I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but America is experiencing a wave of nostalgia. Toys from the 1980s are being reintroduced to stores, fashion and music are incorporating touches of the Decade of Decadence, and we’re also seeing a nod to the 1980s in the automotive industry. The 2025 Toyota Corolla is one of the latest vehicles to receive a design makeover with elements from a previous decade. If you’re feeling the nostalgia as strongly as I am, you’ll want to hear all about what Toyota has created with its latest iteration of the wildly popular Corolla.
What is making us wax nostalgic? Is it the feeling that we’re revisiting the financial and political experiences of the 1980s? Is it because my generation is getting older and reminiscing about the aesthetic of the world we grew up in? Perhaps there are a multitude of reasons, but the end result is that we want to relive the best parts of the 1980s, such as the design elements that made the decade look like a post-apocalyptic rock and roll world. Interest piqued? Let’s take a look at what Toyota has done to give us a Corolla that looks like a blast from the past while also integrating a look at the future.
The All-New Corolla FX Gives a Nod to the 1980s
The sleek and sophisticated Corolla FX isn’t the first FX to appear on the worldwide stage. In the 1980s, the Toyota Corolla FX16 emerged as a sporty alternative with a sophisticated engine. Toyota’s addition of an innovative 16-valve double overhead cam four-cylinder engine took the Corolla out of the daily commuter pool and made it a real pocket rocket. The 2025 Corolla FX recalls this model with its silhouette as well as some performance features. Pair that with modern technology like Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 and a Smart Key System with Push Button Start, and you’ll have the best both decades have to offer.
At a time when new technology was beginning to make some headway, the Corolla FX16 was a welcome addition to this process. CDs were being introduced into the market, the internet was being built, Microsoft Windows replaced MS-DOS, and Toyota’s FX16 became a sensation. The 1980s saw massive change in nearly every area of life, and the automotive industry was no exception. Taking a look back now, we can see which elements shaped the decade, creating a new future thanks to burgeoning technology.
What’s Included In the FX Trim?
The 2025 Toyota Corolla FX comes with a mix of performance features and aesthetic design elements sure to please those who yearn for the rock and roll attitude of the 1980s. The package includes upgrades like retuned electric power steering to provide drivers with a sportier driving experience, lowering springs to enhance the sporty feeling, and Normal, Sport, and Eco driving modes. It also adds sport side rocker panels, paddle shifters, and sport seats, driving home that sporty, rock-and-roll edge.
When it comes to the aesthetics of the Corolla FX, you’ll notice the heavy rock and roll influence. Satin black-finished alloy wheels with machined accents ground the FX, while the FX-enhanced rear spoiler, gloss-black sport mesh front grill with LED accent lighting, and Midnight Black Metallic coloring hearken back to the rock and roll glory days. It also comes with black badging, black mirror caps, and a blacked-out roof. Those who enjoy their nostalgia paired with cutting-edge technology will be pleased to know that the FX comes standard with a 10.5-inch touchscreen infotainment center.
1980s: A Futuristic Twist
There was a lot to celebrate in the 1980s—the first artificial heart was created in 1982, Los Angeles hosted the Summer Olympics in 1984, and we celebrated our first Martin Luther King, Jr. day in 1983. There were tragedies, too, of course, like the Challenger explosion, Chernobyl, and the stock market crash of 1987. All of this went into creating the culture of the 1980’s. The world became smaller with the advent of the internet and more awareness of global tragedies as well as triumphs. Movements to end world hunger and promote peace were prevalent.
People felt as if the future had arrived and perhaps too quickly. A gigantic wave of information was spreading, and it was all anyone could do to keep up. This became apparent in the art, music, and, yes, automotive market. People wanted something that could take them to the fun part of the future, where people drove sporty, cool cars and listened to rock and roll from their favorite brands. That’s where we are now—we want a future where we can drive something like the Corolla FX and listen to our favorite bands from back in the day. That’s what the FX gives you—a way to connect to the past while also driving us toward the future.
The Corolla Is Like Rock ‘N Roll: It Ain’t Gonna Die
The Corolla has been around since 1966 and has encapsulated the decades since with fresh design elements, new tech, and improved performance. It saw us through the Swinging Sixties, carried us through the Disco Era, drove us from the Decade of Decadence into the post-Cold War Era, and cruised through the Aughts and the Tens into a new age of automotive innovation. A vehicle with that kind of staying power is rare, but it is because Toyota has understood the evolution of its customer base.
The Corolla FX might hearken back to the 1980s, but it also brings us squarely into the future with its powertrain, tech, and safety features. Toyota’s popular sedan is like great rock and roll: it ain’t never gonna die. There’s a reason we still remember iconic songs like “Back In Black” and “Rock And Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution.” They managed to capture the spirit of the 1980s. Toyota’s Corolla has done the same for each decade, which is why it is still incredibly popular to this day. Whether you want it for nostalgic reasons or just think it’s a cool car, the Corolla FX is ready to take you on the adventure of a lifetime.
Relive the Nostalgia—With Upgrades
We’ve experienced a lot of highs and lows throughout the decades, but if the 1980s taught us anything, it’s that even when tragedy strikes, if we come together and help each other out, we’re well on our way to getting back up again. The Toyota Corolla FX is a symbol of what can be accomplished when we work together. No one person is responsible for current events. We can all be catalysts for change, whether that means fighting climate change by carpooling in your Corolla or ensuring that everyone in your neighborhood has what they need.
You can absolutely relive the best of the 1980s while also relishing the modern conveniences and technology that make driving so much safer and easier today. The 2025 Corolla FX straddles the line between these two eras, and the result is a fantastic melding of nostalgia and a glimpse of the future. If you, like me, regularly enjoy waxing nostalgic, you’ll want to take a look at the Corolla FX. It will give you that rush of happiness that comes when you recognize an old friend, along with the eagerness you experience at the thought of meeting someone new.
