Nothing at all.
This is a very tight, reliable car it handles well up to about 140kmh.
The interior is very large and roomy.
Its quirky looks are sort of fun-a smart car on steroids.
Very cheap on fuel over 50 mpg on the highway and about 40 mpg in the city.
If you read the original review again, he says a "SMART" car on steroids. As in the SMART fortwo... except bigger and more powerful. Then again.. almost any car on the road could be a SMART on steroids.
The above comments about steroids and SUV owners is completely ridiculous.
We are buying the Echo for my wife as she wants an economical work car. I like it as it affords her the luxury (which is superb) that she deserves.
It is a 'perfect' city runabout with the "legs" to take her an the children interstate to visit relatives in safety.
On the downside I believe Toyota was extremely stingy in not installing dual airbags in such a light car-this should almost be a legal requirement. Mag wheels also would have been a reasonable expectation given the price.
They lose a healthy 2/10 points for the missing airbag otherwise it would be a 10/10 for the purpose of such a vehicle:D.
I also own a 4X4 which I prefer for the height/visibility and as I go off road often Fly Fishing. Steroids / masculinity etc never crossed my mind. The person above has jealousy or here-say issues and should grow up. SUV 's are a very, very good family option.
"SUV 's are a very, very good family option."
No, minivans are a good family option.
I suggest you read "High & Mighty: The Dangerous Rise of the SUVs".
SUVs cost more, are less safe, have less cargo space and pollute more than minivans. Only advantage is ground clearance, which makes them more prone to rollover, but 98% of SUV uses are suburbanites who will never go off-road, and when they do, it's actually gravel roads that a small car could manage easily.
The above SUV comment about guys and their masculinity is pretty silly, considering 90% of suv drivers where I live (Boston) are women and SUV adds are clearly marketed towards women. I don't think Toyota named their gigantic SUV the Sienna for masculinity purposes.
The Sienna is not a SUV, but a minivan. It is, however, a pretty big one.
My view is that unless you have more than 5 people in your family, you shouldn't own a minivan. Hard to park, dangerous to vehicles around you, and hard on gas. Minivans, like SUVs, are a menace to the urban landscape.
I have purchased a 5 door hatch and it is great, you cannot compare to a SUV because they are a lot bigger and cost a lot more too!
My echo is no longer stock standard, it is cheap on replacing suspension (lowered) and the fact that you can move the back seat to make more or less room is a great factory option. I had a sub installed in the boot and the company did not know that this could happen.
I recommend that any one wanting realiability buy one! Even my 2year old niece loves it because she can open the door and climb in the back seat!
Don't knock this car it is great!!
Kristy.
Double check the lack of dual airbags. Last I checked, dual airbags was a required safety standard in North America. The Echo meets the requirements.
Side airbags are not standard, but in a car this size, would probaly be the kiss of death.
It does have standard ABS in the hatch, something which is sadly lost in the Yaris hatch.
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