Toyota Echo News

Toyota Australia has recalled more than 180,000 vehicles over fears that faulty airbags could spray shrapnel when deployed.

A Gold Coast man could face up to three years in prison on charges of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle after being caught performing handstands on top of his car while the vehicle was unmanned and in motion - with the whole thing recorded on his own mobile phone.Police were called to Hutchinson St in a quiet industrial area of Burleigh Heads at 6.30pm on Tuesday after members of the public noticed the unusual activity. Members of Operation Takeback patrolling the area for bikie activity intercepted the Toyota Echo.The Southport man, 30, admitted he had set up his smartphone to film the stunt with the intent of uploading the footage to Facebook site 'handstand Tuesdays". Footage taken on the man's phone, which police discovered on the side of the road, shows the man driving the car down the street, lifting himself from the driver's seat out of the window and on to the car's roof, and supporting himself on top of the moving car with his hands for about four seconds with the vehicle moving.He is then shown getting back into the driver's seat through the window, making a U-turn and repeating the stunt four or five times. No one was injured and no damage was caused to the vehicle, which was towed as a result of the offence and will be analysed by police. Senior Sergeant Mat Kelly said the incident was very unusual and dangerous.'The vehicle was without a driver while the man was doing a handstand on its roof and, if it had been hit by anything, that could have caused some very serious injuries," he said. 'It is alarming that young people are out there taking their lives into their own hands to take the vision to show off to the world." The man faced court after being arrested on the scene and is expected to reappear in Southport Magistrates Court on March 10.

Pulling on a race suit is a transmogrifying experience, much as one imagines peeling on the blue lycra and red gumboots and underpants is for Superman.

Industry figures released this week show the real boom in the market has been in four-cylinder cars valued at less than $25,000.Known as the light car segment, sales in the division are up 22.7 per cent for the year to date on last year, while the large car segment is down the same figure. Last month light cars were up by 31.4 per cent on August last year.Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive Peter Sturrock says this trend has increased over the past couple of years, with a recent acceleration put down to high petrol prices."Well, quite simply because they are more fuel efficient, small and less expensive to purchase in the first place and they're less expensive to run," Sturrock says.A total of 10,806 light cars were sold last month and 77,650 sold this year, which is 14,346 more than last year. Leading the line-up is the Toyota Yaris, with a starting price of $14,990, which recorded 2673 sales in August, taking the total to 18,064 for the year to date.Added to this figure are the remaining 304 Echos that Toyota has sold this year, before the nameplate was changed to be consistent with the Yaris badging used in Europe.Hyundai's small Getz, named Australia's Best Small Car for 2005 by Australia's auto clubs, has also achieved an increase in sales, with 1738 models sold last month, and 13,863 for the year, an 18.4 per cent improvement over the same period last year.Getz prices start at $13,990 and stretch to $18,380. The cheapest car on the market, the Holden Barina, starting at $13,490, has the third highest sales for the segment, with 1091 sales in August and 9567 for the year to date.The Barina is followed by the Suzuki Swift, Honda Jazz and Kia Rio, all recording between 5500 and 6800 sales each for the year-to-date and just under 100 sales in August.Sturrock says while fuel prices are contributing to a shift to these cars, good value at a low price is also converting buyers."The small cars now are very well equipped," he says. "Some years ago they were the basic models, but now they're well equipped with safety and anti-theft, occupant protection, airbags and ABS, and they often have Electronic Stability Control."Features in this segment on cars such as the Yaris and Getz include front airbags, an MP3 compatible CD system, airconditioning, power windows, central locking and ABS. Some even come with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and anti-skid technology.Holden's Barina offers airconditioning as standard, a feature that has to be bought as an option in the $34,990 base model VE Commodore Omega. The Hyundai Getz also offers a five-year/130,000km warranty.Toyota spokesman, Mike Breen, says this segment also offers a good alternative to second-hand cars."With the options that you can get on a brand new car, plus the new car warranty, it's quite appealing, especially to younger people," he says. And it seems a wide variety of buyers are purchasing these light cars, from students through to families and retirees.Hyundai spokesman Richard Power says its small cars, the Getz and Accent, are finding a market among a variety of drivers."We get quite a few young people buying it as their first new car and there's loyalty from senior motorists, who don't need a big car any more and are very attracted by the long warranty," he says. Overall, the car market has dropped by 3.4per cent on last year, with 642,383 vehicles sold, a decrease of 22,513 vehicles. August was also down from 2005 by 4516 vehicles.In the small car segment, sales are up 3 per cent year-to-date, with the Toyota Corolla the segment leader with 4147 sales in August and 31,705 Corollas sold this year. But small car sales also experienced a slight drop last month, down 1.3 per cent or 244 vehicles.Sturrock says that although the large car segment is down by 26,461 vehicles, it is still an important part of the market."It has reduced over time from what it was to where it is today," he says. "But it's still about 25 per cent of the passenger car market. You see very strong interest in the new Holden Commodore and the new Toyota Camry, there's been an excellent reaction."WHAT'S SELLINGToyota Yaris 18,368Hyundai Getz 13,863Holden Barina 9567Suzuki Swift 6703Honda Jazz 5936Kia Rio 5579Ford Fiesta 4407Mazda2 3934Hyundai Accent 3593Mitsubishi Colt 1516VW Polo 1337Peugoet 206 1071Citroen C3 486Proton Savvy 357smart fortwo 326Renault Clio 173Citroen C2 139smart forfour 132Fiat Punto 113Daihatsu Sirion 40Proton Satria 9Suzuki Ignis 1*Source: VFacts (light car sales 2006 to end August)Note: Yaris sales includes 304 Echo salesTHE CHEAPIESHolden Barina from $13,490Hyundai Getz from $13,990Proton Savvy from $13,990Toyota Yaris from $14,990Hyundai Accent from $15,990Mitsubishi Colt from $15,990Suzuki Swift from $15,990Ford Fiesta from $15,990Honda Jazz from $15,990Kia Rio from $15,990Mazda2 from $16,335Peugeot 206 from $16,990VW Polo from $16,990

The baby-car world was dominated by a single star through the 1990s.The Hyundai Excel was the benchmark for every rival – on price, style and sales – until the death of the Korean king led to a fundamental shift in the noughties.Now the lightweight division is split down the middle and there are two separate contests: one powered by price, the other by class. In the price group are people buying their first new car, usually on a tight budget with less emphasis on features, and the class group wants a compact car for city work or as a second vehicle in the family garage.The bargain-basement contenders are battling in the sub-$15,000 range, just as they did when the Excel was the pacemaker, while the starting price for seriously good babies is close to $17,000 and can run to well beyond $20,000.Toyota changed the game last year when it decided to lob its baby Echo with a sub-$15,000 bottom line including power steering and airconditioning.Although the price has crept up to $14,790, it is still the sales leader. In the first quarter of this year Echo grabbed more than 20 per cent of light-car sales, reflecting the strength of the Toyota brand...despite the design being five years old.Hyundai is still playing the price game with the boxy little Getz. It's second to the Echo in the price fight and leading the Korean contenders against a line-up which includes a broad range of imports, including the Holden-badged but Opel-designed Barina.At the top end of the business, the Japanese really are on top. The classy Mazda2 and Honda Jazz set the standard for shoppers with plenty of cash to splash, even if Ford has arrived – far too late after the loss of its top-selling Korean-made Festiva – with a European Fiesta which is the light star of 2004.The $14,490 starting price for the Fiesta is going to create plenty of action in Ford showrooms, because the blue-oval baby is a good drive and well designed. But buyers will still have to add $2000 for airconditioning – a crippling extra in such a price-sensitive arena.But that's typical of the light-car class.There is always something new, always a price leader and a class champion, and they're all elbowing for space in a bargain basement that introduces many people to their first new car.This is how the Cars Guide team rates them:1. MAZDA2Lowdown: Five-door hatch with 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 82kW and priced from $17,490.Verdict: Another direct hit by MazdaPlus: Quality and comfortMinus: Pricey for the sizeRating: 18/20The baby Mazda is one of the stars of the Japanese company's product-driven comeback.Mazda battled through the 1990s with outdated and cost-down cars that were a poor reflection of the brand's traditional strengths, but when it got serious – with Ford funding – it cranked out the classy Mazda6, RX-8 and Mazda3.The smallest of the crop is the Mazda2, but it has the condensed strengths from the same design team and gene pool.That means it looks good, drives well and is built to class-leader quality.2. HONDA JAZZLowdown: Five-door hatch with 1.3-litre (61kW) or 1.5-litre (81kW) four-cylinder engine, priced from $15,990Verdict: Stylish and practical but harsh ridePlus: Good looks, versatile cabinMinus: Bouncy rideRating: 17/20The Jazz outsold the Mazda2 by 1280 in the first four months of 2004, and that comes down to price and funky looks.It's really a 21st-century Civic, as compact as the original and just as trendy for young buyers.Honda was smart to start with a 1.3-litre motor below $16,000, but doesn't scrimp on the cabin. It's comfortable for four and the seats fold to carry almost any load.People who want the best go straight to the punchy VTi-S with all the fruit for $22,490.3. FORD FIESTALowdown: Three-door and five-door hatch powered by a 74kW 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, from $14,490Verdict: Perky and enjoyablePlus: Goes well, roomy insideMinus: Cheap-ish plastics, finishRating: 16/20Ford went backwards with the Ka, which didn't have the space or automatic to compete, but it now has the right sales ingredients.The Fiesta is a star in Europe and way better than the long-dead Festiva, a Korean version of the previous Mazda 121.It drives well, has plenty of space and is good value, thanks partly to the strength of the Australian dollar.The Fiesta just edges the Toyota Echo and the Hyundai Getz out of the final medal spot in the light-car class.HYUNDAI GETZ 16/20Price: From $13,490Engines: 1.3-litre (60kW) and 1.5-litre (74kW)Body styles: Three-door hatch and five-door hatchNot an Excel, but still packed with Hyundai strengths.TOYOTA ECHO 16/20Price: From $14,740Engines: 1.3-litre (63kW) and 1.5-litre (80kW)Body styles: Three-door hatch and five-door sedan.Shows age inside, but Toyota has done well to keep the price sharp.HOLDEN BARINA 16/20Price: From $15,990Engines: 1.4-litre (66kW) and 1.8-litre (92kW)Body styles: Three-door and five-doorLooks good and drives well, with bonus deal adding appeal. CITROEN C3 14/20Price: From $19,990Engines: 1.4-litre (57kW) and 1.6-litre (83kW)Body styles: Five-door hatchOne of the funkiest babies on sale in Australia. The engine is dozy and there are some quality niggles.RENAULT CLIO 14/20Price: From $19,990Engines: 1.4-litre (72kW), 1.6-litre (79kW) and 2.0-litre (124kW)Body styles: sedan and hatchNot as trendy as the bigger Megane with the J.Lo rump, but still a solid effort from the French brand.VOLKSWAGEN POLO 14/20Price: From $19,990Engines: 1.4-litre (55kW)Body styles: hatchToo costly by far. The Polo is a nice car but smaller than many rivals, and Volkswagen doesn't do enough in Australia to compensate.PEUGEOT 206 13/20Price: From $19,990Engines: 1.4-litre, 1.6-litre (80kW) and 1.8-litre (100kW and 130kW)Body styles: hatchLIKE the C3, the Peugeot is too much and too little. The price is too high and the cabin too cramped.SMART FORTWO 13/20Price: From $21,900Engines: 0.7-litre (45kW)Body styles: Two-door coupeThe smallest and trendiest of the light cars is a phonebox-on-wheels that will only be bought by the trendiest shoppers.DAEWOO KALOS 12/20Price: From $14,990Engines: 1.5-litre (62kW)Body styles: Three-door hatch, five-door sedanA good Korean effort – compact and good-looking but trails in refinement and design.MITSUBISHI MIRAGE 12/20Price: From $15,990Engines: 1.5-litre (69kW)Body styles: Three-door hatchMitsubishi has kept the price competitive, the body is still stylish, and there is potential to add some Evo-style body bits.DAIHATSU SIRION 10/20Price: From $13,250Engines: 1.0-litre (40kW)Body styles: Five-door hatchbackThe Sirion is the best of the Daihatsu contenders, with a roomy cabin and passable power, but it is let down by the driving experience.DAIHATSU YRV 10/20Price: From $15,990Engines: 1.5-litre (40kW)Body styles: Five-door hatchThe funk leader in the D-brand line-up shows what's missing from the mix, with clunky controls and sub-standard driving dynamics.KIA RIO 9/20Price: From $14,990Engines: 1.5-litre (71kW)Body styles: Four-door sedan or five-door wagonThe wagon option gives it a unique selling point, but the sedan was one of the worst cars we drove last year.PROTON SATRIA 9/20Price: From $14,990Engines: 1.5-litre (64kW) and 1.8-litre (99kW)Body styles: Three-door hatch, five-door hatchAnother oldie that struggles to do anything but fill showroom space.SUZUKI IGNIS 9/20Price: From $14,990Engines: 1.3-litre (61kW) and 1.5-litre (83kW)Body styles: HatchThe baby box doesn't have enough of anything. Suzuki hasn't had enough cash to continue.DAIHATSU CHARADE 8/20Price: From $11,950Engines: 1.0-litre (40kW)Body styles: Five-door hatchThe great name is all that remains from one of the earliest bargain-basement stars. Today's Charade is cheap and unimpressive.

The offerings range from those destined for icon status to others whose existence will be quickly forgotten. Finding the formula -- that elusive mix of luxury, enjoyment, value, technology and fun -- means sales and profitability to the winners. For the losers ... it's back to the drawing board. Finding a winner for best car was never going to easy, such was the diversity of the entrants. But the 1999 Star Car, judged by News Limited motoring experts across the country, is the Toyota Echo. PAUL GOVER The class of '99 is as good as it gets in the motoring world. We've had something new and impressive in every size and type of car, from the howling Honda S2000 convertible sports car to the super-luxury Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the baby Toyota Echo. The news has been just as good for family car shoppers, with the smooth new Subaru Liberty, Mazda MPV and Jeep's Grand Cherokee covering all fronts. Picking the best from the best has been really tough this year -- with a diverse galaxy of stars that don't line up or compete directly in any sense. The funky little Echo was a favorite, as were a pair of sports car trend setters: the Honda S2000 and Audi TT. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class broke new ground in every area, and a couple of homegrown heroes, the Holden Statesman and Ford's Falcon ute, helped prove the local industry is doing a great job as we head into the new millennium. BRUCE McMAHON Does everyone understand how good the Falcon ute is -- do they understand it's the world's best ute? Showcased best in the XR versions, Ford's latest Falcon workhorse is a tribute to the company's ute heritage. The Lexus IS200 might not run a screaming, pumped-up powerplant, but it is a joy to drive. Pin-sharp steering, sweet chassis and a character that's hard to ignore adds up to a desirable sports sedan. Jeep's Grand Cherokee is best served up as a Limited guise 4.7 litre V8. Some do not appreciate the big Cherokee's rolling gait across uneven bitumen -- a legacy of a pair of live axles and a search for smoothness -- but there is no doubting the Limited's ability in the rough. Holden's Statesman is a big, cosy tourer. It has an excellent ride, best complemented by the effortless 5.7 litre V8; back-seat room is remarkable and the value as a home-grown limousine is hard to ignore. Toyota's Echo will win praise around the globe this season. It is cute, in an innovative way, and quite practical in this small-car class. But it's not cheap -- and the 1.3 litre engine struggles with a load. Then there's the Honda S2000, another candidate likely to take home any number of awards with sizzle and style. KEVIN HEPWORTH There were some serious contenders I couldn't consider as, for various reasons, they weren't properly tested this year. They are led by Honda's pulse-quickening S2000, Audi's TT quattro, Ford's Ka, the Toyota Echo and BMW's 3-series Coupe. Those aside, in car judging -- as in life -- you make the best of what you have and it's still an impressive line-up. Honda's street-racer, the Integra Type R, is not for everyone, but provides roar and soar for those prepared to risk licence points. The Audi A4 1.8 turbo quattro wins its place because it is the best-balanced package we slammed a door on this year. Rarely do you come across a car where power and handling are not fighting for supremacy. A wonderful drive, if expensive at $62,300. The Pajero iO is rewarded for proving you don't have to be a tank to take on the tough stuff. Mitsubishi has squeezed off-road ability into the iO along with a fair degree of road manners, for just $29,031. If the Peugeot 406ST suffers it is only by comparison with its svelte sibling, the 406 Coupe. But that is only in the metal -- under the skin the ST boasts all of Peugeot's renowned suspension dynamics. If you are prepared to do a little work with the five-speed manual, you will be rewarded with a refined experience -- at an affordable $41,900. Then there is the Mercedes S-class. To drive this technological showboat on wheels is to know what refinement is. This is driving in subtle and supple luxury. No wonder we all aspire to own one. At an entry-level $169,500 (plus on-road costs) no wonder we don't. And the winner is ... the Audi S3, at least for me. This car is fun, and what is life without fun? There is refinement, aggressive styling without overt showiness, comfort, quality, power and a torque curve so flat and wide you could sleep on it. Yes, it has only three doors, and yes, costs $69,900, but it leaves you smiling. MIKE DUFFY The Audi TT introduced the world to the look of the new millennium and demands to be installed as Star Car of '99. There were more TT copies at the Tokyo Motor Show in October than a Hong Kong watch store, but the motoring world will remember only the original. The TT coupe is not simply a brilliant design concept; the package sets new standards for automotive excellence and it's the funkiest car of the century. In second place on my podium is another passion car, Honda's stunning S2000 sports. It's a performer which will pass the test of time. The Holden Statesman is my third pick. The long wheelbase car has proved itself at home and abroad as a limousine capable of meeting and beating the best -- within a tight price window. Mazda's MPV is a people-mover which richly deserves fourth place and, even with a silly name, the Mitsubishi Pajero iO is a lot of four-wheel-drive for the dollar and grabs fifth spot. The Peugeot 206, which stakes a claim as one of the best looking and most proficient models in the hot hatch class, comes sixth. KEITH DIDHAM The street savvy Echo hatch is oh-so-cute (forget the sedan), practical and fun to drive in the city. Toyota's pricing strategy for its bouncing baby, with its odd mix of options, takes some edge off its affordability. Nevertheless, this little trend-setter for Gen-X is surprisingly roomy. It's cheap to run, safe, comes with a Toyota badge and is the pick of the small car crop. Honda stole the show with its S2000. It's pure indulgence but pure exhilaration and never mind there's bugger all storage space. Subaru has become a consistent car builder of the decade with not a crook car in its line-up: the WRX, Forester, Outback, Liberty and even the Impreza all impressing. But the Liberty has been refined into such a classy vehicle for those who need load-carrying ability plus the bonus of go-anywhere traction. Audi's TT quattro is stunning when it comes to retro styling, with enough sex appeal to make everyone stare as you drive by. The design is flawed only by a tight back seat and initial high-speed handling problems didn't help its image. Ford's ute ain't humble any more. This workhorse is a clever design with the grunt of a true-blue V8 to match. As much at home in the 'burbs as in the bush. Proton's Satria GTi is the real surprise. The poor man's WRX, perhaps, and while it hasn't got the same aura, this cafe racer doesn't lack performance or handling, thanks to tinkering by Lotus. NEIL DOWLING The Toyota Echo is the latest son of a conservative Japanese family. On value for money, combined with sophisticated engineering beyond its mini-class status, it wins. Forget people saying the styling is weird -- take 'em for a drive. The outrageous styling of the Audi TT will keep the neighbourhood jealous for years. But don't buy one if you're introverted. Girls love the Honda S2000: it makes kids smile and dads' eyes glaze over as the brain calculates loan repayments. The 9000rpm rev-limiter competes with speeding tickets as the only ways to slow the roadster down. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is breathtaking, but tragically unaffordable to most. The Holden Statesman, big and brassy on the outside, is blanc mange on the inside, with Euro suspension bits and Detroit under the bonnet -- a welcome to multi-cultural Australia. Is the Peugeot 406 HDi really a diesel? Only the bowser (and your wallet) knows. Low running costs will be magnified next year as the doomsday crowd claim petrol will hit $1 a litre. ANDREW MACLEAN New benchmarks have been set in almost every area of car design this year. From pace to grace and style to space, there's a car from the class of 1999 for everyone -- led by the Toyota Echo. The cheeky baby isn't a technological leader but breaks ground in overall packaging for small cars. It looks good -- in hatchback form only -- has heaps of space inside and is well-built, drives well and feels solid. Honda's rip-roaring S2000 scores my second prize, if only for its engine. The screaming four-cylinder is the star of the car. Holden's latest luxury limo, the Statesman, will put Fishermens Bend on the world stage. It's the focus of Holden's export plan to the Middle East and proves Australian-built cars can match the best in the world -- for a lot less money. The Subaru Liberty wagon was one of the best of last year's bunch and the sedan is my pick of the family car class. Audi's spunky TT has the look of the new millennium and deserves fifth place while, lastly, the Mercedes-Benz S-class has taken luxury motoring to new levels. 1.Toyota Echo, 38pts 2.Honda S2000, 25pts 3.Audi TT, 22pts 4.Mercedes-Benz S-Class, 20pts 5.Holden Statesman, 17pts 6.Ford Falcon Ute, 13pts 7.Audi S3, 10pts 8.Subaru Liberty, 9pts 9.Lexus IS200, 6pts 10.Mitsubishi Pajero iO/Peugeot 406, 5pts PAUL GOVER, National Motoring Editor 1. Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2. Toyota Echo 3. Holden Statesman 4. Subaru Liberty 5. Honda S2000 6. Ford Falcon ute MIKE DUFFY, Adelaide Advertiser 1. Audi TT 2. Honda S2000 3. Holden Statesman 4. Mazda MPV 5. Mitsubishi Pajero iO 6. Peugeot 206 KEVIN HEPWORTH, Daily Telegraph, Sydney 1. Audi S3 2. Mercedes-Benz S-Class 3. Peugeot 406ST 4. Pajero iO 5. Audi A4 1.8 Turbo quattro 6. Honda Integra Type R BRUCE MCMAHON, Courier Mail, Brisbane 1. Ford Falcon ute 2. Lexus IS200 3. Jeep Grand Cherokee V8 4. Holden Statesman 5. Toyota Echo 6. Honda S2000 ANDREW MACLEAN, Herald Sun, Melbourne 1. Toyota Echo 2. Honda S2000 3. Holden Statesman 4. Subaru Liberty sedan 5. Audi TT 6. Mercedes-Benz S-Class NEIL DOWLING, Sunday Times, Perth 1. Toyota Echo 2. Audi TT 3. Honda S2000 4. Mercedes-Benz S-Class 5. Holden Statesman 6. Peugeot 406HDi KEITH DIDHAM, Mercury, Hobart 1. Toyota Echo 2. Honda S2000 3. Subaru Liberty 4. Audi TT 5. Ford Falcon ute 6. Proton Satria GTi