Overview & Reviews
Introduced as sportier siblings to the mainstay midsize Camry sedan, the Toyota Camry Solara coupe and convertible quietly enjoyed a reputation for being reliable, well built and pleasantly styled, if not excitingly so. For most family sedans, such qualities are certainly considered desirable, but when it comes to coupes and convertibles, we think that a little fun and pizzazz should figure in as well. The Camry Solara never offered much in terms of excitement, but that didn't prevent it from being a popular choice for a midsize two-door.
For both generations of the Solara, rear-seat room was generous and safety ratings and feature content were impressive. Smooth four-cylinder or V6 power resided under the hood, and overall the Toyota Camry Solara was reasonably priced and offered great value considering all that it delivered.
If you're looking for a sport-oriented coupe or convertible, the Toyota Camry Solara isn't going to be your best choice. And the most recent Camry Solara convertible's traditional fabric top can be seen as a bit dowdy given that many competing models from the same time period offer retractable hardtop designs. But if you treasure overall quality, value and comfort, there are few coupes or convertibles that put it all together as well as the Camry Solara.
Most Recent Toyota Camry Solara
The most recent Toyota Camry Solara was the second-generation model and was sold from 2004-'08. It was based on the 2002-'06 Camry sedan and was available as a midsize coupe or convertible in SE, SE Sport and SLE trim levels.
The standard engine on the Camry Solara coupe was a 2.4-liter four-cylinder rated at 157 horsepower and 158 pound-feet of torque, mated to either a five-speed manual or a five-speed automatic (four-speed prior to '06). Optional on coupes and standard on convertibles was a 3.3-liter V6 rated at 210 horses and 220 lb-ft of torque. Prior to 2007, horsepower ratings will appear to be greater; however, this was due to a change in the way horsepower is measured rather than an actual output change. No manual transmission was available with this smooth engine, but the automatic was a modern five-speed with a manual-shift gate for those who like to select their own gears. On the road, the Toyota Camry Solara's suspension tuning delivered a comfortable ride. The added stiffness of the SE Sport model gave it enough capability to provide some fun through corners while still maintaining the civilized ride quality of the other models.
The base SE was decently equipped with most modern convenience features, while the Sport version added a firmer suspension, 17-inch wheels, an exterior body kit, xenon HID headlights and unique interior trim. The top-drawer SLE provided a few extra luxury-oriented standard features. Major options included stability control and a navigation system (which was upgraded for '07).
The Solara's front seats offer plenty of room for even the tallest drivers, but the rear seats are still best reserved for short trips. While Solara coupes can seat three passengers snugly in back, the Camry Solara convertible can accommodate just two. The Solara convertible's standard power top could be raised and lowered in just 10 seconds, and it stowed neatly under a tonneau cover that matched the color of the interior.
Past Toyota Camry Solara Models
The Camry Solara originally debuted for 1999 and was produced through 2003. Mechanically, it was related to the 1997-2001 Camry sedan. Toyota hoped its new two-door would appeal to consumers who wanted the style of a sporty car but the room and comfort of a larger, more practical vehicle. In the first year, only the coupe was sold, but Toyota added the convertible version for model-year 2000.
For this Camry Solara's run, Toyota offered the familiar SE or SLE trim levels. Initially, Toyota offered either a 2.2-liter, 135-hp four-cylinder engine or a 3.0-liter, 192-hp V6. Either engine could be had with a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic. For 2002, Toyota introduced a new 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 157 hp. Revised front and rear styling was also introduced that year. For 2003 and beyond, Toyota discontinued the manual transmission option for the V6.
At the time, we commented favorably about the Toyota Camry Solara's roomy cabin and smooth engines. Downsides included a lack of driving or styling excitement and the absence of some higher-end features, such as stability control and a navigation system.
User Reviews:
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Wobbles - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
By Frank - April 9 - 10:30 pmExcellent overall except for front end and windshield "wobbles" when driving over bumps or uneven pavement. Dealer said it was a design deficiency. Toyota cant fix the problem.
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Absolutely Red - 2008 Toyota Camry Solara
By Dadeo - April 8 - 2:20 amCar is for my wife. She wanted quiet, comfortable, sporty and spacious. Not an easy combination for a convrt under $30K. Tested: Sebring V6, Mustang V6 & VW Eos converts. Solara has best combination of space, features and price. This was 4th and last car we drove. She knew she wanted it at only 30 seconds into the test drive. Pluses 1. Top that does NOT fold down into fairly roomy trunk. You wont have to rearrange the contents of the trunk to put the top down. Ever. 2. Practically no engine and wind noise 3. Comfortable rear seating (true but hard to believe) 4. Solid comfortable ride & handling 5. Excelent ergos and cockpit for driver & front passenger 6. Peppy engine No Minuses
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best and sleek - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By solarich - April 5 - 10:00 amgreat, sleek, stylish, sporty, economical, affordable, reliable, quiet, fast, magnetic and simply toyota
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It is a Toyota - 2007 Toyota Camry Solara
By steve b. - April 3 - 10:00 amThis a very good car, rides good handles all weather conditions very well, great gas mileage 29+ miles per gallon. Sporty good looks what else can I say, I plan on keeping this car for a long time, this car would make a good used car for anyone who wants a 2 door coupe.
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The Real Deal - 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
By Bratva - April 3 - 9:40 amEdmunds got it wrong on this one. They did make SLE V6 in Manual transmission. I drive one. I got it used, in immaculate condition. I care for it and installed a Magnaflow exhaust, KYB suspension, Brembo performance brakes, and sticky tires. Overall, a terrific car. Great JBL sound system and tons of fun with bulletproof reliability and power to boot.
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Amazing car!! - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
By BarriBum - April 2 - 12:16 amThis has been by far the best car Ive ever purchased. It is sporty yet roomy, rides almost like a luxury car but with serious kick, and people constantly comment on how sharp it is. I will absolutely buy a Solara again...Im an author and travel to booksignings, so it was important to look good but be affordable and cost-efficient. Im getting almost 30 miles per gallon on the highway, and for the performance and gas prices these days, that has been one of the most pleasant surprises!
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Small things count - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
By Go4it - March 29 - 5:20 amI purchased my Solara in the Fall of 04. Although Toyota quality is apparent...small shortcomings have detracted from my enjoyment of the car. For whatever reason Toyota elected not to install "foldback" type outside rearview mirrors. When shopping or parking in tight spaces people try to fold back the mirrors. The compass windshield mirror vibrates over 60 MPH which produces a distorted image that is very annoying. The front seats are not as comfortable as they first appear...especially on longer trips. Lastly, the car has a "drive by wire" feature which causes a slight hesitation when you first depress the gas pedal...hard to get used to. Small complaints perhaps but they add up.
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An excellent choice - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By Tredshift - March 25 - 10:00 amIve owned this car since the first week of January, and I am very happy with it. I tested quite a few cars over a 4 month period and picked this one over all of them (this includes BMW 325, Audi A4, Infiniti G35, Acura TL, Mercedes C 230 and more). Originally, I had not even considered the Solara and decided to test drive it after seeing a commercial for it. I liked many of these cars, but the Solara offered a combination of looks, power, price and quality that was tough to beat.
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A great car so far - 2007 Toyota Camry Solara
By benebsm - March 21 - 8:50 amI bought the sport conv. used the end of 2007 with about 11K miles on it. I chose this car because it is front wheel drive and has a heck of a alot of trunk space for a convertible. In addition it is a sharp looking car and I was banking on Toyota reliability. To date I have close to 90K miles on it. No issues thus far. Put new tires and brakes. Aside from that just oil changes and the regular maintainance stuff. The pick up is OK although it is a bit sluggish going up hills. The gas mileage is good averaging low-mid 20s depending on highway/city driving mix. The top is a cinch to drop. I still often get compliments on the car as it is sharp looking. And it is lots of fun!
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Buy 2 for the price of one Lexus SC430 - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By Ducky5415 - March 18 - 10:00 amWe have had this since late March, 2004. We purchased it after thinking about a Lexus SC430 or Mercedes CLK320. Decision became quite easy after the 65K+ sticker shock of both of those. Having two Benz now, I can assure you this isnt a Benz, but 85% for 50% of the cost. Very enjoyable, smooth riding and the quietest engine of any car weve ever had. Cant go wrong for 30K, thats for sure. Although I list a number of improvements, Im looking at that through MB eyes. This things a buy folks.
