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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  Love This Car - 2007 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Calif. Sunshine - December 18 - 3:10 am

  Bought this brand new two weeks ago, and boy what fun! I love to go topless, yet cannot believe how quiet it is when the top is up! Its so much fun to drive and handles so well. It took me months to find one though and I had about given up looking. I hear it is being discontinued? What a shame, as the SLE model just doesnt have the "sporty" look to it. If you can find one - buy it quick. I may be 60 but I still want the "sporty" look - and this one has it!

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  Great Value - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
  By wedgeman - December 11 - 12:03 am

  I had a Sebring for 5 years, which I traded for this car, and drove a Mustang convertabe a few times, and this blows them away. You would have to spend 15k more to get a comparable car. It is smooth, quite, and has all the features you would expect. The only draw back is the boot. It is very clumbsy and hard to fit. But the car is quiet, has plenty of room for a rag top, and I would expect Toyota reliability. It was hard to find in my area, and the dealer stood firm on the price but at this point it was worth it. A stylish, solid , and quiet convertable for the price. Looking forward to the spring!

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  Great value & lots of fun - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By FQuinn3868 - December 10 - 9:56 pm

  Have that the coupe for 2-weeks now. Long enough to confirm that I made a good decision- this car offers so much value and fun for the dollar. Compared to Nissan Altima, Honda Accord and VW Passat the Solara is more distinctive and has a more luxurious look and ride.

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  2001 Toyota Solara Convertible - 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Rich Janes - December 9 - 2:00 am

  A typically well designed & engineered Toyota product.

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  First Toyota/Last Toyota - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Back to Nissan - December 9 - 2:00 am

  Purchased new 2004 Solara SE Sport on 9/4/03. From day one, car pulls left and tire pressure warning light is always on. Have taken to dealership 5 times, they have opened a case with Toyota Technical, and still unable to fix. Am developing quite a few muscles holding this car on the road. Have discovered numerous reviews on the internet stating the same problems with this car. Very nice looking car if they could make it go straight.

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  I love it - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Dianed - December 3 - 2:00 am

  I drive a lot with my job and spend a lot of time in the car. I love my Solara-I would highly recommend it. I would recommend that you get the electric passenger sear, the mannual is a pain.

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  My Solara - 2002 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Angela74 - December 1 - 10:00 am

  The 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 am

  This 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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  grand slam - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
  By james sportsman - November 22 - 10:00 am

  this car exceeds my 2001 solara far and away, iwish it got better gas milage but i hardly ever get out of LA CA.I GOT THE CAR IN SEPT OF 2003 AND ONLY HAVE 3000 MILES ON IT

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  toy car - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Jan - November 20 - 5:06 am

  I have several smaller quality issues with this car. Door not sealing correctly/wind noise/radio-control knobs sticking/carpeting not secured in place/truck not staying closed/consol compartment not staying closed/etc. With the reputation of Toyota, I am disappointed.