Toyota Corolla XRS Review

P.J. McCombs
by P.J. McCombs

To capture maximum market share, does a car company have to forget how to have fun? Toyota seems to think so. The Japanese manufacturer has spent the last ten years purging its product line of irrational exuberance. It scrubbed the Supra in 1998, canned the V6-and-a-stick Camry CE in 2002, and wasted the Celica and MR2 in 2005. In that same year, another anomaly slipped through the cracks, a car that’s still with us today (at least for a while): the Toyota Corolla XRS.

The Corolla XRS is an econosport sedan in the Nissan’s Sentra SE-R mold. The XRS packs a 164-horsepower 1.8-liter four cylinder engine inherited from the Celica GT-S. Yup, them’s the numbers for the lone rebel carrying the torch for Toyota’s bygone high-output buzz boxes. Unfortunately, due to a low-profile debut and minimal marketing support, not even die hard pistonheads know that the frisky little XRS exists. The model dies as an ‘06. So, um, how should the XRS be remembered?

Well, if we’re talking about looks, it won’t be. Toyota put little effort into visually distinguishing the XRS from its visually undistinguished workaday brethren. The Toyota brand’s [remaining] go-faster guys fit the XRS with goofy side-sill extensions, some blacked-out trim and 16-inch alloys (that look very alone and scared in their wheel wells) with V-rated tires. Combined with the base Corolla’s awkward, pudgy proportions, the effect is about as aggressive as Danny DeVito in a Samurai mask.

Stepping into the XRS’ cabin provides solace from its gawky appearance, but not its mass-market roots. The Corolla’s driving position is optimized for shorter folks, with tall, upright seating, an oddly canted helm and pedals that nudge close to the driver. It’s a happy perch from which to schlep groceries, with all the ergonomic ease that made the Corolla so famous. Well, successful. But– surprise, surprise– the XRS’ cabin is a distinctly dull place from which to hoon.

Of course, Toyota’s trademark sobriety pays off elsewhere. The driver faces a subtle and uncluttered dash, with tighter panel fits and silkier switchgear than the XRS’ $17,880 sticker price suggests. Keen eyes will notice the XRS-specific sport seats, blue-flecked cloth trim and crisp electroluminescent gauges. But the clearest evidence of the XRS’ sporting intent sprouts from the center console: a mandatory six-speed manual shifter.

This glistening plastichrome beacon— and its quick, flinty shift action— offer an invitation to get the XRS boiling, to run its particularly peaky four from the 6200 rpm cam change to the 8200 rpm rev limited redline. Too bad the XRS’ conservative throttle mapping saps much of the mini-mill’s willingness to visit the penthouse. Working up to the lofty redline requires Zen-like patience to achieve the familiar “snap;” as the high lift cams do their fling thing. Celica GT-S pilots will be left scratching their heads: “Mr. Hyde? Is anyone home?”

Switching into cockroach stomping mode doesn’t help matters much. Zero to sixty takes 7.6 seconds. Around town, the XRS’ thin low-end torque, harsh metallic engine note and finicky clutch engagement grate.

Of course, sport-compacts are typically better at switchback dissection than straight-line stomping. In this, the XRS is no exception. In addition to the aforementioned “plus one” wheels and tires, the XRS benefits from a stiffened and lowered suspension, a reinforced steering column and a Yahama strut-tower brace (that features prominently in the car’s marketing materials, should you be able to find them). The result turns in eagerly, grips reliably and keeps its body motions politely snubbed.

If these observations sound a bit sterile, that’s because the XRS doesn’t bond with its driver in the typical sport-compact fashion. Its steering is a bit heftier than a typical Corolla’s, but it retains the base model’s velvety, insulated feel, veiling the road from the driver’s palms. The tall, bluff-sided body squirms when asked to hold a straight-ahead path, while the high-chair seating exaggerates body lean in the turns. In short, the XRS’ dynamics fall in that bad place between insipid and inspired.

So, if the XRS not as passionate as a Mazda 3 or Honda Civic Si, nor as effortlessly competent as a plebian Corolla, what is/was the point? Tough call, especially since this Toyota comes with some uncharacteristic annoyances: an infuriating beeper when you select reverse gear and a fixed rear seatback. I guess Toyota clocked the “failure” of the minimalist, hard-core Celica and MR2 Spyder and took aim at sport-compact buyers seeking comfort and refinement over haste. Both of them.

Toyota guessed wrong, and the XRS tanked. Now that the XRS has been axed, the big question is this: will they try again? Honda’s been doing extremely well with their hot Si’s, and Toyota’s making enough money to kick out the jams– even if they make another mistake. So yes, they will. Who knows? They might even enjoy doing it.

P.J. McCombs
P.J. McCombs

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  • Anonymous Anonymous on Mar 04, 2007

    Being a big fan of the corolla since i've owned a 1990 geo prizm gsi(toyota corolla)with over 200000 miles a 2001 chevy prizm (corolla b/f vibe) and now a 2005 corolla le i wish they did have a 2 door car in america like the corolla compressor that is being sold in canada. a 1.8l supercharged corolla! with 2 doors! basically a celica gts supercharged. would have bought one to show my friends mkIV gti that toyota does have a competitor. i also owned a scion xa rs 1.0 2 years ago and wrecked it. glad i did. its 1.5 engine is no where near the quality and potential of the 1.8. it started tapping 2 months after buying it. i think something is in the wing, being the new corollas delayed arrival to the us and i've been hearing about a new supra. honestly id rather see the smaller sports cars but hey the supra is what started it all back in 1979 so maybe it can bring some life back. to anyone out there looking to buy a scion the tc is the only one with a decent engine (can't go wrong with the camry engines) has anyone here ever put a car in reverse at 60 mph?? i was driving down the highway and my ex did that to my 1990 prizm. guess what it survived!!

  • Crystallynn12 Crystallynn12 on Dec 11, 2007

    I was originally looking for a Corolla S, which most of us know, everyone owns. One day I saw an XRS drive by me. I had to find out what it was, so I looked it up online.I have been looking for an XRS for about a year and a half. I finally found one! I love my car! She's fast(usually speeding in 2nd) and handles like a dream! The best thing about the car , no one knows what it is. You get weird looks when you drop gears and take off! There will be a new model coming out in 2009! This one says XRS in the grill. I'll be buying that one right off the lot!

  • FreedMike Off topic, but folks, this site is not working well for me from a technical standpoint, and it doesn't matter if I'm using my phone, or my computer (on two different browsers). It locks up and makes it impossible to type anything in after a certain point. Anyone else having these issues?
  • Syke Kinda liked the '57, hated the '58. Then again, I hated the entire '58 GM line except for the Chevrolet. Which I liked better than the '57's. Still remember dad's '58 Impala hardtop, in the silver blue that was used as the main advertising color.
  • Dartdude The bottom line is that in the new America coming the elites don't want you and me to own cars. They are going to make building cars so expensive that the will only be for the very rich and connected. You will eat bugs and ride the bus and live in a 500sq-ft. apartment and like it. HUD wants to quit giving federal for any development for single family homes and don't be surprised that FHA aren't going to give loans for single family homes in the very near future.
  • Ravenuer The rear view of the Eldo coupe makes it look fat!
  • FreedMike This is before Cadillac styling went full scale nutty...and not particularly attractive, in my opinion.
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