot of compliments on it. It's a good car for people who don't want to pay a lot for gas but still want to have a nice-looking car that turns some heads, and it is also a high-quality car so it should last a long time. I would definitely recommend this car to young women (I'm a 24 year old female) as it is very cute but also practical and economical. It isn't a terribly manly looking car, but my husband still drives it and enjoys it, so what do I know.

Similar Products Used:

1987 Dodge Shadow, 1991 Dodge Shadow, 1991 Plymouth Sundance, 1992 Plymouth Acclaim, 1993 Plymouth Laser, 2001 Honda Accord.

Interior room, trunk and great gas mileage. Also, the Echo is a Toyota so it brings with it the name of dependability for years to come!

Havent really found any so much. Just on a windy day it shakes a little bit on highway since its so light weight but still gets great gas mileage in the wind.

I have only driven the Echo for a couple of weeks but boy this is one heck of a toyota. I like the center where all the controls are and more room in one than anyone would imagine. Mine has 74,000 miles on it, but i am not concerned. Its been a great car so far but they dont make it with cruise, i guess to good of gas mileage anyways. Mine has a clock and everything else. I have the upgraded sports package and the weather package with a better battery and rear defrost. The tires that came with it where touring tires so i paid the money for some mastercrafts which is the same as coopers. But no i never got the chance to have the orginal michelins on the vehicle which i am not hearing that they are to good anyways. The interior seats my father is amazed at. He owned a toyota corolla and thought they werent good and now they have a new camry and he says my seats are still better. Its amazing what you can get for the price you pay. This is the first toyota that the seats are still excellent in with no tears. Also im surprised that mine dont have a cracked windshield. We have 4 toyotas and they all have cracks in them. The Echo rides nice and the abs brakes im actually starting to like. For the money you pay, you get one heck of a car far as dependability. I would recommend this car to anyone. The price is right and thats why you dont see many on the road because toyota wants to make more money and they only do on the more higher price models. With everything you get, i dont know how one would be angry at a purchase of one. The only way i could see ones point on buying an american made vehicle other than the Echo because it is cheaper and cheaper to maintain. But also you have to take in consideration dependability and how many times you have to take it in to a shop for repairs. Toyota parts may be higher but you usually dont have to replace them as often. Also, i have notice at how easy this toyota would be to replace parts by ones self. I had owned an 85 toyota Cressida and an 88 toyota 4runner and boy where they hard to do work on them because they had no room under the hood. Just want to say that my 4runner i sold to my father and it has over 254,ooo miles on it so toyota is know for a good drive train and it is still running excellent, just wish the body wasnt so rusted. We are a toyota family and i would never even consider buying anything else. I was concerned about interior room since im over 6 foot tall but its a breeze to get in and out of one. I recommend if you havent test drove one yet you should. A person would often think its to small until you are in the drivers seat. Oh too did i mention the big trunk. My parents owned a 01 VW Bug and boy there was no room to even call it a trunk.( By the way it was the worst mistake in their lives of buying one, they traded it off for a camry within 5 months). I would recommend when someone buys a car to check on recalls because with an Echo i havent found many unlike the VW Bug. Go Toyota or stay home! Toyota Bad to the Bone!

Similar Products Used:

2001 Toyota camry 1995 Toyota tacoma 1988 Toyota 4runner 1985 Toyota Cressida By the way all of the toyotas are still running excellent and only sold the Cressida to a private party because it was rusted through the body and the power locks on the doors went out so i could lock them. Between me and my parents we still got the rest of the vehicles.

Gas mileage; storage; maneuverability around town; Good vehicle for the price; Unique looks.

Although the vehicle manuevers well around town, it performs a little differently at high speeds/winds. You have to pay attention, keeping your eye on the road and on the wheel. More stability would be a great addition for future models.

I now feel qualified enough to review my vehicle, given I've owned it for over two years now. My Echo has been quite reliable for the money. I have no major complaints.

Similar Products Used:

1981 Toyota Corolla; 1999 Daewoo Lanos

Insane storage, center dash, I can fit this car in the tiniest of spaces...

Intermittent wipers would be nice

I got a killer deal on my Echo, as it was the base model that I assume nobody wanted and had been sitting down at the dealer for some time. My 2002 manual 2-dr with 22,000 miles runs and feels like it's brand new. LOVE my Echo! Took it on a road trip a few weeks back and averaged 46 mpg highway. Around town it's been getting in the low 30's, and I usually only have to fill it up once every 2 weeks. This car zips around town like you wouldn't believe, handles hills very well, and has no problems on the freeway. I'll admit, it does feel a bit "lightweight" at high speeds, but if it's heavieness you're looking for, by all means buy a gas-guzzling SUV. This is the ultimate commuter/city car and was thoughtfully designed. I love all the extra storage compartments up front - plenty of room for extra CD's, sunglasses, receipts, etc. I am so accustomed to the center-mounted dash, that other cars' interiors now look plain in comparison. I am starting to notice other Echos all over Seattle, and hardly ever see used ones for sale in the classifieds. I think their popularity is certainly catching on. I couldn't be happier with my purchase.

Similar Products Used:

1990 Volkswagen Fox; 1986 Chevy Nova HB

Quite alot of pep for a four cylinder, large trunk, easy access, excellent on gas, excellent on ice and snow and slush, and everyone at my school loves it!

None.. I LOVE MY TOYOTA!!!

This is a wonderful car for the first time driver, as I am. Easy to Paralell park, can easily be whipped around in a parking lot at the mall, is cheap on insurance, and gets really good gas mileage. I love the color (I believe it is called opaque Ice) and has plenty of room for me to haul around my friends. Mine has the manual transmission, and everyone knows that Toyota's manual transmissions are the most forgiving. The little motor is surprisingly quick, and I have testament to that. A week after my parents purchased it, I got a speeding ticket! Recently took it on a trip from Michigan to Kentucky, and it got 45 mpg on the highway! The trunk is very large for a a car of its size, and I had that trunk filled to the top on my trip. The reason my parents purchased the Echo for me was to keep the trend alive, my father has a Tundra, my mother has a Prius, and my older sister has an Echo too.. so you can see we are die hard Toyota fans! I love the position of the gauge cluster, very interesting to my friends. I am planning on purchasing a 2003 later this year.

Similar Products Used:

1994 Pontiac Grand Am SE.. (with the horrible 2.3 liter Quad 4 engine, threw a rod a week after I began to drive it.. A cousin had it before me.. and she ran it to death..) 1992 Ford Explorer.. Hard to park, horrible on gas!

Great gas mileage Lots of interior room Fun to drive Cute!! People ask me about it all the time when they see it in a parking lot. Good sound system Quiet ride Comfortable

A little hard to control at higher speeds with a crosswind-it's a tall car and doesn't weigh much, so that's to be expected.

I have had my Echo for almost 2 years and have loved it from the moment I drove it off the lot. It has almost 60,000 miles on it and I have yet to have a problem with it. Gas mileage is fantastic. It's fun to drive, great get up and go for a vehicle of it's size. I would recommend this car to anyone looking for a great economy car. I would buy another one in a second! The interior room is exceptional-I have had a 6'4" guy ride in it comfortably. Huge trunk, lots of little compartments on the inside. I love it!!

Similar Products Used:

1996 Nissan Sentra

Good room Good power for what it is Lots of storage space Big trunk Good ride

Needed bigger wheels and tires Also should have an optional engine, like the 1.8 from the Corolla. Easily blown around by strong winds. Wipers not very effective in heavy rain. You are David. Every other car is Goliath.

Bought this car for my girlfriend at the time. That was a huge mistake, but this is about the car. The ECHO's good points were its roominess, abundance of storage spaces (there was a storage pocket everywhere you looked), decent power, and good ride. The front seats were not cramped and, surprisingly, neither was the rear. Accleration was good enough to keep up with traffic, it would cruise at 80, and would top 110. The ride quality was good but just rough enough to remind you you were driving the cheapest car you could find. The trunk was downright huge. Oil and filter changes were easy to do at home. On to the bad. The front window on ours fogged up any time direct sunlight was not on it, which was annoying. The tilt steering wheel was barely adjustable, Toyota should have saved a few more bucks and forgone it. Handling was good enough, but the wheel and tire combo needed to be bigger. The car, probably due to its extremely light wight and large sidal area, could be blown around easily by strong winds. The wipers weren't the greatest. Milage was not as good as advertised; it got around 35 on the highway and 32 in the city. All in all, it was not a bad little car, but I personally would just spend the extra money for a Corolla.

Similar Products Used:

1986, 1989 Ford Escort 1990 Chevy Cavalier 2004 Saturn Ion Quad Coupe

Gas mileage Room Trunk space fairly comfortable Excellent build quality

None-very strong little car

I bought the Echo four door for my wife to take to college. In the approximatley 1 year we owned it we accumulated around 37,000 miles. In that time we didn't have any problems. The car road surprisingly well for a small vehicle. It was quiet on the highway and didn't have any problem cruising at 80 mph(still got 40 miles to the gallon) on the Interstate. The car handled well, had a lot of interior room for a small car, decent sound system, slick tranny, and good power. Would still have it if my wife wouldn't have rolled it. Car ended up on it's top and it was still running. The officer had to reach in and shut it off. If your looking for a small Camry you'll be disappointed. If you want a strong little car with excellent build quality buy an Echo.

Similar Products Used:

Suzuki Swift Honda CRV

Good gas mileage, zip once started, roomy interior

a little hard on uphill, exterior hood paint has scraped off (few small dots), low gear starting on cold mornings, squeky sounds when backing up (sometimes), sounds on the door panel(sometimes).

The best car in America! For its price and everything. I don't know about other people saying negative things. It's above and beyond my expectations. I get 37-45 mpg on gas. One time my husband tried to zoom it to 100 mph - wow, we did not even feel it was driving that fast! We bought it March 2002 and already got more than 36,000 miles. What can we say? We drove it to midwest (we're from Tennessee), southeast (Florida coast, Georgia) and still great like the first day we bought it. Ugly???? Excuse me, it's the cutest car I've ever seen. Why is everybody now a copycat? From the Malibu to BMW, etc. They almost look like an Echo now. Other great features - roomy interior, big trunk space, nice sound system, remote side mirror, etc.

Similar Products Used:

1992 Corsica Chevrolet - sorry, but this is a junk car, you see them on the roadside all the time. 2001 Ford Ranger

Easy on fuel, easy to park

Does not handle well on Hi-ways. Bad warranty.

.I live out of town so this car is EXTREMELY BAD on Hi-ways with any kind of winds. Very nearly get blown off road especially if a Semi or bigger vehicle passes. Toyota has WORST warranty on planet! Pieces keep falling off.

Similar Products Used:

Toyota Tercel, Escort