The Toyota ECHO is another prime example of automotive impurity. People immediately label this car as junk, and never look at it twice. I understand why they do; it looks just plain retarded, seeming like designers slapped it together in a few days, almost as if they knew that no one would care just like no one really cared about the Tercel/Paseo subcompacts. This might not be all too far from the truth.
The ECHO is a cousin of the Toyota Vitz (J) / Yaris (UK). The people of the U.S. live by the line, "bigger is better", thereby eliminating any possibility for the existence of those slow-yet-
highly entertaining supercompacts, known to the rest of the world as "minis". These almost toy-like means of light transportation have no place in the States. SUVs will eat them alive. The majority of the roads here are business-like, with boring perpendicularity (perhaps this is why stoplight drag-racing is an American past-time
). Numerous roads in Japan and Europe are narrow and winding, perfect for minis; this factor alone has made these types of cars multiply like bunnies.
What confirms this popularity? Soon after its release, the Toyota Yaris was pinned with the famed prestigious award, "European Car of the Year". And we mustn't forget that the Vitz is available with different trim than the ECHO, including AWD.
Then what is the purpose of the ECHO in the U.S? Simply to fill a niche, and nothing more. They allow those with limited funds to purchase a new car and save on fuel costs, as well. It was not intended for spirited driving (especially with the lack of a tachometer), or even for providing the zippy fun factor that minis do (since ours has grown in size). As for the center placed instrument console, the son of a Toyota official and my good pal let me know that it was actually made so to cut down on costs for reversing the placement of the steering wheel (the upper dash is perfectly symmetrical), also signifying 'economic'.
SO DON'T PESTER THE ECHO. Internationally, it is a HUGE success. Much more popular than you, me, and the Backstreet Boys combined.
