| What do people think about Toyota Echo ? |
| Bought this car for my girlfriend at the time. That was a huge mistake, but this is about the car. The ECHO's good points were its roominess, abundance of storage spaces (there was a storage pocket everywhere you looked), decent power, and good ride. The front seats were not cramped and, surprisingly, neither was the rear. Accleration was good enough... |
| Pictures from Picture Gallery |
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 Toyota Echo |
2006 has re-emerged as the all-new Yaris. The Yaris is longer, wider, taller and heavier than the vehicle it
replaces, but retains a youthful, Japanese anime-style cuteness
that's rather endearing. It's currently available as a two- or
four-door hatchback; a sedan model is on its way. Like the Echo, the Yaris uses a 1.5-litre four-cylinder, mated to a
five-speed manual transmission or optional four-speed automatic. The two-door's base price has risen $585 over the Echo (the
four-door goes up $205); but in its rock-bottom configuration, the
Echo had manual steering; the Yaris comes strictly with
power-assisted rack-and-pinion. The Yaris also has seating for five
to the Echo Hatchback's four-passenger configuration, although you
won't want to be the one riding in the middle. The base Yaris CE is just that. While it's great basic
transportation, it doesn't take long to inflate the price tag if
you want some options. The mid-line LE includes a rear wiper, power
mirrors and rear floor mats missing on the CE. Most options are
bundled into packages, including ABS, which is only sold alongside
electronic brake distribution, a/c, power windows and power locks
with keyless entry, for $2,530. Air by itself is $1,105. The other plan is to opt for the top-line Yaris RS, which starts at
$16,880 and includes ABS, six-CD changer, 60/40 folding rear seat
and alloy wheels, but you'll still need to add a $1,490 package if
you want air, power windows and power locks. On all models, the automatic transmission adds $1,000 (all
four-door models have standard power locks). Despite its diminutive footprint, Yaris is surprisingly roomy
inside ??” at least up front ??” and nothing feels cheap.
It retains Echo's awful central cluster, which now faces straight
back instead of tilted toward the driver: the best viewing spot is
from the middle of the back seat. The new centre stack is quite attractive, and the heater controls
are simple and easy to reach, although their tiny indicator lights
are hard to see in daylight. You'll need to remember the rear
defogger, as it doesn't shut itself off. Cupholders are conveniently up top, at the ends of the dash, and
they work very well. Nearby vent openings will keep your drink warm
or cool, depending on whether you're running the heater or a/c. You
can also make a game out of finding all the small-storage cubbies
(don't forget the two under the cargo floor by the spare tire). The 1.5-litre engine is well-suited to hauling the Yaris around; my
tester's engine was rough at idle, but evened out on acceleration.
The shifter moves smoothly through the gate, with a clutch that's
firm but not heavy. Visibility is good and it's ridiculously easy
to park, while the wipers provide almost full windshield coverage. The bigger Yaris isn't quite the go-kart the Echo was, but it's
still very responsive and stable enough at higher speeds that
passing tractor-trailers isn't a white-knuckle operation. You'll
want to budget for proper winter tires, though; it doesn't take
much inclement weather before the 14-inch all-seasons start to
display their limitations. The hatchback offers a 52 cm long cargo space; drop the rear seat
for a sloping 127 cm. The seat is a one-piece folding unit on all
but the top-line RS; a rigid cargo cover is standard on all models. The Yaris was named EnerGuide's most fuel-efficient gasoline
subcompact for 2006. But in cold-weather driving, which always uses
more fuel, I could do no better than 7.4 L/100 km to its advertised
combined average of 6.2 L/100 km. Although it has grown, Yaris is still perfect for the city, with
enough space to take friends along, room for groceries, seating
that's comfortable even for taller drivers, and a petite footprint.
Take it easy with the option list, and you can even get a price tag
to match.
Toronto Star