NORTH SHORE THE new Tcyota Echo, available as a two-door coupe or four-door sedan, replaces the subcompact Tercel. Its unusually tall bodystyle provides a roomy interior, raised seating positions, easier entry and exit, and improved outward visibility. A 108-horsepower, 1.5- litre, four-cylinder engine and five-speed manual transmission are standard. Echos range in prise from $13,835 to $16,815. Test drive one at Jim Pattison Toyota, 1765 Marine Drive, North Vancouver. ‘Toyota Echo, I thought, “What an odd-looking car!” Its small wheels and tall body appeared to be out of propor- tion. I wondered why a traditional- ly conservative car company iike Toyota would replace the popular Tercel with a radically different car with a new nareplate. Toyota is known for keeping its models for long periods of time -— the Tercel name has been around for more than 20 years, the Camry for more than 25 years, and the Corolla for 95 GRAND CHEROKEE LTO Fully loaded, V8 97 CAMRY LE Moonrool, alloy, warr. 92 DODGE CARAVAN V6, > passenger 97 4-RURNER LIMITED Icaded. must be seen, like new $8 FORERUNNER SRS, V6, loaded ip Marsh 4dr, auto, ex. condition 91 MAZDA PROTEGE SE 4dr, 5 spd, iooks & runs great 99 TOYOTA COROLLA VE auto. 4 dr 93 TOYOTA CAMRY LE V6, loaded, leather 97 CHEV LUMIHA Hurry, hurry Ata glance REWS AUTOMOTIVE Friday, November 5, 1999 - Noth Shore News — 33 “In a way, the Echo is a lot like the original VW Beetle — it appears quirky at first, but the more you get to know it, the more practical and sensible the car seems.” ly to keep cai more than 30 vears. What could be so special about the Echo for Toyota to take such a big gamble? Taller is better The answer, I believe, lies in the Echo’s tall bodystyle. Though it’s about the same length and width as the Tercel, its roof is 125 mm.(5.0 in.) taller, and the windshield is posi- tioned farther forwards. Toyota claims that the Echo has as much interior room as the larger Corolla sedan. Front and rear seats are positioned higher, so that passengers sit in a more upright position and can slide in and out of them -mere easily. The higher seats increase legroom because passen- ger’s legs aren’t pushed out ahead of them. In addition, rear passengers have about six inches of vertical space under the raised front seats. The Echo’s tall bodystyle also provides plenty of front and rear headroom, and improved outward visibility for the driver and passengers. However, while there’s plenty of legroom and headroom, the Echo's narrow body width limits the rear bench seat to two adult passengers, or possibly three in a squeeze. I suspect that the Echo’s taller bodystyle also provides better crash protection. The front of the car is not as likely to slide under a taller vehicle in a head-on collision, and the higher door sides should provide increased side impact protection. The Echo’s dash layout is also unique. The speedometer and auxiliary instruments are positioned in the centre of the dashtop rather than behind the steering wheel. See Tall page 33 AVALON ’ 95 NISSAN SENTRA GXE 4dr, automatic G6 NISSAN PATHFINGER SE $5,955 99 TAYOTA RAV4 4wd, Automatic. fully toaded 94 NISSAN SENTRA 2dt. auto. local car Auto, 37km, mint $29,985 $26,555 Toyota flagship, every option $22,995 $12,883 94 NISSAN PATHFIRDER SE V6 Locai vehicie, auto, 4X4 $18,985 99 TOYOTA CAMRY LE Factory Warranty 93 OLS CUTLASS CIEHA Wet! equipped 92 TOYOTA CAMRY V6.L£ $25,995 - $7,985 $14,985 " g4 TOVOTA SUPRA Good runner $4,985 ON THE SPOT FINANCING