2005 Toyota Corolla XRS Test Drive

2005 Toyota Corolla XRS

Eager to cash in on the sports compact fad, Toyota has turned its normally unexciting but reliable compact into a sports sedan... of sorts. The 2005 Toyota Corolla XRS has what makes the everyday Corolla a good buy, but adds performance and handling from the high-revving Celica GT-S. Great, if you like the sound of an engine screaming at over 7500 rpm but fun, even if you don't. Price: US $17,970. Warranty: Total vehicle 3 yrs/36,000 miles, powertrain 5 yrs/60,000 miles.

First Glance

Driving on unfamiliar expressways during Friday afternoon rush hour can be an unnerving experience, as I was reminded when arriving in the Seattle area for a weekend visit to a classic car concours. With traffic nose-to-tail at speed, it was tough enough to keep out of trouble, let alone spot the desired exit in time to get off (I didn't). In such circumstances the 2005 Toyota Corolla SRX was an almost-perfect vehicle: Compact enough to slip in and out of tight spots. Very responsive when engine revs are used to the max and the manual transmission is vigorously rowed through all six forward gears. Flat, predictable handling for quick lane changes. 4-wheel disc brakes with electronic brake-assist for those unexpected moments when the locals, oblivious to a visitor's tentative moves, suddenly cut in front. Up-high seating with excellent sightlines for good visibility. True, I saw more of those expressways than originally planned, but the XRS kept me out of harm's way and earned my affection for the safe, comfortable manner in which it did its job. The only improvement would have been a map-equipped passenger as navigator.

In the Driver's Seat

The first thing I check when I get into a car is whether or not I can actually get in. Comfortably, that is. I'm 6-foot tall and slim but like most folks my age, creak when bent. That won't concern the young men the 2005 Toyota XRS is aimed at, but I thought I'd mention this in case any dad-racers are tempted to sneak the car out of the garage for a midnight run. Relax. You can slide in and out with the greatest of ease, thanks to the Corolla's tall car stance, aided by a grab handle. You'll find the bucket seats supportive and comfortable and you'll appreciate the simplicity of controls and the fact there are few. Some might find the interior rather plain; the only relief being the requisite faux-titanium trim on lower console and armrest areas plus a splash of chrome on the gearknob. I liked the smallish, leather-covered tilt steering wheel but didn't like the hard-to-see location of the fuel flap and trunk release levers. I had to get out the handbook (nothing more embarrassing than not being able to find the filler cap at a gas pump). Even the rear seat was easy to access, offering a surprising amount of room. No folding seatback, though; an odd omission in spite of the spacious trunk.

On the Road

The 2005 Toyota Corolla XRS's greatest asset is also, in my view, its least attractive, for the powertrain has been lifted directly from the Celica GT-S. Which means winding the 4-cylinder 1.8 twin-cam liter engine to at least 6500 rpm in order to access those 170 available horses. Maximum torque of 127 ft.-lbs at 4400 rpm is just 2 ft.-lbs more than that of the 130 horsepower engine in your rental car, for goodness' sake. At lower revs it drives like a normal Corolla but at 6500 rpm there's a nudge in the back that says "okay, here's where the fun begins." Fine, but do that (even in second gear) and you'll soon be running at speeds far from legal. Do it often enough and the wail of a screaming engine can drive you nuts. The throttle is extremely sensitive and the clutch is sudden, making it difficult to pull away smoothly, though upshifts through the close-ratio six-speed box are precise and only downshifts left me occasionally swimming in neutral. Small point, but I didn't care for the up-and-to-the-left location of reverse, nor the "beep-beep" effects that accompanied it. Better those beeps should be outside where pedestrians can take heed.

Journey's End

To be honest, I'll admit that most of my XRS test driving was of the Mom-and-Pop type. In fact, there were very few instances where I could take full advantage of the high-revving engine and 6-speed 'box, except for some tense moments on Seattle's crowded expressways. Overall, I enjoyed the handling, braking, and steering response and found the SRX to be comfortable and economical, but I suspect I'd have liked it equally with the normal Corolla engine and transmission. On the other hand, the weekend track racer with a need for practical transportation between those weekends may well find the 2005 Toyota Corolla SRX to be a worthy compromise.