2003 Toyota Echo: Road Test
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2003 Toyota Echo ▼
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- MSRP: $10,245 -$11,575
- Invoice: $9,629 -$10,879
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Our road test for the 2003 Toyota Echo includes a full evaluation of the 2003 Toyota Echo from the inside out. We evaluate not only engine and handling performance for the 2003 Toyota Echo, but also interior cabin and cargo space. Let our comprehensive road test ratings for the 2003 Toyota Echo help you decide if a 2003 Toyota Echo is right for you.
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ACCELERATION
| Base cpe, man. | Base sdn, auto. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 4 |
Among the lightest subcompacts, Echo goes well despite its small engine. Test automatic-transmission 4 dr did 0-60 mph in a respectable 9.8 sec. Manual model would be slightly quicker. Automatic sometimes hesitates to kick down for passing.
FUEL ECONOMY
| Base cpe, man. | Base sdn, auto. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | 8 | 6.5 |
Test 4 dr's 31-mpg average confirms lofty EPA ratings.
RIDE QUALITY
| Base cpe, man. | Base sdn, auto. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 4.4 |
Wheelbase and suspension are unchanged, so Echo still rides better than the small-car norm and is quite comfortable apart from jiggle on washboard freeways.
STEERING/HANDLING/BRAKING
| Base cpe, man. | Base sdn, auto. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 5.3 |
Predictable, but tall profile and skinny tires mean marked body lean and noseplow in fast cornering. Bothersome tendency to wander in gusty crosswinds. Power steering still optional, but a must. Test 4 dr lacked ABS but made short, undramatic simulated panic stops.
QUIETNESS
| Base cpe, man. | Base sdn, auto. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 3.7 |
Only OK, mostly due to relative lack of sound insulation. Marked exhaust boom near maximum rpm is the main offender, though addition of trunklid liner may help '03 models.
CONTROLS
| Base cpe, man. | Base sdn, auto. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 5.6 |
Central pod atop dashboard angles legible gauges toward the driver, but not everyone likes this arrangement. Other controls are simple, handy, conventional.
ROOM/COMFORT/DRIVER SEATING (FRONT)
| Base cpe, man. | Base sdn, auto. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 4.8 |
Tall body provides loads of head room. Chair-height seats 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. Good all-around visibility unaffected by '03 restyle.
ROOM/COMFORT (REAR)
| Base cpe, man. | Base sdn, auto. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 5 | 3.7 |
Good foot room and above-average head room. The 2 dr's standard slide-forward right front seat does little to ease entry/exit; the 4 dr suffers from narrow floor passages.
CARGO ROOM
| Base cpe, man. | Base sdn, auto. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 3.8 |
Fine for the tidy exterior size, but tail still pretty short, leaving little fore/aft length without the optional split folding rear seat. Interior storage varied and plentiful.
VALUE WITHIN CLASS
| Base cpe, man. | Base sdn, auto. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 6 | 5.4 |
Though slightly quirky, Echo is a pleasant, efficient small car with keen pricing and Toyota's strong reputation for quality and reliability. New styling and options may quicken a tepid sales pace, but discounts should still be available.
Total Score
| Base cpe, man. | Base sdn, auto. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 48 | 49 | 47.2 |
Total Score: 49
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