2003 Toyota Echo Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000

Crash Test Rating

Source NHTSA

MPG (up to)

33 -35 City / 39 -43 HWY

Source FuelEconomy.gov

Horsepower

108

Seats

Positive Owner Reviews

Greg tritle

Reliability

I have a 2001 two-door five speed. And I recently three weeks ago guide 2003 automatic four-door. It is very reliable very attractive good handling excellent gas mileage a fantastic car!! I love both of my echo’s.

Sharon S

My car is compact, but yet it still feels like you have a presence on the road.

I love that it is a compact car but I still sit high on the road. I love the gas mileage. I love the sound system. I dislike that it came without cruise control.

TARA S

Its Reliable! You can count on it to start. It's also very economical.

I love the gas mileage, reliability-it always starts, and the trunk space. No Complaints!

michael M

I love this vehicle and advise anyone getting a first car to choose this car.

My vehicle at the moment is currently up to date on everything and the sound is phenomenal. I'm surprised such a little car can have so much get up when it comes to acceleration. The car is really comfortable for something so small and has a lot of space especially for my first car.

Marie D

The 2003, 2-door, automatic Toyota ECHO

I love my 2003 Toyota ECHO. Although the car is 16 years old, I have never had any kind of mechanical problem with it. The only expenses I have had are for a set of new tires after about 5 years from purchase and a new battery after 15 years of usage. I do not have a lot of miles on the car because I do not have to drive much now that I'm retired. Nevertheless, it is very economical to drive, giving me at least 30 miles to a gallon of gas. Unfortunately, Toyota has discontinued this model and replaced it with the Years.

Rachel K

Awesome. Great value. I love this car.

This is my 2nd Echo. It is like my truck car. I feel as though I sit high. In very comfortable ergonomic seats. The speedometer is in a great, but unusual place. You do get use to it quickly. It had great gas mileage. 42 miles to the gal. I fill it up once a week when doing a good amount of driving.

Shelby B

I love my Echo! Best Little Car

The driver window is not working. Runs smoothly and gets me to where I need to be. The comfort of my seats are amazing. Recommend this type for new drivers like myself. No major maintenance required. When I bought it used, and had been severely neglected

Matthew D

I have owned my car for 15 years and it is the longest I have owned a car.

Good gas mileage. It has always been reliable. I have owned it for 15 years.

Negative Owner Reviews

Matt C

The most important thing is that it is a dependable car that is good for commutes to work or wherever you need to go.

I like the size of the car. It is small and it is easy to drive. Also, it is good for parking. Although, there is no power windows, the music speakers are not great, and there is no clock.

Sarah R

It takes $22 to fill up my gas tank and I get very good mileage.

I currently own a 2003 Toyota ECHO. I recently wrecked my previous car, so I bought my ECHO used for about $1,500. It is in decent running condition. However, the brakes recently started acting up. When I press too hard on them, they squeak. Also, when I leave my foot on the brake, there is a slight grinding sound. My air conditioner is also currently not working. The outside of the car is in okay condition. There is a small dent on the left side of the windshield. There are a few scratches on the outside and a few rust stains. The inside is in okay condition as well. There are stains on the majority of my seats, so I have seat covers. The felt that covers the top of the car is still intact and is not hanging down. There a few scratches on the inside on the doors. I do not have an AUX cord but I use a FM transmitter to connect the Bluetooth in my phone to my radio. Overall, it is a very good car for only $1,500.

Emily T

Small, light and convenient.

The Toyota echo is a light, small car, making it easy to drive in larger cities with tight corners. Even though it is small, there is plenty of room for passengers and luggage in the trunk. The echo is fun to drive and easy to maneuver. I highly recommend it to people who are just starting to drive.

Rhonda B

It's better than nothing. It gets me where I need to go. It gets decent gas mileage

I'm not crazy about it. It runs and gets me from point A to Point B. Not the most comfortable car but It's what I have.

Phyllis M

That it runs great and the air conditioner does not work that well.

The car runs good. The air conditioner does not work that well and there is not a rear window defroster. Have not had any major problems, it is just old and out of date.

Jon D

It has a good engine. It rarely goes in for service.

My Toyota gets good gas mileage. It has lasted for 15 yrs. It has plenty of legroom. The trunk is a good size.

Jen R

2003 Toyota echo: CD bops for the win.

My vehicle is small, so that helps to keep the gas bills low, and believe me it helps a broke college student out. The only problem I have with it is that it does not have cruise control or an AUX cord. I have spent extra money on CDs because I hate the radio, but it is not too bad. I can rely on my car to get me from point A to point B, and that is all that matters.

Toyota Echo Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

2dr Cpe Manual

108 HP 39-39 MPG 5 Seats

4dr Sdn Manual

108 HP 39-39 MPG 5 Seats

2dr Cpe Auto

108 HP 36-36 MPG 5 Seats

4dr Sdn Auto

108 HP 36-36 MPG 5 Seats

Photos may not match model

2003 Toyota Echo Owner Reviews

4.19

31 Reviews

Write Review

5 stars

42%

4 stars

35%

3 stars

23%

2 stars

1 star

Megan S on March 18, 2021

It's a very reliable vehicle, good on gas and we've had it for about 10 years now. One of the only issues we've had was with the ac and heat going out.

Its very small and compact so if you do a lot of travelling its not the best vehicle for that. It doesn't have much storage space.

Kari M on February 1, 2021

Long lasting commuter car.

Excellent fuel mileage. It has held up well over the years. It is very basic. No power windows or doors. No cruise control.

View All Reviews (31)

Ranks #9 Small Cars by Owners

The 2003 Toyota Echo has an average owner rating of 4.19 out of 5 which ranks it #9 of 21 other Small Cars.

2003 Volkswagen GTI

4.5

2003 Subaru Impreza

4.35

2003 Toyota Echo

4.19

Ranks #2 Small Cars by Fuel Economy

The 2003 Toyota Echo has a combined MPG of 43 which ranks it #2 of 21 other Small Cars.

2003 Honda Civic

48 MPG

2003 Toyota Echo

43 MPG

2003 Toyota Corolla

38 MPG

Is The 2003 Toyota Echo A Good Car?

Yes, the 2003 Toyota Echo is a good vehicle. It has very good gas mileage, and also you don't have to spend an astronomical amount on gas. My car in particular has over 200,000 miles and still runs as... Read More

Gara I.

How Reliable Is The 2003 Toyota Echo?

It is extremely reliable. I have never had a breakdown with the car. The only “problems” were mostly routine things, changing oil, replacing brake pads etc.

Emerson E.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the 2003 Toyota Echo transmission fluid capacity?

Answer: The 2003 Toyota Echo transmission fluid capacity iS4.6 quarts. The transmission fluid needs to be replaced every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. Along with fluid changes, terrible sounds will come from the...

Does the 2003 Echo use a timing belt or a timing chain?

Answer: All models of the 2000 to 2005 Toyota Echo have A4Cylinder engine which comes equipped with a timing chain rather than a belt. The good part about it being a chain is that You don't really have to worry about...

See all Frequently Asked Questions

Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

IIHS Crash Test

(Not Tested)

*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety