2005 Toyota Corolla XRS

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.

A week of mixed-mode driving proved this combination works quite well, up to a limit. On city streets and freeway commutes, the XRS gets high marks for its ability to slice through traffic with a remarkable alacrity while still maintaining a surprisingly supple ride. More important, with prudently exercised enthusiasm, the XRS feels equally at home answering the call of the serpentine two-lane. Caveats? Even comprehensively revamped underpinnings can't fully overcome a family-car/front-drive heritage when you press this endearing little point-and-shooter to the edge of its handling envelope. Enter a tight corner too quickly, and the XRS inevitably transitions from clean tracking to predictable push. And with no traction control, grabbing a low gear and nailing the throttle on exit also tends to break the inside front tire free.


While the XRS may not be the ultimate choice for back-road banzai chargers, those seeking a well-crafted compact sedan that packs equally full measures of daily civility and grin-generating agility into a truly affordable package should find plenty to like about this slick new Corolla. The harder core may contend that the XRS still has a way to go to merit full sport sedan status. But even the most critical would be hard-pressed to deny it at least a "fully sporting" appellation. And, if by some chance, the troops at TRD happen to have a few more XRS tweaks waiting in the wings, well, so much the better. (www.toyota.com)