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

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‘ 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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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.

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