How much weight can an Toyota Echo carry?

Answer 1

I don't think there is any definitive single answer to this question. Also keep in mind there is a big difference between towing capacity and payload capacity. Payload is the weight you add inside the car and trunk of the car including the weight of the passengers. The only number I've seen thrown out there for payload capacity supposedly comes from a brochure on the Canadian echo hatchback model which states that you should not exceed 700 lbs. As for towing, this is another interesting thing with Toyota. In Australia the '01 echo is rated to tow 1500 lbs. In Europe its rated to tow 2000 lbs. In Canada and the US, it has no towing rating and they don't recommend you tow with it despite the fact that it comes pre-drilled from the factory for a tow hitch should you want to install one. I think the difference from country to country is related to legal liability. Personally I have been towing with a 2000 echo for 3 years, up to 1500 lbs. I've experienced no damage or problems whatsoever. I do drive carefully, turn overdrive off, go slow, leave plenty of room between me and anything in front of me, etc. My echo has 170,000 miles on it and is still going strong. I've owned other cars that developed transmission problems way before 170k miles and that was WITHOUT towing anything at all, so I really do not believe that careful towing will harm your transmission but perhaps I am just lucky.