2005 Toyota Corolla XRS

Toyota Corolla and sport sedan. Words not likely to appear in the same conversation—let alone the same sentence. Until now, that is. With the arrival of the new Corolla XRS, Toyota has finally given its superbly executed but largely unexciting compact 4-door the kind of image-boost it's sorely needed. In the process, it's also created a car that delivers loads of driving diversion while sacrificing little in the way of functionality or cost-effectiveness.

The XRS eschews boy racer visuals in favor of more understated exterior enhancements.

To its credit, the XRS eschews boy racer visuals in favor of more understated exterior enhancements that follow on in the tradition of the existing "sport" Corolla, the S model. A tasteful lower body kit, color-keyed front grille surround and modest decklid spoiler set off 5-spoke alloy wheels that step up from 15 to 16 inches and wear V-rated 195/55 Michelin Primacy tires in place of the S-spec 195/65 rubber on Corolla LE and S models.


Inside, the new XRS maintains that same subtle but stylish motif. The key upgrades include front sport bucket seats with firm, supportive bolstering, brushed-aluminum-look trim, handsome Optitron gauges and a leather-wrapped/chrome-accented shift knob. You'll also find standard convenience touches like cruise control and power door locks as well as a 6-speaker AM/FM/CD sound system, air conditioning, power mirrors and a tilt steering wheel included in its $17,455 base price. Fitted with an optional in-dash 6-disc CD changer, side curtain airbags, power windows, keyless remote and floor mats, the bottom line on our test vehicle came out to $19,517, including $515 in destination fees.

Key upgrades include front sport bucket seats with firm, supportive bolstering, brushed-aluminum-look trim and handsome Optitron gauges.

Visual distinctiveness notwithstanding, a hard-charging character is what sets this Corolla apart from its lesser lineup mates. At the heart of the new XRS is Toyota's high-output 2ZZ 1.8-liter four and a close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission, the same powertrain combo also found in the Celica GT-S and Matrix XRS. Endowed with both variable valve timing and lift, the spirited all-aluminum 16V twin-cammer never lacks for enthusiasm. New-for-2005 tweaks see its modest 127 lb.-ft. of torque peak at a more usable 4,400 rpm compared to the previous 6,800 count. But its 170 horsepower still crests at a lofty 7,600 rpm. In the real world, it means this free-revving little jewel only delivers serious thrust from about 7K on up to its 8,200-rpm redline.


A decidedly aggressive right foot and some facility at negotiating its slightly notchy shift linkage should reward XRS drivers with 0-60 mph times in the high 7-second range. But even holding gears until the tach needle sweeps to the red zone can't prevent the same frustrating affliction that also plagues the top-gun Celica and Matrix models. No matter how quickly you shift, the rev count ends up dipping to about 6,000, and the exhilaration gets put on hold for a count or two until the engine climbs back up onto the cam. That minor gripe aside, this drivetrain pairing deserves major kudos for its high levels of smoothness and refinement when operating in the low- and mid-ranges. It's frugal as well, meriting impressive 26/34 city/highway mpg figures from the EPA. Countering its extra accelerative potential, the XRS comes standard with a healthy set of 4-wheel vented disc brakes fortified with ABS. The package also incorporates a tire-pressure monitoring system.