The 2001 Toyota Echo is not for the motion sick, but if large size at a good value is what you desire, here's your match. Here are my personal ratings of the 2001 Toyota Echo based on my 3-day rental a couple weekends ago. I rented the 4-door version:

EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR DESIGN


Our friendly Echo designers wanted to appeal to the younger buyer but the unusual box shaped design with the funny lights might cater only to those with eclectic tastes. It definitely is a car that takes some getting used to, and lets just say its not the type of car that would wow a girl if you went to pick her up on a first date. However, step inside the Echo and it is a whole new world. The front seats are snug and quite high, which means that you can drive in comfort and see the road properly. Leg-room is also excellent for a sub-compact car and overall, there have not been any corners cut, as far as creating space is concerned. This includes trunk space. I guess the Toyota Echo manufacturers have finally realized what others are still slow to pick up on, which is the fact that progressive generations of people are getting taller and taller and would be inclined to pick cars they don't have to slouch over the wheel on, when driving. All other amenities are about similar to the Toyota Corolla except for the funky positioning of the speedometer. For some reason I always think of Cyclops because of the way it is positioned in the middle of the dashboard. Again this is a matter of personal taste but I did not like it, and I also did not like glancing to my right to look at the settings instead of just below the road like in other cars.
Grade: B

PERFORMANCE AND HANDLING

This is simply an area which must be improved. The 2001 Toyota Echo was obviously designed with economics in mind but 108 Horsepower is simply not enough to tug along a sub-compact car with the size of a large compact. I found it terrible driving on the highway, especially when having to merge into busy traffic at a high speed. The acceleration simply wasn't there. Handling again at higher speeds is very shaky and to make matters worse, the suspension on this vehicle is terrible. Think of a shaky ride on a horse carriage and that was my impression of the Echo. I suppose though that this is one of the shortcomings of a light car. If I could make a simple suggestion, perhaps having wider wheels would help. You can really feel the pot-holes on the road, and at 60 MPH, it feels like I'm doing 90. Of course, the advantage to buying this car despite these shortcomings is the excellent fuel mileage. At 33/40 miles/gallon, you would be saving quite a bit of cash if you do a lot of traveling.
Grade: D-

PRICE, SAFETY AND WARRANTY

The 2001 Echo has the good standard Toyota warranties of 36month/36,000 miles (basic) and 60month/60,000 mile powertrain. There are standard driver's and passenger side airbags. NHTSA crash tests have indicated an average performance. Price is where the new Echo slams the competition with its under $10,000 bargain.

Grade: A

If you are considering making a purchase on the 2001 Toyota Echo, I think answering the following questions would help.

1. Do you have a lot of passengers in your car when you drive?
2. Do you believe in love at first sight and is it critical to your likes/dislikes?
3. Does gas mileage contribute significantly to your buying decision?
4. Is driving comfort very important to you?
5. Does power and performance matter greatly to you?
6. Are you looking for a big car with good gas mileage at a great price and engine performance and comfort are not major considerations?

Finished already? Well let's examine your answers. If you answered "yes" to Question 1, then add the Echo to your list of cars to test out. If you answered "yes" to Question 2, I'd venture to guess that you might not like the Echo. It is a car with a bold boxy yet unusual design especially for a compact car that takes quite a bit of getting used to, according to most Echo buyers that I've met. With regards to Question 3, Gas mileage is one of the most endearing features of the Echo and most Echo owners would swear that they get 40 miles/gallon on the highway. My main concern with the Echo though is its handling. If your answer is "yes" to Question 4, maybe you should consider another car, such as a slightly used 2000 Honda Civic. Again, to answer "yes" to Question 5 would mean that the Echo might not be right for you. If you've read some of my previous reviews, you would know that I'm a sucker for power, and 108 Horsepower just does not do it for me. However, if you answer, "yes" to Question 6, it is a good sign that the Echo and you are a perfect fit and I would recommend you check it out. This would also be an ideal car for delivery drivers or to have as taxis because of the large size and good mileage on the car. The lack of power should also not be too much of a concern since you would be driving in the city most of the time. However, I personally would not buy this car because I'm more interested in performance and handling rather than gas mileage and size. Its your choice but at this price, I would go with a slightly used compact such as a Civic or Corolla.
Amount Paid (US$): 20 per day
Condition: New
Model Year: 2001
Model and Options: 4-door