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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My Solara - 2002 Toyota Camry Solara
By Angela74 - December 1 - 10:00 amThe Solara is responsive car. Handles well in any condition. The interior of the car is nice with the "wood" grain. Gives you a bit of luxury without the price. Road noise is not a problem in this car despite its low profile.
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Among most ticketed cars for speeding! - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
By optimist - November 24 - 3:00 amThis was the first V6 car we bought, we were too afraid of fuel cost but this car uses almost the same amount of fuel as a V4 Camry does. In two years of ownership from 130k to 161k miles, apart from tires, brakes, battery etc we only had to deal with check engine lights (cylinder misfire) that would come and go. Tune-up and new plugs and wires would fix the shaky ride and fix the light for the time being but it kept coming back on (would drive fine though). The airbag light also came (same on another 99 Solara SLE 112k we bought later). The car would still drive very smoothly. The drive is so smooth that we wouldnt realize and wed be cruising at 70mph in 55 zone! Got 20-22 mpg cty/hwy mix
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Sweet - 2003 Toyota Camry Solara
By Joeyyyyyy - November 20 - 2:00 amI thought was hooked on Hondas until I got my Solara. The Solara is roomier, more stylish, quieter, and more ergonomic than any Honda engineer could dream up. It gets a little less gas milage and is a little heavier than the Honda. Just shut the doors and feel the difference in how solid and tight this car is. It is fun to drive. Honda makes a great car, but this is a step up in the right direction.
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Awesome Car!! - 2008 Toyota Camry Solara
By vsf82 - November 19 - 5:51 pmIve been looking at this car for quite some time. Finally decided on the convertible and I just love it!! the ride and performance on this vehicle is just like a Lexus, just like driving/riding on air! The only issue I see is the rear view window should be bigger due to the huge blind spot. There is some road noise while driving, but its a convertible. A/C works perfectly along with everything else. I cant say enough Wonderful things about this car, its nothing but Pure Quality from Toyota!!
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Toyota solara...Rocks! - 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
By Russo - November 19 - 8:16 amSmooth and quiet ride, strong engine, excellent build quality...
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2007 Toyota Camry Solara SLE convertible - 2007 Toyota Camry Solara
By Metsgar Farms Inc. - November 13 - 11:40 pmI purchased the vehicle in August 2006 and have been very pleased with it overall. I agree with others that it would be nice if you could see behind you a little better, but after all this is a convertible. I have owned several Toyotas and their construction and performance has always been excellent. The only problem I have had is that on rough roads the brake pedal rattles a little and at times it is difficult to start. But I am sure that after I take it in to a dealer they can solve the problem.
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A great two door but feel like a sedan - 2000 Toyota Camry Solara
By Fast Amy - November 9 - 10:00 amSolara is even better than my last car, which was a BMW 325i. Solara was very reliable. In the last 3 years, the only thing was that I have to replace all tires due to my stop & go traffice every day. A very good car for anyone who loves performance and value.
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Beautiful Car - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
By Joni - October 27 - 3:20 amThis is just truly a beautiful car. I have the Artic Frost with the black convertible top. Its a smooth ride; great lines....very comfortable. Looks a lot like the Lexus
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Just love it! - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
By Ben - October 25 - 1:00 pmI just bought my Toyota Solara SE V6, and I am very pleased. I had a hard time finding a car that I wanted, and the more I drive it, the more I love it. The cabin is super quiet with little road, engine or wind noise. Makes those long drives very relaxing. I love having the extra power when I need it. If you buy a Camry, buy the V6, because I found the four cyl to be less responsive. Styling is beautiful! Great car, for a great price.
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FABOULOUS Car - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
By Teresa - October 22 - 4:56 amWOW this car is like driving a $50,000 Car! Check out the safety rating and the residual value! Hands down this is the BEST car on the market! What more could you want and at a value price!And the 4 cyl. drives like a 6 only better gas milage! I LOVE IT! !
