2000 Toyota Echo: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

Replacing the Tercel for 2000, this new entry-level small car is priced well below Toyota's subcompact Corolla, yet offers similar interior space within a shorter, taller body. Echo comes as a 2- or 4-door sedan with a new 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. Manual and optional automatic transmissions are available, the latter with "uphill shift logic" programming that Toyota claims minimizes "hunting" between gears on long or steep upgrades. Options include antilock brakes, air conditioning, power door locks (but not mirrors), and split-fold rear seat. A tilt steering wheel is standard, but power steering is optional. Echo is among the few vehicles that does not offer power windows.

COMPETITION

This crowded segment is best represented by two exceptional cars--one a Best Buy and the other a Recommended. Our Best Buy is the Honda Civic, which offers a wide range of bodystyles, engines, and equipment levels. Civic is a solid car that has good performance, a nice ride, and is very civilized.
Topping the Recommended list are the Volkswagen Golf and Jetta. They easily could be Best Buys as they are better than the Civic in many ways. However, they are also the most expensive cars in this segment. Other Recommended choices include the no-frills Chevrolet Cavalier and Dodge Neon, the slightly-upscale Chevy Prizm and clone Toyota Corolla, and the roomy Mazda Protege.
If you are looking for a Budget Buy we recommend you stay away from the Hyundai or Daewoo models and take a look at the Ford Escort.