2002 Toyota ECHO Review
2002 Toyota ECHO Review
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Used ECHO for sale
Appraise This CarToyota ECHO model years
Toyota ECHO types
- Sedan
- Coupe
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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Good gas mileage, speedy acceleration, roomy and functional interior, likely to be reliable.
Cons
- Cartoonish styling, annoying gauge placement, tilt-a-whirl handling, deceptively low base pricing.
What’s new
Toyota has left the Echo untouched for 2002.
Edmunds says
We don't like the Echo. Check out the superior offerings from Hyundai and Kia.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2002 Toyota ECHO 2dr Coupe (1.5L 4cyl 5M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.36 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$129/mo for ECHO Base
ECHO Base
vs
$174/mo
Avg. Compact Car
Vehicle overview
Despite what seems at first to be a pretty good deal, we think you'd be wise to shop around before settling on an Echo. But don't take our word for it; ask Car and Driver magazine. They called it a "big mistake."
Yes, it's a Toyota, so it'll probably run until your first gray hair sprouts (or you wind up in a pine box, if you already have gray hairs.) Yes, it gets great gas mileage, has a roomy interior and impressive acceleration for an economy car. But, when you cut through the marketing hype and peek behind Toyota's veneer of bulletproof reliability, what you find might not be pretty.
Neither is the Echo. Hey, styling is a subjective point, but take a good look at this thing (which is available in two or four doors, by the way). Do you really want people to think you've borrowed a prop from Disneyland's Toontown when you pull up to the curb? But it's cheap, you say. Advertisements brag about a low sticker price that starts under around $10,000, but in reality, when you've got the car optioned in a manner that makes it suitable as a daily driver, the value of the Echo starts to evaporate.
Air conditioning, a rear defogger and a clock are all optional. Heck, even power steering is on the a la carte menu. Add these features, and you're paying nearly about $12,000 for a two-door. At this price, you're still rowing your own gears through gridlocked traffic. Pop for an automatic transmission, and you're spending another $800. Loaded up with every possible option, an Echo Sedan runs close tomore than $15,000., and you're still rolling down your own windows and manually setting the sideview mirrors.
Toyota says that the Echo was engineered to provide crash and injury protection that matches the larger Camry, and U.S. crash testing indicates that their design goal was met, as it scored well in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tests. But remember, those test results are good only when comparing vehicles of the same weight. Echo barely weighs 2,000 pounds, making it an automotive welterweight.
Echo does have a few redeeming qualities, but not enough to garner a recommendation from our staff. If you're into storage bins, there are big gaping ones in the dash. And the interior is almost as roomy as the more expensive Corolla, a car that we actually find to be a bit cramped. Finally, the sprightly 1.5-liter twin-cam four-cylinder engine makes 108 horsepower, resulting in surprising acceleration times of 8.5 seconds in the dash from 0 to 60 mph.
But with skinny, low rolling resistance 14-inch tires, a tall stance and center of gravity, and slab-sided bodywork, handling is not the Echo's forte. Plus, crosswinds severely hamper the ability to stay in your own lane, and ABS is a costly $590 add-on that is inexplicably bundled with daytime running lights (evidently, Toyota feels buyers of Echos without ABS aren't interested in increased visibility to other drivers.)
Want to know what else you could buy with your hard-earned money? How about a certified-used Honda Civic that's bigger inside, several hundred pounds heavier and won't embarrass you when you meet potential in-laws? And there's the pre-owned Mazda Protege, a classy small car that resembles the upscale Audi A4. Heck, even many new economy cars could be better bets, like the award-winning Ford Focus, the refined Nissan Sentra and the surprisingly entertaining, easily affordable and thoroughly warranteed Hyundai Elantra.
Shhhh! Hear that Echo? That's empty Toyota showrooms.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2002 Toyota ECHO.
5 star(83%)
4 star(15%)
3 star(2%)
2 star(0%)
1 star(0%)
105 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
5 out of 5 stars
Wonderful car for basic transportation
Bill, 09/03/2015
2002 Toyota ECHO 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl 5M)
This has been a super reliable vehicle. The 1NZ-FE engine has a timing chain, not a belt. The tires are small and very inexpensive... it's cheap to own and cheap to maintain in all aspects. I love the simplicity and basic nature of this car.
Just change the fluids at the appropriate intervals and enjoy the car.
4.75 out of 5 stars
Best car I've ever had.
bolvo, 08/05/2009
2002 Toyota ECHO 2dr Coupe (1.5L 4cyl 5M)
I have had many cars in my life... from Mercedes Benz to Volvos to Nissan and Hondas. But boy did I ever own a Toyota? Not until now. I'm 40 and I can tell you reliability and Toyota go together. This little car goes. 5 Speed Standard. 350 miles per tank!! That's driving all over Houston for 10 days non-stop to the point where you forget what the car rolls on! And finally you remember … to look at the fuel gauge... why? Because after 10 days of nothing but driving you are no longer concerned about gas or prices or even worrying about re-fueling. Cold A/C... small; easy to change the oil by yourself, brakes,etc... cheaper to fix... and it's a Toyota. Yep, reliable (period).
5 out of 5 stars
I Love My Car!
sxylump, 07/08/2014
2002 Toyota ECHO 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl 4A)
I have had my Echo since 2004 and I absolutely love it! It is zippy and gets wonderful gas mileage. It runs great and is a trooper in the snow (and We get a lot of snow where I live too). I recently took it to the local Toyota dealer for inspection and they said everything is still in great shape. I know when it comes time to buy a new car, it will be a sad day for me to part with my … Echo.
5 out of 5 stars
Love our Echos!
Jeff Harning, 04/18/2016
2002 Toyota ECHO 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl 4A)
We purchased an Echo and I was jealous of my husband driving it, that we bought a second one six months later!!
The maneuverability is fantastic. Repairs have been minimal, just normal tires, etc. the gas mileage cannot be beat.
We are selling both of them now for a larger vehicles to carry grandchildren! We had intended to continue driving our His and Hers Echos for many years to … come!
2002 ECHO Highlights
Sedan
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $10,585 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 32 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $129/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 13.6 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
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