Toyota Echo Review - The Cheapest Toyota Money Could Buy

[@kevinroberson3715]

I bought one of these new in 2004. First new car ever. It has survived 4 teenage drivers and still going strong. Like a mini tank. Incredible gas mileage. Love the review!

[@ahbabislam8254]

I have an echo and it literally is a blessing in disguise in this economy of $1000/month car payments for literally features we dont use everyday.

[@urgeeked3977]

I’ve always liked the funky and simplistic look that the Echo has. You should do a review of the Nissan Micra base model since it was marketed as the cheapest brand new car in Canada you could buy.

[@erikajoy6485]

Had me cracking up at the deadpan narration. Good on you! I'm buying one of these today to show off how much I'm saving with that ECHO badge on the back, hahahaha!

[@ken96158]

I had a 2000 Echo for 15 years. Best car I ever owned.

[@AH-cl7fh]

I have a manual coupe. Ugliest car in the world, but a blast to drive. 2nd gear redlines at 65mph! whabababababa! I love how simple it is when everything nowadays is so complicated with all of the electronics.

[@inspiration2284]

Wish we had a modern Echo on sale. Love this car in particular, a real reliable, affordable and well made car from a legendary brand. You knew this was going to last forever as you can see 25 years later.

[@chrisallen766]

It works really well. Maintain it and it keeps going and going......

[@paulyearley1084]

The Scion xA and first gen xB were basically wacker Echoes. Wildly reliable and cheap when they do break. The Scions had shorter gears, so the acceleration was a little more lively, and a few extra interior gadgets (but the xB did have a longer wheelbase and as such amazing space inside). As cheaply as these cars were made and sold, they were built *well*. I miss my old xB. It was such a *good* car. I wouldn't kick a clean manual-trans Echo out of my driveway if I came into possession of one.

[@Prepare2Survive]

Toyota Yaris sold in the USA and Canada up to 2018 had the same 1ZZ-FE engine and transmission as the Echo, Scion xA and Scion xB all of which are well known to easily last 400k+ miles without any major repairs. That's why I bought a 2016 Toyota Yaris hatchback not to be confused with the Toyota Yaris iA which is just a re-badged Mazda. My 2016 Yaris averages 35 mpg with spirited driving or 40 mpg when driving conservatively.

[@g-mang-man7924]

I remember doing Pre Delivery Inspections on these at the dealer. I laughed at how they looked. The laugh was on me as the ECHO and others with that 1.5l engine all became Cockroach Tough. A very hard to kill automobile. I have seen these with 200,000 300,000 miles and some have gone further. My current daily driver is an 04 Lexus ES330. It has only 170k on it, and still every thing works. Have a 15 Sienna XLE, and a 11 Tacoma TRD Off Road too. I'm now retired from being a Toyota MDT. Enjoy!

[@theadvocate4698]

I almost bought one brand new when it arrived! Problem was the price; almost the same as the corrola...for a smaller car with less powerful engine...But i still love the design of it! Wish toyota would bring a modern version of that concept, basic affordable tought little car...

[@largesquids]

These are more user friendly to work on yourself. What is there not to love? Nothing unnecessary was really put in this car.

[@cornelionsqween8028]

my buddy's mom had one of these shtboxes brand new. sticking the gauge cluster in he middle of the dash so people will hate it no matter which side the steering wheel is on is my favorite thing about these turds. i haven't seen on of these in atleast a decade. it was like toyota made a geo metro.

[@diablow1411]

Despite being cheap, I think the design was quite quirky for its time.

[@starrdogchamp1]

its a great car

[@starrdogchamp1]

not that cheap for a good one

[@JuliasCesar]

Super simplistic, easy to drive and cheap and reliable! If only the car manufacturers would make something like this for young people in the modern day! Sure it looks wacky but, you won’t care when you’re the one who can get the whole friend group to the beach and back using the least amount of gas!

[@anthonynicholich9654]

Affordable and cheap or two different things that you're too ignorant and arrogant to recognize. Toyota Echo was made in Japan by Toyota by the highest skill labor in the world and there was nothing cheap about it. I've seen them with 500.000 miles motor never opened and same for the transmission if you take care of them as I always say in a hands-on an idiot anything will break.