Fram pave 33

‘Toyota claims this reduces
evestrain because the instru-
ments are further away and
the driver can refocus on the
road. more quickly.

in addition, since the dash-
top instruments are higher up,
the driver's eves need drop
only 17 degrees from the road
rather than the usual 22
degrees.

It rakes a while to get used
to the central position of the
dashtop gauges, but in the
space of an hour, I found
myself turning my head to the
right instead of looking down.

One important advantage
of dashtop gauges is that they
are not obscured by the steer-
ing wheel — in my experi-
ence, conventional instru-
ments are often partially
obscured by the steering
wheel rim.

T had one complaint: a
tachometer is not available,
even as an option.

Fortunately, the engine has
a rev limiter to prevent over-
revving in models equipped
with the manual transmission.

¢ rotary controls and
button for the heater and
stereo are found in the lower,
centre dash area within casy
reach of the driver’s right
hand.

For such a small car, the
Echo has many storage com-
partments, including a split
up/down glove box, two
open bins on either side of the
centre console, a storage tray
under the Passenger scat, an
open bin near the steering
wheel, two door pockets, and
seatback pockets. °

Standard safety features
include five three-point seat-
belts (front seatbelts have pre-
tensioners and force limiters),
two front airbags (side airbags
are not available), four height-
adjustable head restraints,
energy-absorbent roof materi-
als, rear child seat-tether
anchors, and rear child door |
locks (on four-door models).
‘Good power-to-weight ratio

- The. Echo’s four-cylinder.

” Auto on-

NEWS photo Mika Waketlalst

The Echo's dash layout is unique. The speedometer and auxiliary instruments are positioned in the centre of the dashtop rather than
behind the steering wheel. Toyota claims the positioning reduces eye strain. Certainly, the steering wheel iz not an abstruction.

engine is the same size as the
Tercel’s, but has more power
(108 vs 93 horsepower),
sligh-ly better fuel economy,
and is more technologically-
sophisticated.

The 2.5-litre, four-cylinder
powerplant has twin overhead
camshafts, four valves per
cylinder, direct ignition, and
VVT-I (variable valve timing
with intelligence), a feature
that adjusts intake valve tim-
ing to improve torque and
reduce emissions.

With 108 horsepower and
a curb weight of just 950 kg
(2,095 Ib.), the Echo sedan

(equipped with an optional
four-speed automatic trans-
mission) zips | trom 0 to 100
km/h in 10.5 seconds — a
quick time for a small car with
ant automatic transmission.

The Echo also gets great
fucl economy: 7.0 1/100 km
(40 m.p.g.) in the city, and
5.5 1/100 km (51 m.p.g.) oi1
the highway.

Given the Echo's rather
small standard 13-inch tires
and tail body, I thought its
handling would be poor.

However, the Echo's front
track is actually two inches
wider than the Tercel’s, and

lighting system / titt steering / seating for five / reinforced ladder-box frame

4 - Independent four-wheel suspension with MacPherson front struts / adjustable head restraints / 3-year

o 5
COESESASHOUUCE) 02 008 0541 core

‘ cover { voof rails / full carpeting / side impact beams / dual air bags / power assisted rack-and-pinion

2000 Grand Vitara V6_
lease for just $320 |

*48 months, O.A.C, inciuding freight & P.D.E. =
or buy from $24,890."* “J

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2000 4-docr Vitara
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payment Danced On 43 movin sere wt $78 KSEATO COvmcrmn (tatal ends Lohprien B°6 680 00318.260 00 avast

tease rate
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"MEAP tor era 2008 8

combined with a relatively
short 2370 mm (93.3 in.)
wheelbase, independent front
suspension/semi-independent
rear torsion beam/coil spring
suspension, and optional 14-
inch tires, the Echo is quite
nimble when cornering, and
ver¥ stable on the highway.

It’s also surprisingly quict
for an economy car.

Echos start at $13,835
Echos are available with
avo doors or four doors, and
both styles have a crunk — a
hatchback is not availaole.
Two-door Echo's start at

$13,835 and four-door sedans

at $14,175.

Standard equipment on
both models includes a five-
speed manual transmission, ©
AM/FM /cassette with four

Technical Data

Base orice (two-door):

Price as tested (four-door) ..... :
..four-door, five-passeniger subcompact sedan: .
..transverse front engine/front-wheel-drive -

Type...
Layout.

"$16; 815

*Englae......1.5-litre, four-cylinder, DOHC, 16 valves, VVT-I.

Horsepower
rae 4

oe cooeerery

Curb weight
: Wheelbase.

sssseeeee 108 @ 6,000 rp...”
105 bn @ 4,000 rp.m..

ue “speed automatic

933 Kg @ 035 b.)-950 kg (2,095 tb.)
svavunenaneieneee2,370 min (93.3 In.

LO AGRI. cennsseeseeesresnenneecned 145 men (163.2 in.) *

Width ..
Haight.
Fuel consumption

1,660 mm (65.4 in)
1,500 mm (59.1 in.) -

ty 7.0 1/100 km (40 m.p.g.)

—sgonpecnsnenceees setsveresnavers Highway 5.5 1/100 km (51 m.p.g.)
sesastseneeueeee three years/60,000 km
..Powertrain five years/100,000 km

speakers, 60/40 folding rear
seatbacks, tilt steering wheel,
dual airbags, dual outside mir-
rors, black bumpers, and 13- :
inch tires. :
A four-speed automatic ~
transmission is a $1,000-
option. For $1,410, an
optional Sivle Package we
includes 14-inch tires, colour:
bumpers, black lower body: :-
side cladding, rear spoiler, CD .. .
player, and intermittent : :
wipers. The Style Package

.. without the black bodyside

cladding ‘is available on four, :
door models for $655...

Air conditioning is a port:
installed $1,230 option. Fully
equipped, four-door Echos

“ top’ourat $16, 815; plus.”

freight. :
Like all Toyor

‘come with a three-"" ©

year/60,000 kilomretre war-
zanty which now includes... -
Roadside Assistance, and a...”
tive-year/100,000. kin power-
train warranty *

Overall i impression
In‘a way, the Echo is a lot

* like the original VW Beetle —

it appears quirky at first, but~ x
the more you get to know i it,
the more practical and sensible .:
the car seems, [ wouldn’t be
surprised if the. Echo attracts a.
niche-tollowing similar to the
Beetle — the original Beetle |. :
that is, rot the funky but.’
impractical New Beetle.

Compiete mechanical & electrical repairs

by factory trained technician

IMPEX AUTO 11664 West i4th Street Tel: :
» (off Pemberton Ave., entrance at.rear):

Visit our web site: were.lenpexauts.com