2005 Toyota Corolla Review

Specifications

Since When Did the Words Corolla and Sport Ever Mix?

I finally had a Friday night to myself, an unusual circumstance. Im either working or working, so it was a nice change. I decided that I would go out dancing with a couple of friends and a new dating prospect, and that I would pick them up on the way. Now, its not everyday that Id drive 45 minutes out of my way, and in the complete opposite direction to pick anyone up, but then again its not everyday that I have a car as economical and fun to drive as the new Corolla XRS.

It turned out that I just wasnt in the dancing mood and after a half hour or so was out in the parking lot sitting in the car, talking on the phone to my friend Colette in New York. Thank goodness for the extremely comfortable XRS seats, they were fantastic for the two hour wait. They just might be the comfiest seats I have yet to encounter.

It didnt take long after I disappeared for my prospect to locate me and join in on the sitting action. I was surprised he knew where to find me, but perhaps all my talk about cars and more cars lead him to my car. I was impressed nevertheless.

The evening turned out to be better than I thought it would be. The clouds cleared out and it wasnt too cold, and not being cold I decided to open the power moonroof, which comes standard by the way, for some crisp fall air and to take in the stars. I know, its so tacky but its relevant. We sat in the Corollas seats and talked for the duration of the evening. I couldnt have thought of a better way to spend my Friday night off than in a comfortable car, with a nice guy, talking and looking at stars. Ok, maybe I could have, but it would have included the BAR Honda Formula 1 car and perhaps Jenson Button. Sorry Toyota, but Panis is so old hes retiring, da Matta history and way too short, and newcomer Jarno Trulli has really silly hair.

Now back to reality. The 2005 Toyota Corolla XRS is a great car, not only because the seats are the best Ive tested in years but it also handles extremely well, offers ample power and looks pretty good for a sedan.

The XRS trim is new for the 2005 model year and both the Corolla and Matrix XRS get a re-tweaked naturally-aspirated 1.8-liter 4-cylinder, featuring 16-valves and DOHC architecture. Its an engine shared with the soon to be discontinued Celica GT-S, and revs to the moon and back with little effort. The 2005 XRS also gets a few new functional standard features over the regular Corolla, as expected. That engine, by the way, produces 170 horsepower at 7,600 rpm and 127 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm, giving the suave sedan a serious boost in output over the 130 horsepower base engine. Lovers of automatic transmissions need not apply, however, as the XRS is also only fitted with one transmission: a 6-speed manual to optimally harness all 170 horses.

Some of that additional engine power comes thanks to Variable Valve Timing with Lift (VVTL-i), which effectively fattens the torque curve while optimizing fuel economy. Its a sporty engine thats quick to respond, but could have used more torque. Still, delivering a 0 to 60 mph time of less than 8 seconds is quite impressive.

The Corolla XRS handles responsively, however, whether driving along a straight stretch of highway or weaving through windy roads. Much is owed to the cars sport-tuned suspension that includes a front damper mounted between the shock towers to produce improved ride and control without increasing noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels. The XRS suspension also features increased rate coil springs and shocks on all four wheels to reduce roll and pitch. Adding to the road-hugging performance, ride height has been lowered by 0.6 inches, and larger 16-inch aluminum wheels are coupled with 195/55R16 Michelin performance summer tires. Its a great setup all round.

Stopping power comes via a set of 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS and EBD. Whether braking in the rain or shine, the braking system is responsive and stops the car efficiently.

Throughout my test week I was constantly impressed with different aspects of the XRS. It was so practical, easy to drive, and did I mention practical? A couple of my moms friends flew in from Hungary and I was delegated to pick them up from the airport. Since they would be spending quite some time in this part of the world they brought a few suitcases… each. But I wasnt worried because the Corolla incorporates 13.6 cubic feet of trunk space which left ample room for the large suitcases plus a few extras. And even when the car was filled with 5 adults, we all sat comfortably. Even my 6 foot 3 inch “friend” had ample head and legroom whether riding shotgun or in the back.

Visibility, with five people on board or not, is quite good. The front and rear windows are large and low leaving an open visual range. Blind spots are minimal and possible to see around if needed. Visibility out the rear window is somewhat obstructed by the trunk, because its angled a little upwards and sports a humble rear spoiler. Nevertheless I wasnt very troublesome when parallel parking or backing up.

Along with the rear spoiler, the Corolla has side skirts and a body-color front grille to add to its sportiness. As I mentioned before, its a good looking economy sedan. Now, to add to its good looks comes a list of standard features such as a tire pressure monitoring system, power door locks with keyless entry, power windows, cruise control, Optitron gauges, leather-wrapped steering wheel, silver accent knobs, front uniquely upholstered sport seats, AM/FM/CD player with 6-speakers, fog lamps and more.

While the interior yields to multiple standard features, I didnt think it offered as much punch as the Matrix cabin. Yes its cleanly finished and has a user-friendly setup, but the instrument cluster could have used, perhaps, some more silver trim. While the cars exterior sheetmetal breathes the sporty theme, I would have liked to have seen a little more sport on the inside.

Fuel economy was as expected, favourable. Estimated fuel consumption for the Corolla is about 25 mpg in the city and 32 on the highway. I am always impressed by Toyotas fuel consumption, but Im even more impressed with the upgraded safety features on all 2005 Corolla models. Every 2005 Corolla also receives important additions to the standard equipment list that include advanced new dual-stage driver and front passenger airbags, an engine immobilizer for added security, UV glass protection, electronic throttle control and a new rear centre headrest.

Whether its safety, reliability, or exceptional fuel economy you want, or in the case of the Corolla XRS, performance, the Corolla has it all. And with the new XRS package, Toyota has once again raised the bar for economy sporty sedans.