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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  Im glad I switched to a Toyota Solara - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By william.sannwald - January 21 - 2:00 am

  I really like the car-I have had Hondas, BMWs and Maximas, and I think the Solara is the best of the cars that I have owned. I was thinking of buying a Honda V6 coupe, but when I saw the new Solara and drove it, I felt that it was a better looking and more comfortable car than the Honda.

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  Smooth, Sporty Ride - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Tif - January 19 - 10:00 am

  Its a smooth, sporty ride. Nice and quiet on the inside, and I travel bumpy roads at times. Absolutely no road noise, unlike the 2-door Honda Accord I test drove before buying the Solara. The V6 is peppy as well as fuel efficent. The 6 speaker JBL sound system is great, particularly when listening to CDs. Well worth the $$ spent for the "preowned" edition. (if you are lucky enough to find one!) New was a little out of my price range. The leather seats give it a luxurious feel.

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  Great Car! - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Great Convertible! - January 19 - 6:56 am

  Beautiful car. Ive had a lot of cars, mostly imports, from Audis to VW and this is my 3rd Toyota and I think this Solara SLE is the best import Ive had yet. A perfect buy for someone looking for a sporty, yet luxurious, front wheel drive (a must for me for winter) convertible with a non-manual top (what a pain the manuals are!), a large non-claustrophobic cabin with luxurious leather and well appointed and ergonomically designed controls, comfortable back seats and surprisingly large trunk. Good gas mileage at 23 mpg and good power for this v6. I looked at lots of convertibles, Audi TTs Saabs, Volvos, etc. but the Solara was the best for the money and I get compliments galore on it too!

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  A True Convertible Driver - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Mary - January 16 - 8:40 pm

  This is my third different manufacturers convertible and it is by far my favorite. The room both inside the car and the trunk is excellent. I can carry 2 golf bags and a golf pull cart in the trunk even with the top down. It doesnt matter how tall the person in the drivers seat is. There is still plenty of leg room in the back. The DENSO navigation system is easy to use and extremely accurate. The drawbacks are 1) The boot is large and takes up alot of room in the trunk and therefore usually I leave it in the garage. 2)The seat heaters only have one setting. 3)The CD player only holds one disc if the car has a navagation system. 4)The passanger seat is not electric.

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  Best Bang For The Buck - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Brett - January 16 - 12:53 pm

  I have now owned my Solara convertible for all of two days. So far, this car has met or surpassed all of my expectations. I have never looked forward to driving so much. This car is just as luxurious as my Lexus RX300, but costs less and is much more fun to drive. Aside from a few minor quips...such as better rear visibility, more lockable compartments, and better illumination of the center controls, this car is a 10. I test drove the mid-range Saab and BMW convertibles and the Solara is just as nice -- and costs 10K less. If you are looking for a full size convertibe at a reasonable price that doesnt miss a beat (even with the top up) this is the car for you.

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  Best First Car Ever!!!!!!!!! - 2000 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Taco16 - January 15 - 7:06 pm

  This is my first car and it has been nothing but great....Buy one you will love it. Very little if any maintance, first real problem was needed new air pump after 75,000 miles but nothing else, except required maintance. All my freinds want to drive it.

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  Great way to get out of the SUV world! - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Tammy Thomas - January 9 - 11:06 am

  I changed from an Expedition, this is the only way to make the switch from an SUV worth it. This car is completely fun to drive, great on gas and roomy enough for my two children and their booster seats.

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  Beyond Expectation - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Solara2749 - January 5 - 10:00 am

  After comparing and test drive quite a number of cars in the price range, Solara turns out my ultimate winner. At this time approx. 2months / ~3kmi drive, I found the car is just well beyond my original expectation; the car is so well built, endless safety features. Extremly quiet, great rigit body and well integartion; no rattle, no squeak. Overal, it just a superior car for the price (even thousands more).

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  First Convertible - 2008 Toyota Camry Solara
  By hwangster - January 1 - 11:23 pm

  Decided to go with Solara for reliablity and comfort. Also CarMax gave me an excellent price for the car and color availability. Friends noticed that I was getting more tan these days. Drives very smooth and silky.

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  Great Luxury Sports Coupe - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By GK in Canada - December 24 - 2:43 pm

  Purchased the SLE V6 3 months ago, and loving it thus far. The car is very refined, quiet and responsive. The stereo has a very full deep sound which is highlighted because the exterior noise level is low. Steering is light but responsive. I have not had any problems yet and dont expect to experience major issues as Im banking on Toyotas reputation on build quality and reliability. I highly recommend this vehicle for those looking for something sporty but refined (without having to break the bank). Gas mileage is not great and it really needs premium gas. Toyota manual indicates regular gas, but for improved performance, a higher grade can be used. Truth is premium is required.