umm...this got a little longer than I intended. I've broken it up so it might make a little more sense.

I've never driven an Echo, but I have sat in one here at the shop so I'll add this little bit of trivia.

You may not care, but the dashboard has an odd configuration. The whole speedometer/odometer/tachometer assembly has been moved to the side (although it's also been rotated to still face the driver).

So there's great visibility straight down the hood from the driver's seat, but in order to see the instrument panel you have to look off to the right.