2005 Toyota Corolla XRS New Car Review
by
Jeff
Voth
I'm
impressed, no I mean really impressed! The 2005 Corolla XRS
is a superbly crafted, small sized sedan that is more than competent
at seating four-five people in complete comfort.
I
should say that while I am impressed, I'm not surprised at the
quality of the new Corolla. After all, it is a Toyota, and it
is built in the award winning Cambridge, Ontario plant, (TMMC)
the same renowned factory that produces the stylish and versatile
Lexus RX330.
What
does surprise me however is the notion that a Corolla could
ever legitimately be considered a sports sedan.
A
new model in the Toyota's lineup for 2005, the XRS makes the
bold declaration that sportiness can include practicality, safety
and reliability. A regular Corolla at heart, the XRS receives
several unique features. With these additions, it provides a
compelling argument that you can have your cake and eat it too.
Included
in this list is a 1.8 litre, 4-cylinder DOHC engine that produces
170 hp at 7400 rpm and 127 lb-ft. of torque at 4400 rpm. A punchy
engine, it revs freely and does so with only a modest amount
of noise.
One
transmission is offered in the Corolla XRS, a 6-speed manual
stirs the gears. A slick operator, my only concern is due to
the fact that first gear is so close to third, that many times
I found myself leaving an intersection in the wrong gear. Of
course, being a well designed car, the Corolla was more than
capable of starting off in a higher gear, but it left me fumbling
for first on several occasions.
Both
engine and transmission are shared with the Toyota Matrix XRS
and the soon to be discontinued Celica GT-S. In the case of
the Corolla XRS, it turns what is generally considered to be
one of the docile sedans in the market, into a high performance,
domesticated beast.
The
new Corolla XRS makes full use of its sport-tuned suspension.
This includes front dampers mounted between the shock towers
for improved handling and ride. Increased rate coil springs
and shocks are featured at all four wheels; while ride height
is decreased by 15 mm. A front wheel drive car, steering is
power assist, rack and pinion.
Featured
wheels are 16" aluminum alloy equipped with 195/55R Michelin
performance summer tires. Tire pressure sensors monitor inflation
rate, with 4-sensor ABS and EBD, (Electronic Brake Force Distribution)
offered as standard equipment.
Sporty
exterior touches include side skirts, a rear spoiler with LED
taillight and a colored front grille.
High
strength steel surrounds the passenger compartment in safety
and silence. Side impact beams, floor crossmembers and front
crush zones utilize varying thickness steel to help disperse
impact energy.
Inside,
three-point seatbelts are located at all five sitting positions,
and rear headrests are now standard for all rear seats passengers.
Advanced dual-stage airbags further increase the security of
what is arguably one of the safest small cars on the road today.
The
list of interior standard features on the new Corolla XRS is
impressive to say the least. Sport style seats offer excellent
lateral support, while proper seat cushion length ensures your
legs won't get tired after a few hours on the road.
Back
rest support and angle adjustment are first class, as is the
quality of materials used both in the front and back seats,
door panels, the roof liner and carpeting.
Keyless
entry power door locks, power windows with one-touch driver-side
down and power mirrors are standard. Also included is a power
moonroof with sunshade, tinted glass and illuminated entry.
The
3-spoke leather wrapped sports steering wheel and leather shifter
adds a dash of spiciness to the interior. The Corolla XRS is
equipped with cruise control, air conditioning and an AM/FM
single disc CD changer with six speakers. If there is any room
for improvement on the inside, the stereo system would be it.
Sound quality is first-rate for both CDs and FM stereo music,
but as a regular listener of talk radio, I found AM reception
to be spotty at best.
The
line between sport sedan and family sedan has been blurred several
times before. The difference here is that Toyota has taken one
of the most practical and reliable cars sold in North America
and turned it into a true performer. In many ways, the Corolla
XRS is just too good to pass up. But then, Toyota has been on
quite a winning streak for the past two decades, so why should
we expect anything less.
JUST
THE FACTS
2005
TOYOTA XRS |
Description: |
Small-size sedan |
Model
options: |
XRS |
Wheelbase: |
102.4 inches |
Overall
length: |
178.3 inches |
Engine
size: |
1.8 L 4-cyliner |
Transmission: |
6-speed manual |
Drive: |
Front-wheel |
Braking: |
4-wheel disc, ABS/EBD |
Air
bags: |
2 (front) |
Fuel
mileage city/hwy: |
city/hwy:
31/44 |
Base
MSRP: |
$17,995 |
For
More Information Click: Toyota
Corolla XRS
For the Toyota 2005 Model Guide : Click
Here
|