2001 Toyota Echo: Road Test
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2001 Toyota Echo ▼
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- MSRP: $9,995 -$11,325
- Invoice: $9,393 -$10,646
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Our road test for the 2001 Toyota Echo includes a full evaluation of the 2001 Toyota Echo from the inside out. We evaluate not only engine and handling performance for the 2001 Toyota Echo, but also interior cabin and cargo space. Let our comprehensive road test ratings for the 2001 Toyota Echo help you decide if a 2001 Toyota Echo is right for you.
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ACCELERATION
| Base cpe, man. | Base sdn, auto. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 3.7 |
Among the lightest subcompacts, Echo goes well despite its low-power engine. Our test automatic 4-dr ran 0-60 mph in a respectable 9.8 sec; a manual model would be slightly quicker. The automatic sometimes hesitates to kick down for passing.
FUEL ECONOMY
| Base cpe, man. | Base sdn, auto. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | 8 | 6.8 |
Echo's lofty EPA ratings are confirmed by our test 4-dr's 31-mpg average in hard driving.
RIDE QUALITY
| Base cpe, man. | Base sdn, auto. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 3.7 |
Better than the small-car norm and quite comfortable apart from jiggle on washboard freeways.
STEERING/HANDLING/BRAKING
| Base cpe, man. | Base sdn, auto. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 4.2 |
Front-drive safe and predictable, but tall profile and skinny tires mean marked body lean and nose plow in hard cornering and a bothersome tendency to wander in gusty crosswinds. Our test car lacked ABS but made short, undramatic simulated panic stops.
QUIETNESS
| Base cpe, man. | Base sdn, auto. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 3.6 |
Average, mostly due to a relative lack of sound insulation. Marked exhaust boom near maximum rpm is the main offender.
CONTROLS
| Base cpe, man. | Base sdn, auto. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 5.5 |
Central dashtop pod angles legible gauges toward the driver, an arrangement not everyone may like. Other controls are simple, handy, conventional.
ROOM/COMFORT/DRIVER SEATING (FRONT)
| Base cpe, man. | Base sdn, auto. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 4.3 |
Tall body provides loads of head room despite chair-height seats that are comfortable but rather flat. Tilt steering wheel is standard, yet lanky drivers must splay knees to clear it due to limited rearward seat travel. Visibility is generally good.
ROOM/COMFORT (REAR)
| Base cpe, man. | Base sdn, auto. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 5 | 3.1 |
Too narrow to fit three adults without squeezing, but good foot room and above-average head room. The 2-dr's standard slide-forward right front seat does little for entry/exit; the 4-dr suffers from narrow floor passages.
CARGO ROOM
| Base cpe, man. | Base sdn, auto. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 3.3 |
Fine for the tidy exterior package, but Echo's short tail leaves little fore-aft length without the optional split-fold rear seat. Interior storage varied and plentiful.
VALUE WITHIN CLASS
| Base cpe, man. | Base sdn, auto. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 7 | 4.6 |
Slightly quirky, but a pleasant, efficient small car with keen pricing and Toyota's strong reputation for quality and reliability. Sales have been tepid for such an affordable car, however, so discounts should be readily available.
Total Score
| Base cpe, man. | Base sdn, auto. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 48 | 49 | 42.8 |
Total Score: 49
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