2005 Toyota Corolla Review

Specifications

Why Give Up Reliability to Have Fun

Everyone knows that the Toyota Corolla is a performance car, right? OK, not funny. While the Corolla is legendary for quality and reliability, only a two-door version of distant memory could have been called sport-oriented.

Ironically the 1984 through 1987 rear-drive Corolla GT-S, featuring what was then an impressively potent 112 horsepower twin-cam 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine, would be left in the dust by even todays base 2004 Corolla. The GT-S was updated in 1988 to front-drive and carried on until 91 when it became extinct. Now the earlier rear-drive model is popular for drifting, the newest form of motorsport.

I worked for Toyota back in 1987 and had a Corolla GT-S for a company car, but as fun as it was it would be no match if put up against the new Corolla XRS. Yeah, this is the car that will redefine the Corolla nameplate in import-tuner circles as a serious threat to hopped up Hondas, Nissans and Mitsubishis, etal.

What makes it so good? Just about everything that could get in the way of going fast in complete control has been either modified or completely tossed out to make way for an upgraded, high-performance part. The XRS boasts a recalibrated performance suspension, 16-inch alloy wheels, and 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS.

What about engine upgrades? Thought youd never ask. The Corolla XRS features nothing less than a version of the sensational Celica GT-S 4-cylinder, a dual-overhead cam, 16-valve 1.8-liter screamer capable of 170 horsepower and 127 lb-ft of torque. As exciting, the engine upgrade includes the brands stellar 6-speed manual transmission driving the front wheels, a slick shifter miles beyond many competitive manuals in the compact class. No automatic is available with the XRS package.

I had the chance to test the new XRS during a Toyota event recently. We spent the morning driving through picturesque neighborhoods, filled with turn of the century architecture along with the requisite historic sites.

While the sightseeing was nice it was necessary to keep my focus on the road ahead, as the XRS ramps up speed so quickly that a relaxing jaunt down the highway can quickly turn into a breathtaking exercise in car control. To that end the top-line Corolla displayed superb manners, delivering superb cornering capabilities while still respecting my need for a compliant, comfortable ride.

To really test its mettle Toyota set up a tight, circuitous autocross course in a massive parking lot next to a shuttered fairground. What a blast. There were several other cars on hand to compare the XRS cornering prowess, including a variety of normally powered Corollas, a few versions of the Corolla-based Matrix crossover wagon, and even a fun little Echo. The Corolla XRS was by far the most nimble, while also delivering the quickest acceleration and best braking performance.

How did Toyota get it to react to steering input so well? First it started with a MacPherson strut suspension system anti-roll bar up front, and a twist-beam setup featuring an anti-roll bar in the rear. Then to improve ride comfort while staying true to the cars performance purpose linear control valves were added to all four shock absorbers. Also, toe-control bushings stabilize handling by combining lateral cornering forces with longitudinal braking forces to reduce toe-out under cornering and increase overall stability.

Toyota also added what at first glance appears to be a strut tower brace, but in reality its more of a front connecting rod damper as it isnt a rigid cross-member. Developed by motorcycle (and almost everything else) manufacturer Yamaha, the damper is mounted between the front shock towers just where the brace would go, enhancing ride and handling while reducing noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels. The XRS ride height has been lowered by about an inch while each corner features increased rate coil springs and shocks to improve roll and pitch.

I really liked the new models stiffer steering column, as it gave the XRS a more connected feel to the road beneath. It responded to input quickly, but was still easy to maneuver at low speeds. Finishing off the handling package are slightly larger diameter alloy rims, from 15-inches to 16, wrapped in lower profile 195/55R16 Michelin performance rubber.

With regards to acceleration, its important to get the revs up to make a quick launch as torque is a bit on the low side. Fortunately power is high, and it revs to the moon and back due to Toyotas intelligent Variable Valve Timing with Lift (VVTL-i), emitting a mechanical symphony that few modern engines can emulate in the process.

Just how good is the Toyotas high-output 1.8-liter engine? Good enough to be the engine of choice for one of the worlds ultimate street cars, the Lotus Elise. Lotus chose the engine because of its out-of-the-box performance, superb reliability, global emissions rating, and flexibility to tuning. So if its good enough for Lotus, itll serve Corolla buyers very well indeed.

Bringing the XRS down from unmentionable speeds are the 4-wheel disc brakes I mentioned previously, mastered by a 4-sensor ABS system and Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) as standard equipment. They are pretty well fade resistant, a fact I learned from excessive braking during the 20 or so laps I took around the autocross course in the afternoon. We were still running it when the “marshals” were taking down the cones, forcing us to make up our own track on the half of the parking lot that was still set up. Too much fun!

Yeah, thats how Id sum up Toyotas new Corolla XRS. Its over-the-top good times in a sensible sedan. It would be fairly easy to convince your significant other that you want to buy a “Corolla” (dont add the letters XRS during pragmatic reasoning conversations) for its practical 5-seat capacity, full load of standard safety features or 38 year history of reliable service. But really, behind the sincere smile would be an all-knowing guilty grin.

But rather than coaxing your partner, maybe you just need to talk yourself into it. If thats the case you can woo the hedonistic half of your personality with the cars standard air conditioning with clean-air filtration, power windows, power door locks with keyless entry, power glass sunroof with sunshade, cruise control, illuminated entry, leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, Optitron gauges, silver interior accents, exclusive very comfortable and supportive sport seats, and a tire pressure monitoring system.

The standard front lip air dam, side skirts, rear spoiler with integrated LED center brake light, rear fascia extension, and body-color front grille spice up the Corollas conservative look to a… well, to a less conservative look. Its kind of a stealth fighter, not for any angular geometric exterior panels or anything, just that it doesnt attract the attention from RCMP Officer Gagnon that say, a Celica GT-S would.

So when it comes right down to it the Corolla XRS might just be one of the most engaging “sleepers” around. It looks like a Corolla S, but incorporates all the performance upgrades of a top-line Celica. But, of course, the XRS is a lot more than the sum of its performance parts. Theyre integrated into one cohesive whole, making it a top performer in its class and most importantly, derived from one of the most reliable cars on the planet.

Whats it cost? Actually, at $17,455 its quite a bit less expensive than some other competitors in its sport compact class. For instance a Saturn ION Quad Coupe Red Line, while offering quite a bit more power, starts at $20,385, while a fully-loaded Mazda3 4-Door, featuring similar goodies with the addition of leather seats, albeit less power, goes for $22,595. Dodges SRT-4, with class-leading performance starts at $20,450. All are targeting a similar customer-type, but each goes about luring in this customer with very individualistic driving experiences. Youve really got to try them all and make up your mind which one is for you.

One thing is for sure, however, if you finally opt for the Toyota youll end up experiencing better than average reliability and an extremely high resale value. That fact alone might make the Corolla XRS your best bet in the field; that is if its the car that gets your adrenaline going in the first place.

As a Toyota spokesman at the event said, the XRS incorporates “all of the qualities of Corolla, with a little more attitude.” I have to agree, and add that I think it delivers a LOT more attitude than the standard Corolla. Good on you Toyota, for finally turning the trusty Corolla into a performance car.