fun car to drive.. takes awhile to get use to the way you sit in the car (up high like it was a small truck) and the center gauges. Looks are yet to be determined... unless you like dolphins like my wife.
the 1.5L VVT-i engine is simply amazing. Great gas milage, 41mph on winter weather hwy driving (lots of rain during the trip) and as others noted, very very zippy engine. I've owned 1.6L and 1.8L rabbit/golfs and this is actually as fast if not faster and i have the auto.
Engine's belts will be a b*&^h to work on, but simple tune ups are a snap. Filter in the front bottom of the engine is brilliant unlike other imports that like to hide the filter in the rear.
Interior is sharp and simple... just like how i like it. Quality of material is above average for a sub 10,000 USD car.
BTW the ECHO name went away in the states, but the car lives on in the Yaris and Scion XD.
