2001 Toyota Echo Review

I've had my two-door, 2001 Toyota ECHO for the past two months. And let's face it, this is not a glamorous car. But as fuel prices continue to climb, I'm so happy to have it. Since I live on an island, I do a lot of stop-and-go driving, nevertheless, I average 36 mpg fuel economy. This rivals that of some people I know who own hybrids and who paid a lot more for their vehicles than I did for mine.

This is a basic, no-frills car with practically no power options. If you want the window down, start cranking. (Of course, the upside of this is that there are fewer expensive parts to break.) Some people object to the center-console instrument placement, but I adjusted quickly, and it doesn't bother me. There is a lot of interior space given the compact size of this car. Nice amount of head room, too. And the trunk is really quite large.

I bought the car with over 77,000 miles on it, and it is in surprisingly good shape, both outside and under the hood. That's the Toyota reliability factor, I guess. One thing I will say is that you definitely know you're driving an economy car based on the ride comfort. The cabin noise isn't too bad, but it's not whisper-quiet, either. It's got a good stereo system with big sound from the speakers. One huge plus is the turning radius, and you can park this thing practically anywhere. I don't have to squeeze in and out of my car when I park it, like I used to when I drove a larger vehicle. It makes parking in a public garage much easier.

I would recommend this car for singles, couples, or someone with small children. It's inexpensive to drive, reliable, and great for getting around town or taking short road trips. Are you on a budget like me? Then definitely consider the ECHO as a good value for the money.