 The Echo gets great gas mileage-40 mpg. We drive it 100 miles a day.Its tall profile and light weight makes it subject to crosswinds.  That is more than outweighed by the ease of entry and exit, and improved visibility due to the higher seating.  The centered instrument display lends itself to being scanned quickly without attention being taken from the road.I suggest that it be driven rather than just looked at by the Edmunds "experts".