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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Beautiful Addition - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
By lance - June 7 - 3:26 amThis is a beautiful sporty vehicle that handles like a pricy sports car. Way fun to drive... turns heads. Roomy and very quiet.
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Good vehicle - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By ppp - May 30 - 7:16 pmPros: My 2004 still turns heads on occassion, excellent interior, big trunk, good road manners, average 33 Mpg on the highway with conservative driving. Have had a left drift problem (spring seat displaced, dealer fixed) and replaced a tie rod. The original Bridgestone tires were trash, only lasted 25,000 miles. We have used our Solara very hard, excellently engineered and easy to live with. Not a sports car, but a sporty car.
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Excellent Car~ - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
By muzz - May 30 - 10:00 amNothin to say but so good!
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Perfect - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
By lammy - May 15 - 2:56 pmThe Solara is extremely comfortable, very roomy, it rides very smoothly, and has a very classy look. What more could you want?
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midlife fun - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
By bert - May 12 - 4:40 pmlive in the midwest and just became empty nesters. time for us!!! this car handles great good pick up great cornering excellant with stabilizer no problems at all even with $3.50 gas aand a prius in the garage which i drive for work...havent looked forward to the weekend like this in a long time just turn up the beach boys and zoom
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Comfortable Drive - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
By Canadian - May 10 - 10:00 amMy kids are desperate to drive this beauty but this is Dads "chickmobile"! The car runs so quietly I have probably torn a few teeth off the starter thinking it has stalled! The front strut mounts (as I see with others owners) have both had to be replaced. The ABS brakes are way too sensitive and kick in at the least unevenness in the road surface when braking. It is a very comfortable drive for long journeys and has only let me down once with a dead battery. Had an window motor blow up which scared the pants off me but overall I would buy another Solara, providing it has the same quality interior as my 99.
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Trunk Noise - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By Dsevig - May 10 - 2:13 amThis car has been reliable so far and I wouldnt hesitate to go cross country anytime. Gas mileage stays on 30 mostly city driving. The passenger window came loose from the guide bracket and I had a trunk noise looked at at each 5K mile service. Finally after talking to the service manager personally the problem was found. The noise sounded like someone beating on an empty 50 gallon drum in the trunk when running over rough surfaces or stones. I think Toyota has a fix for this of replacing the rear shocks. The problem ended up being two rods forming an X inside the trunk and just under the rear window a piece of foam between the two rods fixed the problem. Rear seat long trips are a nightmare
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This is a HOT Car - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
By nosman517 - May 3 - 10:00 amI just got this car from my father who loved the car so much he purchased a new 2002 solara so i could take the older one. I love the car...learned to drive on this car and now at 18, i love having it to myself. The look is great and the sunroof is definitely a must have. Only problems with the engine came after an accident and were not because of the cars reliabilty. I put a new 2001 solara angine in it and now i REALLY moves. Only other problem is that the ac went during one of NY heat waves in March and now i need to replace it. Overall...A GrEaT CaR!!
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04 Solara - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By A Dailey - April 28 - 2:00 amGreat car. This is our first Toyota and wont be the last. I have always bought GM. But after having this car I will be getting more. The maintenance record on the Toyotas seem to be much better than on the GM line. The interior styles are also very nice looking on your cars. We are very satisfied with the new Solara.
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Still lovin it! - 2007 Toyota Camry Solara
By yolee1 - April 24 - 12:31 amAn update to a review I posted in 2010. Ive had the car for 2 years, 68000 miles on it now, absolutely no problems with it is so far. I love my car! Recently replaced the low profile tires which were a bit expensive but must say work great in the snow (feel more comfortable driving this car in the snow than I did driving my last small SUV, handles great). Getting in and out of the car is more of a challenge (especially for my hubby) but I love the sporty look and feel of it so I guess thats the price you gotta pay. We definitely made the right switch from Chevy to Toyota, our Chevy parts supply guy is probably wondering what happened. Hope to drive my Solara for the next 10 years!
