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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  Awesome Lexus looking car - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Benny Aloha - November 16 - 2:00 am

  Ive had this car for about a month and a half now and put on 1,500 miles on it. Really enjoyed driving it and to think that it was my last choice between a 2004 Nissan Maxima and an Acura TSX. I test drove all three and fell in love with the Solara.

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  Dont listen to the complainers - 2002 Toyota Camry Solara
  By earlgrey_44 - November 14 - 10:00 am

  Trouble free experience with this car. Very quiet and comfortable. Efficient engine. Handles nice.

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  In love - 2008 Toyota Camry Solara
  By joanne - November 13 - 12:30 pm

  I love this car. Its quiet,responsive and fun to drive. Only a few things I would change. The angle of the clock etc, I wish it were slightly angled toward the driver,its flat across the front and hard to see when driving, and the snap for the buckle is too deep by the seat,a struggle to snap the seat buckle into it, it should be a few inches longer. Thats it, again, I love my car.

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  what about resale - 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
  By resale? - November 9 - 10:00 am

  First Toyota I have ever purchased, I have always driving "Ameican made" the car is everything I hoped except for the resale after one year the vehicle resale lost 1/3 of its value which surprised me with Toyota reputation of quality and resale value..

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  Love the New Solara - 2002 Toyota Camry Solara
  By skd8433 - November 9 - 10:00 am

  First Solara Ive owned. Fun, flirty, elegant, practical and efficient to drive. Good placement of controls. Excellent looking interior and exterior.

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  Cant go wrong! Its my 2nd Solara. - 2007 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Christi - November 5 - 11:20 pm

  There isnt a better car available that exudes luxury and sport. It turns heads every day and is often confused with a Lexus. It does not have the Mustangs get-up (but is that really necessary anyway?), nor does it have the Lexus price-tag (but it still comes with most of the goodies). Its handling is smooth, the ride is velvety and the engine is near silent when running. Granted, its price is a wee bit on the high end, but keep in mind that just comes with the territory when you buy something as reliable, safe and with excellent re-sale value as a Toyota.

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  Toyota Solara Converetible - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Ron Nichols - November 5 - 10:00 am

  This is my first Toyota and I am truly impressed with this vehicle. It is fun to drive and the build quality is outstanding. My prior vehicle was a Volvo C70 and there is no comparison to quality.

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  Elegant - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Monday - November 1 - 7:10 pm

  Ive grown out of raucus rides, so this is a very quiet change. It might just be the perfect daily driver. Maybe not the fastest, but no other coupe in its range can match its overall elegance,. That goes double for the "base" SE. Nice surprise: the Four-cylinder with the 5-speed Automatic is not unlike a smooth, small 6 in the mid-range (once the Variable Timing gets going), and Im getting 32 MPG so far to boot (according to the well-placed mileage guage). The dedicated manual sequential shift mode (all 5 speeds) even makes you feel like Shumacher (Ralf, if not Michael), complete with the numerical display in the dash. Im older, but not TOO old, and this fits the bill almost exactly

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  Great Car - 2000 Toyota Camry Solara
  By lmollstl - October 31 - 4:20 am

  I have owned this car since new and the only thing I have done to it besides change oil is to install new front brakes and battery. I have also replaced the tires twice. This is the first import I have owned and cannot believe the quality and reliability of it. No other car owned even comes close.

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  Mid Life Crisis Averted - 2002 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Michele J. - October 25 - 10:20 pm

  For years Ive wanted a convertible. This is my 3rd Toyota.This is a great car and fun to drive. The only problem I have had is the convertible top. It seems to catch on the right rear side often. This causes the "lip" behind the back seat to tear. Other than that, no problems.