The Toyota Corolla and the art of expressive styling have not exactly had a good relationship. The Corolla was always known as a function-focused vehicle with styling often being cast aside for conformity and practicality. Toyota is out to change that and while the GR Corolla is a recent exception to this rule, the rest of the Corolla lineup still didn’t have a true style package to appeal to younger buyers.
The company is out to change that with the all-new FX package which adds bigger wheels and other minor styling touches to the Corolla sedan in an attempt to make it a better pick for young buyers. But does the FX have what it takes to appeal to younger buyers who need a budget-focused attention-grabbing machine? Or does it fall flat on its face?
Bigger wheels highlight Corolla FX transformation
The new FX package is a key update that comes to the Corolla for 2025 and is essentially a cosmetic package designed to boost the Corolla’s styling appeal. It also pays homage to the 1980’s era FX16 variant but unlike that model, this revival does not get many of the performance upgrades. Instead, models like our tester focus primarily on styling with the car getting a black-out treatment accompanied by black paint, 18-inch satin chrome wheels, a spoiler, and blacked-out lettering. Our favorite addition has to be the wheels with these stylish hoops getting plenty of attention from onlookers with a Doordash driver even taking a moment from his day to photograph our tester after delivering our lunch.
The stylish elements also help distract from some of the core flaws that remain in the Corolla’s broader look. The front end still looks like it was inspired by a bottom-feeding fish but the black paint and other blacked-out accents do give it more of a performance edge while the side profile gets a huge boost in visibility thanks to the rims. While the resulting FX is a far cry from the GR Corolla and its beefed-up looks, the FX is a compelling alternative for buyers looking to embrace some of this sporty nature but at a more approachable price point.
Corolla FX interior lacks substance
The interior of the FX is unfortunately the polar opposite of the exterior. There’s not much in terms of visual add-ons that says you are in an FX with no visual reminders of this being present anywhere in the cabin and Toyota chose to phone it in and go for the classic Corolla look with a bland dashboard contrasting the commendable front seats with the back seats still being cramped for taller occupants. The lone exception is the infotainment system with the FX introducing a new 10.25-inch screen with the bigger display also being optional on other Corolla models. Push-button start is also standard on the FX and most Corolla variants also have standard passive entry. The trunk seems small at first glance but intrepid travelers can still cram a good load of groceries or travel bags inside with little fuss.
We wish Toyota put more investment into the FX’s interior since it would have allowed the car to express itself better and also show buyers that they are getting something truly special for the money when they choose to equip the package to the Corolla. If you’re a hatchback buyers though, you’re out of luck since it’s exclusive to the sedan only.
Corolla engine continues to balance fuel economy with performance
Performance for the FX model is shared with many other Corolla models and comes from a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter that produces 169 hp and is mated to a CVT. This engine is the only one available for the FX and it is still an awkwardly balanced mixture of efficiency and performance. The engine is competent in city driving but take it out on the freeway and the four-cylinder felt wheezy and out of breath with our tester needing time to get up to freeway speeds.
Toyota claims that it modified the electric steering rack and shortened the springs in the suspension but these changes don’t really make themselves known and to many, the driving behavior will feel like any other Toyota with the bigger 18-inch wheels letting in more road and tire noise than other Corolla models. The hybrid version is still the most fuel-efficient of the bunch but a non-hybrid model like our example is capable of getting 41 mpg in freeway driving which is very good for a compact car. Braking in our tester was strong and stable even in wet weather.
Value Quotient
Pricing for the 2025 Toyota Corolla sedan lineup starts at $22,325 for a base LE model with the pricing going up as you climb the trim ladder. The FX is one rung short of the XSE in the non-hybrid lineup with a base version starting at $26,650. Our tester had a minor sprinkling of optional accessories but the price still managed to stay below the $30,000 barrier. This pricing allows the FX to be competitive in the market and the styling add-ons it has will certainly draw attention and perhaps inspire some folks to buy one for their garage.
That said, we hope that Toyota will eventually give future special editions of the Corolla a more comprehensive transformation inside and out to make them stand out better since adding more distinctiveness will help lure more people into buying them and also make these special variants a more compelling pick when they are viewed alongside the rest of the Corolla lineup.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.