2005 Toyota Corolla Compact Car Review & Performance

The 2005 Corolla features a newly designed front bumper, grille and headlamps. At the rear are subtly revised tail lamps.

The Corolla looks like a small Camry. Its ovoid headlights are similar and its rakish yet curved shape is in keeping with the newest Camry and Lexus ES 300. Thick A-pillars at the front and thick C-pillars at the rear give the Corolla a solid look while hefty bumpers add to its substantial appearance.

Corolla comes standard with 15-inch steel wheels, but looks like it could do with larger wheels and tires that would fill out the wheel wells more effectively. For 2005, the value-driven CE and the premium LE receive new wheel cover designs. Aluminum 15-inch wheels ($390) are an option for LE models.

At the rear, the Corolla has a high trunk line in keeping with the car's high belt line. The taillights match the shape of the headlights nicely. Part of the taillight module is actually mounted in the trunk lid. This is fine except that the design causes the trunk lid to be narrower than it might be.

The doors have reasonably wide openings, which makes getting in and out easy. That's a benefit of the long wheelbase (102.4 inches), which also means that the rear wheel wells do not protrude into the rear door as much as they do on some cars. Another benefit of a longer wheelbase is shorter overhangs at the front and rear (the distance from the wheels to the ends of the car). Short overhangs improve the car's looks, and the handling.

The 2005 Corolla S receives a new front spoiler and fog lamps, and smoked headlamp masking. The S is further distinguished by its body-colored side rocker panels and rear skirt.

The XRS gets 16-inch wheels that visually fill the wheel wells better. Distinguishing the XRS are a rear color-keyed spoiler, a color-keyed bezel surrounding the grille, and unique badging.

The Corolla's interior doesn't feel like a small car nor does it feel cheap, like many compacts do. Big and tall people will find accommodations cramped, but shorter people often find the Corolla fits them perfectly. There's plenty of front legroom and headroom and there's a decent amount of room in the back for two average-size adults. Although there are seat belts for a third rear-seat passenger, there's definitely a shortage of space for that person.

Materials used in the seats appear classy with nice fit and finish. The driver's seat has a much more substantial feel than in many cars in this price range, which makes it more comfortable for long journeys. Even the doors shut with a pleasant thud thanks to sound deadening felt mounted inside the door panels.

Take a look inside a Corolla LE with optional leather seating and you could easily imagine you're looking inside a luxury car instead of a $17,000 compact. The leather seats have a luxurious soft pleated finish, while the center console and door panels have wood-like veneer trim. Okay it's fake but it's so well made that it looks more realistic than some real wood found in luxury cars. Both the LE and S models get a sporty leather-wrapped steering wheel that adds to the enjoyment of driving.

The XRS gets sport seats, a silver-colored instrument cluster and switch plates, optitron meters, and a leather-like shift boot and leather shift knob.

The dashboard is nicely laid out with exemplary ergonomics and a finish comparable to that of more expensive cars. Its top surface sweeps across the width of the car in a slight S-curve and wraps into the door trim. Each side of the center console seamlessly blends up to the lower portion of the dash. Four small vents are nicely inlaid into the upper part of the dash.

The radio is located high up so it is easy to reach while the three large round knobs for the heating and air conditioning system are located below. The handle for the parking brake is located on the left of the center console so there's room for a small storage cubbyhole on the right. Storage spaces are quite generous with small pockets in each door and the glove box is large. Map lights on Corolla S and LE are mounted on the rearview mirror, not the ideal location.

Three overlapping round gauges in the instrument pod contain a large speedometer, a smaller tachometer to the left and a water temperature gauge and fuel gauge mounted in a matching circle to the right. They incorporate red lettering on a plain white background and are easy to read at night. There's also an outside temperature readout on all models.

The rear seats split 60/40 to allow access from the trunk, though the opening is not that large, limiting pass-through with large cargo. The trunk is one of the biggest in this class. The gooseneck hinges intrude into the cargo space and can crush fragile items if they are in the way. Many auto manufacturers have switched to the scissor-type hinges that are located outside the storage space, though this design often results in a smaller trunk opening.

All in all, the interior has a high level of refinement beyond what one expects in a low cost sub-compact.

The Toyota Corolla is smooth, convenient, and easy to drive. For many owners, this car quickly fades into the background, allowing them to focus on other aspects of their lives. It's hard to find faults with this car.

The standard 130-horsepower four-cylinder engine is quiet, smooth and refined. It delivers brisk acceleration performance with a broad power band for nice, linear acceleration. There is no difference in engine, transmission or suspension between the CE, S, and LE trim levels.

The electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission is nicely matched with the engine. It includes a shift logic system that helps hold a gear longer than it might otherwise if it senses the car is going up an incline or the driver wants plenty of power while passing. For those who enjoy doing their own shifting, the five-speed manual allows for more performance as the engine's power can be better utilized. It shifts easily via a relatively tall shifter. Both the gearbox and clutch are smooth and easy to operate. The manual transmission earns an EPA-estimated 32/40 mpg City/Highway, while the automatic gets 30/38 mpg.

The power steering is just right, providing a nice feel without being too stiff or sloppy. The suspension has been tuned to give a smooth ride, which is helped by a relatively long wheelbase. Body roll (lean) is minimal and the car feels secure and stable at all speeds. The suspension is soft and does a good job of soaking up bumps and road vibration, giving the Corolla a nice, smooth ride that we really liked. The Corolla handles well, though those who enjoy the crisp handling of a sports sedan may want to opt for the XRS, which has a stiffer suspension.

The new XRS is powered by a newly tuned version of the 2ZZ dual overhead cam engine and six-speed manual transmission found in both the Celica GT-S and Matrix XRS. The 1.8-liter four-cylinder produces 170 horsepower at 7600 rpm and 127 pound-feet of torque at 4400 rpm. It's tuned for more mid-range torque and features Toyota's VVTL-i variable valve timing and lift system for a burst of power from 6000 to 7600 rpm. EPA fuel economy is rated 25/32 City/Highway. The XRS features a sport-tuned suspension with higher-rate coil springs and shocks and a lower ride height (a half-inch lower). A sport strut tower brace is mounted between the shock towers. Larger 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels come with Michelin performance tires. The revised steering system features a more rigid steering column, designed to improve response. A power steering rack specially developed for the XRS allows for better steering feedback.

Toyota Corolla comes in one body style, a four-door sedan (not counting the Matrix). The base CE, the S, and the luxurious LE come with a 130-horsepower 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine; XRS gets 170-horsepower engine. Prices for most models represent an increase of $110 over 2004.

The 2005 Corolla CE sedan is available with a five-speed manual transmission ($13,680) or a four-speed automatic ($14,480). CE comes standard with air conditioning (with an air filter), AM/FM/CD stereo system, power steering, tilt steering column, tachometer, intermittent wipers, digital clock, outside temperature gauge, trunk lamp, and a dome light with delay.

Corolla S offers the manual ($14,725) or automatic ($15,525) and features sporty styling cues such as smoked headlight lens extenders, integrated fog lamps, and an aerodynamic body package with color-keyed front and rear underbody spoilers, rocker panel extensions, and rear mud guards. It also gets wider 195/65R15 tires. Inside, the S gets a unique cloth interior, a sporty tachometer, chrome accents, and a nice leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. The S model gets vertical seat-height adjustment, power door locks, power mirrors, and mirror-mounted map lights. Power windows with keyless entry and cruise control are available as an optional package.

Corolla LE offers the manual ($14,890) or automatic ($15,690). The LE adds remote keyless entry, power windows, halogen headlamps, and variable intermittent wipers. The LE gets body-colored door handles, lacks the sporty body cladding of the S and looks the better for it. In place of the S model's sporty interior finish, the LE gets wood-like trim and upgraded cloth seating surfaces. An optional leather package ($900) is available for the LE that gives the car a luxurious feel and includes cruise control. Aluminum wheels ($390) are available, which improve the appearance of the LE and should improve its handling slightly.

Anti-lock brakes (ABS) with electronic brake-force distribution ($300) and side-impact airbags ($250) are optional on most models, but can help avoid accidents or reduce injuries in the event of a crash. Other options include cruise control ($250) and a sunroof ($750).

The new Corolla XRS ($17,455) is powered by a 170-horsepower 1.8-liter mated to a six-speed manual transmission. The XRS features a sport-tuned suspension with revised steering and 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels and Michelin performance tires, an upgrade from the standard 15-inch wheels on all other Corolla grades. Special interior and exterior trim distinguishes the XRS. Additional standard equipment includes anti-lock brakes with tire pressure monitors, front and rear disc brakes, and cruise control.