Quick test: 2009 Toyota Corolla XRS

My sentiments exactly. There just isn’t enough car there for all that dough. I was just at a Toyota dealer with a friend looking at an XRS. It listed at $23,750.; only $1000. less than my Altima 2.5SL cost me. The XRS had less power, poorer mileage, less space, less trunk room, fewer creature comforts, no leather (although it is available), and poorer materials. Not a good deal in this price class. The only trade-off could have been that the XRS was an enthusiast car. As the review stated, it isn’t enough of that either. So I think Toyota undershot every target except price.

it seriously feels like none of you people have even drived an XRS, i bought mine in germany, and enjoyed every minute driving that car, now i have it in the states and it keeps up with the best of them, whips through turns like its on a rail, the sound system is amazing, the seats seem like they were molded perfectly for my body type(5′10″ 180lbs 15% body fat), i may get a few cracks every now and then about it being a chick car, but there opinion changes when they get behind the wheel, or take a nice ride in the passenger’s seat. This car also handles great in the snow; with the stock tires.

Anybody remember the first generation Toyota MR-2? It was funky looking, not particularly potent and a bitch to service. But it had “It”. That combination of just enough fun, just enough power, a rev happy engine, good mileage and go-cart handling. It was a cheap mid-engine SPORTS car. Toyota Got It back then. Get in the Mistertwo via contortions, start it up, snick snick thru the gears, redline-redline-redline, hit a few corners and you come back with a big grin on your face and you used up very little gas. Somebody needs to find a couple first generation MR-2’s, hand them to the Toyota engineers, point them at the mountains and tell them not to come back until they GET IT.

Preach it Kevin!!

Mike did someone refer to the XRS as an enthusiast car? For the same $$$ you can get a Civic S, a Mini Cooper S or a GTI…those are enthusiast cars down to the bones, not this dressed-up wannabe.

No hawaiian don, I believe the term was “performance oriented”. My point was that there wasn’t enough performance to overcome the lack of other features at this price point. I agree with you. There are definitely better choices available from a number of sources for a true enthusiast experience at similar $$. But my other point was that the XRS can’t compete at the other end of the performance spectrum either because of a price that puts it into the same territory as an Altima 2.5S, some Camrys, Accords, Sonatas and Malibus. Tough sell. Lower-end Corollas make more sense in the category that they occupy and at the price they command.

Oh, and welcome back hawaiian don. Missed your input on the forum these past weeks.

Ooops, I should have said that Aarons description was “performance oriented”. I just got up from bed and all….

Thanks Mike, I’ve been job hunting in California and finally found a great one! Keeps me closer to the to Calif. shores and Oahu’s North Shore! As for the Corolla, whatever version, it really leaves me flat. C’mon Toyota Design Dept.! Stop playing it safe…let’s see some cutting edge designs. Don’t let Honda and Hyundai pass you by while the “bean counters” call the shots. Remember what happened to GM just a few years ago…

I own a new 2009 Corolla S and I would not trade it for any of the BMW’s or Honda’s I have owned. Since I am a automotive engineer who has worked with Ford, GM, Opel,BMW, Hyundai and many more auto company’s, not Toyota only own one. I would say you guys are full of it and really don’t have any idea what you are talking about, talk fact not crap! Honda is a decent company whose quality is only equal to or less overall than Toyota. Toyota is as of 2006 most complete data 2.4 times more sales than Honda world wide. That is slightly larger than GM, the great American crap maker. I guess it is ok if you are hamburger flippers in California to think you know something about automobiles but when you own the car and have built cars for a living maybe then you can talk! As for Hyundai , pure crap never owed one and never would but I have done work with them and they really suck!

I’ve been reading a lot of reviews online about the XRS, and I must say people focus on comparing the power of cars but always leave out the most important thing. QUALITY!!! No other company can offer the quality that Toyota does. It is top ranked globally, and though some 20 something year olds who drive tuners dont think the XRS has enough juice for its price, well they might as well stick with their trendy civics & jettas. The XRS performs better than most of the online “critics” can handle. Also, stop posting reviews or comments about a car you haven’t driven. 158 may not sound all too impressive, but trust me, it has some balls. Just dont expect to compete with a $50,000 car. The XRS is not a racing car, it is a high performance Corolla.

OK… I have one of the new 09 XRS 5spd standards… for those that think they are not sporty enough I invite you to go for a rip through one of the many winding country roads here, the thing handles like its on rails!!! For those that say it is underpowered.. um, yah… it will get going VERY quickly, and with all that torque you can pull in just about any gear from very slow speeds, I have yet to be left wanting for more power, stop looking at the specs and actually take one for a drive, it feels like a lot more the 158 hp! As far as the looks go, well the crowds that gather around almost everytime I park it can’t be wrong, this thing turns heads! And when it comes to the interior, seats are comfy, everything looks nice (except for the clock position and power mirror controls, WTF! Toyota!!). I do agree it could use a 6th gear, revs at 2800rpm @ 100 km/h. My new hobby… embarrassing civic owners (and yes I have owned several civic’s)

I’m a 2006 Corolla XRS owner – allow me to let you in on a secret about my 2ZZ engine – I have smoked cars almost double my price range – from 08 si’s to golf and jetta 1.8t’s to vr6s and now 2.0t’s – acura 3.2tl type s’s – lancer ralliarts – wrx’s while rolling – hyundai tiburons – lexus gs 400’s rolling – some of these cars ive smoked ridiculously – bear in mind that i owned a 92 accord with a H22 – this 2zz engine in my 06 corolla IS a sports engine – i was disappointed to hear that toyota dropped the 2zz but b4 the 09 XRS came out ppl didnt even want to buy a corolla – hats off to all corolla owner’s!!

I am looking to buy a 09 Corolla XRS. I took it for a test drive yesterday and it has lots of power, some big balls and handles like a go cart. Awesome. Obviously dealerships over price cars, like any. I got the XRS with options, leather, the 84/200,000 comprehensive warrenty and other extra’s like hood deflector and so on. Guess how much. 25,000 Canadian. No bad at all. No other car can get in that price range for the peroforance, quality, reliability you get. Sales manager was willing to negoiate. You just have to know how to talk. Very impressed and I will pick it up in the next few weeks. I have BMW owners and others looking at the car… U turns are as tighter than you have ever had also….

Im happy….

The new 2009 Toyota Corolla XRS was specifically targetted against the 2008 Honda Civic Si. Interior-wise they are closely matched, power-wise both motors have very similar specs with the exception of the XRS’s 2.4L DOHC producing decent horsepower at lower RPM’s than the Civic SI.

The Corolla XRS produces 158 HP at 6,000 RPM while the Civic Si tops out at 197 HP. Although more powerful the Civic Si is required to push it’s 2.0L DOHC i-VTEC to 7800 RPM or just under it’s 8500 RPM red line where a rev-limiter kicks in and spoils the high revving fun for it. I drove the Civic Si and pushed it thru all six gears. At 7800 RPM that engine is screaming way past the high shift points. So high is the RPM, if you miss shift and redline the Civic Si, the rev-limiter kicks in and you lose a lot of time getting back into it’s performance envelope. To shift without bogging down the engine you need to keep the revs up and shift hot. The 2.0L iVTEC motor doesn’t like low RPM shifting so driving around town is not what the Civic Si is all about.

Torque is also significantly different between the two with the Corolla XRS producing 162 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 RPM while the Civic Si requires 6,100 RPM and producing only 139 lb-ft of torque.

With specs like that you can get decent performance and better gas mileage than the Civic Si.

One of the key advantages of the Corrola XRS is that is uses regular unleaded while the Civic Si specifies premium unleaded and still produce better horsepower and torque over the Civic Si. With today’s high cost of gasoline that can mean a 40-cent per gallon advantage for the Corolla XRS over the Civic Si in most states. That coupled with the lower RPM requirements give the Corolla XRS a fuel savings advantage over the Civic Si

Another difference is the Corolla’s torsion bar rear vs a multi-link suspension on the Civic Si and the use of cross strut braces on the Corolla making it a rigid frame.

One feature available on the 2009 Corolla XRS that is simply not available on the 2008 Civic Si is an automatic transmission. Civic Si is purely stick.

Although the Civic Si has great body lines, the revamped 2009 Corolla has been redesigned for a sleeker look. Take a closer look at the 2009 Corolla’s profile and grill work and you’ll see the difference over the 2008.

I’ve driven both cars and have been able see how each compare on the same track. The Corolla XRS’ torsion-bar rear and front strut tower bracing allow for a stiffer frame and better handling and control thru the turns over the Civic Si. Coming out of the apex the Civic Si needs to get the revs up quickly to hit the straights. Here’s where the Corolla XRS wins high marks as it doesn’t need to rev as high to attain more torque to the wheels for a quicker launch out of each turn.

And if all that doesn’t matter, the Corolla XRS has leather upholstery as an available option…one that isn’t available on the Civic Si.

Performance wise the Corolla XRS beats the Civic Si however if you’re into the looks department, the Honda Civic Si has better eye candy appeal and for some form over function wins out. Compared against any other car in it’s class, both cars rate the highest, but put them side by side and the Corolla XRS definately puts function over form and in the performance market, there is no second place.

All that may be true, but I’ve driven ‘em both on the About.com Cars Top Secret Curvy Test Road, and the Civic Si is *waaaaaay* more fun than the Corolla XRS. No question in my mind which one I’d buy.

I must say the new Corolla XRS looks hot, as an owner of a 2005 XRS I feel that we are exchanging power, performance and fuel efficiency for looks. My XRS has more HP and better fuel efficiency than the new Corolla, plus is quicker. The biggest differences are the toys (nav, steering wheel audio controls, mp3 capability and I pod jack). You are better off buying a Camry. I am disappointed at the 5 spd manual transmission instead of a 6 spd.

I have driven the 2009 corolla XRS and as a guy who has been a car enthusiast since ive been able to breath air i can tell u this car is hot. Its fun as hell to drive,looks awsome, can fit my family of 5 in this car if i want to and is good on gas. I remember seeing the 2005 xrs coming off sales line (yes i work for toyota in cambridge and woodstock so i know wtf im talking about) thinking to myself a corolla trying to attract young buyers??? They have done a great job and then some. The guy i sit with across from me in my break room had a drunk driver write off his 2005 XRS and was in tears when he came to work the next day as he loves it that much. I also work with a guy in my breakroom with close to 600km on his older corolla and still works. How many of u can say that for $20,000 car. When it comes to quality and reliability good luck finding a better company then toyota corolla for 20k. Its the #1 selling car of all time for a reason. O btw that civic si sure may have more hp but dam its painfully ugly. It looks like a early 90’s saturn.

I just bought an XRS with the auto (v.high traffic), torque-wise this car pulls like a dropkicked horse up steep hills…well not really but it’s more than adequate and isn’t huffing and puffing while working hard. I agree that a few extra (10-20) ponies would really liven up this car and allow it to keep up with the even higher priced competition (Si and GTI). I’ve heard that a better intake makes a large difference.
Once TRD comes out with a model specific supercharger I will be doing two things:
Buying the supercharger 2) changing the tailight covers for the asthetic pleasure my unsuspecting victims.

Evan (comment # 13), I’m looking to buy a XRS
That sounds like a great deal. Is the Dealership in Toronto, if so could I get the Salesman you got that deal from.

FORCED INDUCTION! I love my 09 XRS!

If that 2.4L in the corolla xrs feels anything like my basic 09 camry…that lil engine has some spunk for such a heavy body. My camry will throw you back in your seat if you punch it at the right speed/rpm.

the other nice thing about this car is its steering. sure, many think it is numb or lacking feel but i think it is refinement. perfectly weighted at all speeds. i prefer easy, effortless steering. with 215/45/17 tires, it is amazing how well behaved the front end is. no tramlining, very minimal torque and bump steer. if someone writes that they can’t feel what the front end is doing, they really don’t have a feel for a car’s limits. put a very good, sensitive driver behind the wheel and they will have no problem probing this car’s limits safely, smoothly and drama free. and that really is what this car is about. it just goes about it’s business without fuss. some fault this car for this reason. silly. it took engineering and testing for the car to handle this way. i applaud toyota’s efforts. this car holds it’s line thru smooth and bumpy corners with ease and confidence. it does lack an independent rear susp but the torsion beam does an very good job indeed. it does however provide a little excitement when driven aggressively or trail braking as it helps keep the roll stiffness high in the rear to help minimize understeer. it does not need a 6spd. the longish gears are perfect for the higher torque engine. less shifting, less effort. the engine pulls cleanly and smoothly from pretty much 1000rpm and sings a smooth (that word again) tune all the way to redline. at highway cruise, the engine/exhaust lets out just enough to remind and give the gear head something to enjoy when out of fm reception range, cd’s overplayed and just want to enjoy the ride. blissful is a way to describe this car. some think bland and boring. i think, very little to annoy at this price range. my biggest complaints? exposed front seat floor rails, and typical toyota leather stitching that is worst at any price (shame on you toyota north america – i bet european and japanese dont have such poor leather stitching!). a 3-4+ hour drive, well above average speeds, with as minimal fuss and effort for the least amount of $ possible? this corolla xrs just might win that kind of contest. imo, if you need more “excitement”, learn how to drive very smoothly so speeds can be higher. this type of driving can be more satisfying, enjoyable, and certainly takes more skill and finesse.

My problem is that the 05-06 XRS was a beefy car for the money. It had 170 HP and a six speed transmission. I’d never give up my ‘05 XRS for one of the new ones. It is way less of a car and virtually no different than the base model Corolla. So it got a less wimpy engine and a couple differently painted pieces. So what? Compare this to the difference between the ‘06 S trim and the ‘06 XRS trim and you’ll wonder why Toyota even wasted the time pretending that this was worthy of an XRS badge. It is sad to see them bring the XRS back in such a way. They would have been better off to leave it alone than to dilute the brand. The nice thing is that fanboys with their brand new XRS have no idea that my five years older XRS could kick their ass in reverse on the track. That is when they get depressed for having bought an expensive car that is all show and no go. For God’s sake, they could have at least put the six speed in it to set it apart, but noooooo.

I have an ‘06 XRS. By far the best car I’ve ever owned (this is #23!) also the longest I’ve ever kept a vehicle! I installed an Injen CAI, an aftermarket grille and bumper grille, put limmo tint on the back 5 windows.
I also took an ‘09 for a test drive when they first came out, liked the body, interior was alright, but compared to my baby, that engine sucked! Also, in my mind, a true XRS only comes with one transmission! Offering an automatic…it’s just not right!!! Maybe it is just what you’re used to driving but… Anyhow, unfortunately, I have to sell my baby, it is going to be a very sad day when I have to watch it drive away, I love that car.

Wow, a lot of sh*t talking about the new XRS. I also see the 05-06 XRS owners praising the older generation XRS like it blows away the new XRS out of the water. It seems to me we have some haters here. I have 09 XRS that I recently purchased and i have a friend that has the older XRS 05-06. We’re both good drivers must I add. My 09 being stock and his having and exhaust and intake he doesn’t walk me. He get’s me by about a car length. I’m sick of seeing these older XRS fan boys claiming how much faster and better the older XRS is, and I’m sure as hell tired of hearing “lift” and “Yamaha technology” bs. It’s a lot of hype. Truly fan boy talk at it’s best. The 09 XRS has some good potential. You think I care it has a “camry” moter? Is that the best line you can throw at me? You sound like Honda owners back in their time when everything that was V-tEk must have been fast as sh*t…..but now a days honda is frowned upon as king of the rice cars.