Have you ever owned a Toyota Corolla? Or know someone who did? It’s not hard to imagine, it’s been the brand’s best-selling car for many years, and a stunning 44 million plus have been sold since 1966. And it’s always stood for great value, reliability and a bit of fun tossed in.

So, Toyota is celebrating with the 2025 Corolla FX. The FX first appeared in 1987, and it was very cool – a small, front wheel drive, 3-door hatchback with the engine from the Toyota MR2 sports car. After a few years the FX model went away but the Corolla continued to live on.

Time to check out the new FX and see what it has to offer!

Aggressive Style

The Corolla is familiar sight, and the current model offers a sporty vibe that keeps it in contention with models like the Honda Civic and Mazda 3.

The front has a rakish look that reminds us of the latest Prius model, and on the Corolla that gets you a large black mesh grille, sleek hockey-stick style driving lights, and angry-looking LED projector headlights.

The profile is especially sporty. Based on the SE sedan, this is a handsome modern look, with a bit of bulge in the fenders for effect. The big FX tip off here are the gorgeous 18-inch satin-black alloy wheel with machined accents that really pop. Other clues include FX exclusive blacked-out roof, black badging and black mirror caps. Another clue – the FX sits lower with standard lowering springs.

The rear is equally sporty, starting with a rear spoiler sitting tall and proud (reminds us of the previous Camry TRD model), wraparound rear taillights, an aggressive lower fascia and dual exhaust pipes poking out from underneath.

Finishing off our sporty presentation, our tester was finished in a dark charcoal called Underground that includes a Midnight Black Metallic roof. We love the color; it ties all the elements together and it’s subtle but eye-catching.

While our 2025 tester was a sedan, we’ve recently found out that there will be a 2026 FX offered on the hatchback body style and with white wheels it promises to be a bit more audacious. We’ll have to see!

High PQ for you! (PQ= perceived quality)

If you’re expecting a Corolla to have a bare-bones interior, you’re in for a surprise.

Open the door, and you have tasteful two-tone with a lower ivory color on the dash pad that looks upscale. It feels upscale, too – Toyota is clever at making sure that the touchpoints you come in contact with have a quality feel, and you can easily see the Corolla holding up for years to come.

Up front are Moonstone sport fabric seats with orange stitching that look great are comfortable. We do miss having things like lumbar support and seat heaters, but you have to opt for higher end models – same for a sunroof, the FX is a slick top. Toyota knows Corolla buyers can be a frugal lot and is trying to give you a nice stylish package without breaking the bank.

You won’t feel cheaped out with the tech – the digital dash with a 7-inch multi-information display looks crisp and modern, the FX debuts a new, standard 10.5-inch info-tainment touchscreen that will be available on other Corolla models. We love the display; it looks big and bold in standard tablet style.

Ok a couple gripes. We’d prefer a traditional volume knob instead of the pushbuttons beneath the display, and we had a rough time getting our wireless Apple CarPlay to consistently hook up. Other tech is much appreciated, like a wireless phone charger, a digital climate control display, pushbutton ignition and keyless entry.

The Corolla has made its name as a small family sedan, and it remains a loyal companion with an adult-sized rear seat, nicely sized trunk, and split-folding rear seats with a generous pass through when you have to hit the big box store sale.

Special FX?

While the original Corolla FX was a major step up, thanks in part to sharing the engine with the MR2 sports car, the new FX is very similar to other Corolla models.

Under the hood is a 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder standard on all Corollas, pumping out 169 horsepower and 151 lb.-ft. of torque through the front wheels. Combined with a CVT transmission, the FX trades off straight-line performance, and instead focuses on smoothness and efficiency.

With that in the sites, it does quiet well, low-end power is quite adequate, and progress is quick enough to keep up with traffic, but it’s not particularly thrilling. Those watching their wallet will be thrilled with the combined 34 combined MPG rating. Those needing more could look at Corolla Hybrid models. (Or the crazy rally-inspired GR Corolla!)

Where the FX does take a step up is in the handling department. Standard lowering springs help the Corolla sit lower, look meaner, and make it more responsive to the wheel. It’s fun to toss around in corners or your favorite on-ramp, and Toyota has tuned the FX electric power steering for better feel – and it does feel nicely weighted and direct.

Added grip and response is welcome, and the FX still provides a supple ride, and is impressively quiet on the freeway. A full suite of driver assist with standard Safety Sense 3.0 makes for a comfortable and confident companion, and our tester upped the ante with the $530 Convenience Package that added Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert – well worth the money.

Is the FX worth the money?

The Corolla name has always stood for solid value and reliability, and that hasn’t changed. You can get into the Corolla LE starting at $22,325, for a solid, stylish sensible sedan, that’s bargain pricing.

The FX model like our tester is mid-stream in the Corolla ecosystem and starts at $26,550.  Add in the Convenience Package ($530), Black Roof ($500), Connected Services Trial ($325) and a few accessories, plus $1,135 for Destination, and we rang the bell at $29,369. (Note: Toyota sweetens the deal with complimentary maintenance for the first 2-years/25,000 miles, whichever comes first.)

We’d also look at the Honda Civic Sport, at $28,200, with a less powerful 150 hp motor it lacks the Corolla’s oomph, but we’ve found the Civic’s ride and handling to be a step above.

Also worth a look is the Mazda 3 sedan, which we find sporty, stylish and with an interior that is best in class for quality and appearance. Comparably priced at $26,720, it’s also the best value in the group. We say test drive them all – you can’t make a bad choice with any of them.

Aggressive looks, Toyota quality, and beautifully built, the 2025 Corolla FX sedan is a great, sporty drive for smart buyers!