Used 2004 Toyota Echo
Buying Guide for the Toyota Echo:
There are certain models that manufacturers make for people
whose sole concern when buying an automobile is the price
tag. They generally expect a smaller vehicle, but they want
it to be able to perform day in and day out, without even
a hint of trouble. For these people Toyota offers the Echo.
The smallest car in the Toyota arsenal of vehicles abides
by the Toyota motto of build quality above all else. It gets
great mileage and it can be counted on to start up time and
time again. What it can’t be counted on to do is surround
you in luxury.
For 2004, Toyota doesn’t do much at all to its Echo. It continues
to use an inline 4-cylinder engine with Variable Valve Timing
(VVT) for optimal performance. And it continues to be a price
leader with all the respect accorded to a car with the Toyota
nameplate.
Under the Hood
Under the hood of the Echo is not a massive engine. But of
course, that’s no real surprise. However, it’s not a lawnmower
engine either.
Driving the Toyota Echo for 2004 is a 1.5-liter dual-overhead-cam
inline 4-cylinder engine with 108 horsepower at 6000 rpm and
105 lb-ft of torque at 4200 rpm. Nothing too crazy, but just
enough to get it up to speed.
The front-wheel drive Echo can be had with either 5-speed
manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. The choice is all
yours.
Great fuel economy is another reason why the Echo is such
a value. Manual models for 2004 have a rating of 35/43 mpg
(city/highway), while automatics get 33/39 mpg (city/highway).
Standard Features, Options Packages and Style
The Echo comes as a two or four-door sedan. Both models seat
five people, but the back three had better be children if
things are going to work out. Both models also have an interior
cargo volume of 13.6 cubic feet.
The base package is truly that. A tilt steering wheel, cloth
upholstery, front bucket seats, a center console, an AM/FM
radio and a driver-side visor mirror are about all you get.
However, there is a full options list offered. Packages build
on one another to reach a nice level of comfort. Antilock
brakes, front side airbags, an in-dash 6-disc CD changer,
a rear spoiler and bodyside cladding are stand-alone items
for 2004.
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