Used 2002 Toyota ECHO for Sale

4.5

(2 Reviews)

Overall Rating

4.5

(2 Reviews)

Value

4.5

Performance

3.5

Comfort

3.5

Fuel Economy

4.0

Reliability

5.0

Owner Reviews

4.5

2 Reviews


Overall	4.5

Value	4.5

Performance	3.5

Style	1.5

Comfort	3.5

Fuel Economy	4.0

Reliability	5.0

2002 Toyota ECHO -

My car is a 1.5L, 4 cylinder so it is on the low end of the spectrum in terms of power. That being said, it is quite 'zippy' when you initially press down on the gas but not surprisingly, its overall acceleration leaves little to be desired. The Echo is rather average in terms of its styling and is quite a compact car although the interior is reasonably spacious which gives it a feel of being in a bigger car. Comfort-wise, it is fairly comfortable and one can manually adjust the seat to their liking. The interior style is pretty average as well with a basic dashboard that is so easy to navigate, a caveman can do it. I'm a collector of giant stuffed toys so the interior is large enough to accommodate such items, especially with backseats laid down flat. The Echo's stereo system is very ... (more)

Story

One fun memory I have about my car is when driving my local country roads in the snow. Some parts of the roads have tight corners and bends and this is where the car's compactness and maneuverability shines through. At times, the back end of the car spun out on the slick, snowy road on the corners but it really felt like being in a rally car and even though it can be scary, it was also rather ... (more)

Pros

As mentioned, its reliability and fuel economy were the top positive things. Of course with age (and my Echo is well over a decade old) there will be worn parts that need replaced and the fuel mileage degrades over time as well. Overall though, it is still a very reliable car and one that I could soundly drive hundreds or thousands of miles without the worry of putting out a breakdown warning triangle and setting off flares. My favorite feature about the Echo is the sound system. Granted, it only has a single CD player and a radio but it makes up for it with excellent speakers.

Cons

The top negative things about the Toyota Echo would be its styling and practicality. The car looks very average and certainly a billion light years away from matching the wow factor of a Ferrari. In practical terms, the car really is only roomy enough for two adults so is not an ideal family car for those long road trips. Even driving to the local grocery store would probably leave one shaking with claustrophobia and subsequent PTSD.

2002 Toyota ECHO - Reliable and Fun

I've had this car for 170,000 miles and the biggest repair was the front wheel bearings, at around 120,000 miles for $250. The only work I have done is oil changes, plugs, tires, brakes and air filter. It still gets about 34 MPG and is cheap to drive and register, easy to park. The air conditioning works great and doesn't seem to slow down the car like usual in such small cars.

Story

When I was younger I'd pile 4 other people into it and we'd drive to L.A. to clubs or concerts, an 80-mile trip each way. People would often remark on how stable the car is, at various freeway speeds.

Pros

The 5-speed manual transmission makes this car quick and a joy to drive. The third gear seems designed to fling this thing quickly onto any fast-moving freeway with no worries. Driving up the curves of highway 243 is always a delight as long as I don't get some slow Camaro or something in front of me ;). The interior is oddly spacious; with the seats down I carried two band speakers (15" woofers, huge things), two keyboards, and the amps, for performance at coffee shops, years ago. The car is extremely reliable; I have driven for multiple 400+ mile trips up the coast with no problems.

Cons

It's one of the ugliest cars I've ever seen, and I thought that when I bought it. The butt sticks up oddly and it has this goofy plastic trim and a high-roof, chunky style. The handling is safe, but not impressive as there is quite a bit of body roll.