It looks like all those years of slamming Toyotas for being dull and faceless are finally starting to pay off.  The new-for-2000 ECHO subcompact is anything but anonymous, and that’s quite a departure for an economy car.  Traditionally, small cars are the appliances of any manufacturer’s lineup, but lately appliances have been getting interesting.  Toasters have character lines on them, personal computers come in different colors, and the Toyota ECHO is an entry-level car with enough style to ensure that it will leave the showroom floor for reasons beyond its low price.

An all-new design, the ECHO is smaller and priced lower than the Corolla.  The entry-level car has been designed with young, first-time buyers in mind.

At first glance, the ECHO looks like a larger car that shrank in the dryer.  A short trunk and hood appended to a large passenger area (which has been maximized through cab-forward design and a high roof) lend it a dwarfish look.  It sports the very expressive, acute-angle-intensive design theme that’s spreading through Toyota’s once-bland product lineup.  The tall roof makes the car look narrower than it is.  In spite of the rather awkward overall appearance, the ECHO’s a reasonably attractive car.  It has almost no hood; the passenger compartment has been pushed forward as far as it can go.  The ECHO’s front end slopes steeply up from a wide lower duct and crosshatched black grill up to the windshield.  A deep crease carries the line of the turn signals from front to rear.  The ECHO’s profile view is the chunkiest, and a molding around the rocker panels helps to break this up a little bit.  The high, flat, vertical tail is also a recurring theme on Toyotas, and suits the very vertical ECHO well.  Six-spoke hubcaps on 14″ wheels complete the look.  It’s a very expressive, unique-looking small car that’s not going to blend into the background.

Inside, the high roof offers plenty of headroom, of course.  Thanks to the truck-sized roof and car-sized floor, getting in and out of the ECHO is easy.  The first thing that draws the eye is the unusual, centrally mounted instrument panel.  The term “instrument panel” is a little misleading, because the pod contains only a speedometer and a fuel gauge.  It’s a nod to the commuter who doesn’t really care about engine speed, battery voltage, or oil pressure.  The seats are high off the floor, chairlike, and they’re upholstered in a handsome checkered pattern that is a step above the typical gray econobox interior.  Desk jockeys used to sitting in front of a PC will be comfortable in the ECHO, because the view through the windshield is reminiscent of a computerized driving simulator, thanks to the low cowl, extremely short hood, and a slight dip in the windows at the rearview mirrors.  Adding to the IMAX theater feeling is a dash that slopes away from the driver and front passenger, and interior trim that dives slightly toward the front of the car.  The rounded dashboard features deep crescent-shaped bins on either side of the radio, perfect for holding several compact discs or cassettes each.  Another useful shelf is located under the steering wheel, and there’s even a second, smaller glovebox living above the regular one.  Large storage bins on the doors will also come in handy, because the optional AM/FM/cassette/CD player provides great sound.

A downside to the extreme cab-forward design is a lack of driver legroom.  With the seat set back far enough to accommodate long legs, the steering wheel is out of reach.  We spent a lot of time driving the ECHO with our legs bent awkwardly.  On the plus side, there’s plenty of trunk space, and the rear seats’ slightly longer cushions are actually more comfortable than those in the front.  Four passengers can ride in comfort; although it’s smaller, the ECHO features just as much interior room as its larger sibling the Corolla.

Cramped footwell aside, the ECHO is plenty comfortable and capable on anything less than a road trip.  The 1.5-liter, 108-hp engine provides plenty of torque to get the car moving quickly–no flashbacks to dangerously slow Ford Aspires and Geo Metros, here.  Toyota’s VVT-i variable valve timing system makes the most of the smallish motor, and enables the ECHO to keep pace with other small cars.  The four-speed automatic transmission is unusually refined for a small, inexpensive car; it’s smart enough to stay in a lower gear when it senses that the car is climbing a hill, and doesn’t jump awkwardly from gear to gear.

The high seating position, sharp turning circle and stadium-screen-sized windshield make it easy to take advantage of the little Toyota’s maneuverability. Squeezing into parking spaces and narrow holes in traffic is a breeze.  The ECHO enjoys the congestion of the city more than the freeway.  On the downside, the car’s light weight and high profile make it somewhat prone to crosswinds, like a minivan.  Strong gusts across the freeway make the ECHO nervous, and prone to wandering.  When the wind isn’t bothering it, the littlest Toyota’s handling is decent.  It’s not a closet racer like the Ford Focus, and feels a little top-heavy in hard corners.

The ECHO is very, very well screwed together.  Along with some much-appreciated personality, Toyota has infused the ECHO with the solid, quality feeling usually associated with larger cars like the Camry or Avalon.  On the safety front, dual airbags and upper interior impact protection are standard.  ABS and daytime running lights are available, as well.

The ECHO is offered in two- and four-door models, and only one trim level.  Standard equipment includes wheel covers, a tilt wheel, and an underseat storage tray.  Air conditioning, power locks, CD/cassette,  a 60/40 folding rear seat, and ABS are on the options list.  It may not be loaded down with standard equipment, but the ECHO’s base price of around $11,000 makes up for it.  Our test car featured two upgrade packages which included the air conditioning, CD, remote mirrors, and a sport body kit, and it stickered for $14,165.  For such a stylish piece of basic transportation, that’s low enough to make the Toyota ECHO worth a look.

Specifications:

All specs are for the 2000 Toyota ECHO, which we tested.

Length:    163.3 in.
Width:        65.4 in.
Height:        59.1 in
Wheelbase:    93.4 in.
Curb weight:        2080 lbs

Cargo space:    13.6 cu. ft.

Base price:
Price as tested: $14,165

Engine:    1.5 liter, twin cam DOHC 16-valve 4 cylinder
Drivetrain:     four-speed automatic, front wheel drive
Horsepower:   108 @ 6000 rpm
Torque:    105 ft/lb @ 4200 rpm
Fuel capacity:    11.9 gal
Est. mileage:    31/38

6/2009 update:  ECHOs are durable and reliable, almost unkillable little beasties like their predecessor, the Tercel.  That also means that they command high-ish prices in the used car market, for the amount of car you’re getting, however.  That said, the little bastards will run forever and won’t burn a lot of gas while doing it, and that’s a pretty compelling argument.