Going into our first drive of the Corolla, we figured the Toyota’s electric power steering and torsion-beam rear suspension would see to it that it didn’t drive as well as a Mazda 3. We were nonetheless curious to see just what an incremental jump the XRS would represent over the other Corollas and just how close the XRS gets to the Scion tC, among other cars, in the fun-to-drive category.

We were right about one thing: base, LE, XLE, and S models don’t drive anything like the happy Mazda or the tC. Indeed, it was painfully (painlessly?) soft, à la Hyundai Elantra or Ford Focus. We yearned for anything resembling feel from the shifter, the steering, or the chassis. Then again, most Corolla customers yearn for anything but that, so go ahead and tell your retired parents they’ll be perfectly happy with the new Corolla.

As for the XRS, a little additional engine went some way—not a long way, mind you—toward adding cojones to what is ultimately a terminally limp-wristed automobile. With standard 17s and a strut-tower brace, the electric steering is livelier but still nowhere near that of even the base Mazda 3 i. Now, had Toyota swapped the rear torsion beam for the same independent rear suspension found on its mechanical twin, the 2009 Matrix XRS, the whole package might be a bit more tossable. But as is, the bespoilered XRS is more flash than dash.