Toyota "Echo" - a compact Japanese sedan from America for those who do not like to be repaired

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

Japanese car Toyota Echo is rarely seen on the roads of Russia and CIS countries. The reason is that in our country it is better known as a hatchback called Toyota Yaris or as a right-hand drive sedan from Japan called Toyota Platz. In the Land of the Rising Sun, it was also produced in a "hatchback attire" and was called the Toyota Vitz. But let's stop being tormented by the intricacies of Toyota's marketing policy. Let's get back to the hero of our story - a compact subcompact Japanese car from America - Toyota Echo.

The name of this car has something in common not only with the effect of echoes of words in the mountains, but also with the term "ecology". The fact is that in terms of harmful emissions, the Toyota Echo engine meets the stringent requirements for low-emission vehicles (LEV). With a volume of 1.5 liters, the engine equipped with the VVT-i system develops 110 hp. and accelerates the car to 100 km / h in 13 seconds. The recommended maximum speed of the car, which is guaranteed to be kept by the engine, transmission and suspension of the Toyota Echo, is 160 km / h. Fuel consumption at such indicators of speed and dynamics is 6.9 liters in the city and 5.8 liters on the highway. With "dry" weightless than 900 kg Toyota Echo was one of the ten most economical cars in the world until 2005.

Initially, Toyota Echo was conceived as a car for students and poor youth. Therefore, the basic equipment contained a five-speed manual gearbox, power steering, interior air conditioning, an electric driver's seat and two airbags. At the request of customers, the following could be added to the package: ABS in the brakes, a sunroof, central locking and power windows in the doors, as well as a four-speed automatic transmission. At present, the set is not rich, but do not forget that all this was based on the reliable engine and body platform of the Japanese Toyota.

Due to American origin, such cars rarely find their way into the expanses of Russia and the CIS countries. But if they do get it, then with regard to the Toyota Echo, the reviews of the owners are full of genuine optimism and even admiration. First, praise the reliability. In the absence of a barbaric attitude to the car, even cars with high mileage require only periodic oil and filter changes. Allocate very good dynamics and controllability with meager fuel consumption. The interior, unusually spacious for such a car, pleases the owners with good visibility and a roomy trunk, not to mention the huge number of all kinds of niches and shelves. Toyota Echo perfectly tolerates Russian frosts and starts even at -30 degrees without problems. Regarding the shortcomings, they complain about excessive rigiditysuspension and equipment that is too modest for today. Sometimes people complain about "blowing" on the road, but this is not a disadvantage of the Toyota Echo, but of any car of this class.

Judging by the reviews, Russian and "CIS" owners of the Toyota Echo, having turned out to be American students after buying it, are in no hurry to retake the last exam. They happily indulge in the temptation to go years without suspension repairs and weeks of not noticing the gas stations that other car owners often make appointments with.