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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Safety issue-very bad blind spots - 2003 Toyota Camry Solara
By jeb - October 26 - 12:23 pmI love the car but do not drive it as much as I would like because of the safety issue. Extremely bad blind spots in trying to see what is behind you because of tall rear head seat supports and because of view from narrow rear window.
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Drive By Wire - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
By Joe_P - October 23 - 10:00 amI couldnt be more pleased with this "Personal Car". A joy to drive, and compared to most, takes the curves "on rails". Main reservations center on the "drive-by-wire aspects: a brief hitch in throttle, shift, and brake response while a "chip" considers the drivers intentions. Most serious reservation: the vacume assist brakes which stop OK, but only after the pedal is half way to the floor!
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Great car... but - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
By J. Zito - October 22 - 8:50 pmThe Solara Convertible is a well built, nicely styled car. The interior is both beautiful and functional, while the exterior is eye catching. Road noise and bumps are well isolated.
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Fun - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
By DMC - October 16 - 9:33 pmThe car has been a lot of fun to drive, love putting the top down. But even with the top up Im surprised at how quiet it is in the car. The only thing that is questionable is its cornering ability. It feels like it wants to break loose when going thru s curves at higher then legal speed. But all and all handles just great for every day driving.
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The Best Lookin Convertible On the Road - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
By David Rifkin - October 14 - 6:10 pmThis car is a "dream". It looks great and drives even better. The style is a class act. Everything about this vehicle says "wow!" It seats 4 adults very comfortably and even is fine with three kids in the back. It handles well with no vibration like many convertibles; because of the lack of support near the windshield. This car drives solid. I have owned Toyotas for the past 20 years and this one is, by far, my favorite.
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Refined on a budget - 2002 Toyota Camry Solara
By FSTRTHABTR - October 13 - 11:46 amOverall, Ive only owned the car about 8 months, purchased it used for a private party, they kept records on everything this car went thru however, which was very little. To date, its never been taken in for anything other than routine service. The only thing not absolutely pleasing about this car is the accommodation of someone of my height, at 62" I feel a little bit claustrophobic until I open the sunroof.
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You wont find a Better Value - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
By potomacdude - October 9 - 10:00 amI purchased my 1999 red Solara used a little more than a year ago. The previous owner had leased it and only put 17,000 miles on the car in over 3 years. It now has about 31,000 miles on it. This is the best car I have ever owned. The car is beautiful inside and out and an absolute pleasure to drive. The steering is tight, the ride is smooth and the back seats have ample space. I have had zero problems with this car, and it is now almost 5 years old. I expect to keep this car a long time and would heartily recommend it to anyone looking for a stylish, reliable and reasonably priced car. I doubt there is any car out there that is a better value.
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My Toyota Solara was the best car Ive ever owned. - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
By Ray Quinn - October 8 - 11:22 amI bought my Solara new in December of 1998 even though it is a 1999 and it has been the best car Ive ever owned. The gas mileage is unbelievable as is the cost to own. Change the oil regularly and your good to go. Fast forward to 2016 and I still own my 1999 Solara thats how good of a car its been.
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Best car Ive ever owned - 8yrs+ - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
By Chris in Charlotte - October 3 - 4:46 pmIm on the verge of potentially trading in my dark green/tan leather 99 SLE w/ 157k. I do not want to get rid of it, but a 3 yr old and a newborn make a coupe impractical. Said simply, aside from some suspension issues, a valve cover gasket, and the backlight on the JVC stero going out, the car has been flawless and still looks fantastic. I get comments everywhere. Two recent ones were from the husband/owner of my sons daycare, who wanted to take a spin, because he always wanted a Solara and never got one ("Its a Lexus with a Toyota badge" - his conclusion), and several less car savvy people who just cant believe its 11 years old.
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Very satisfied - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
By Bretton - October 2 - 4:53 amWhen I first got the car I instantly realized all the things I didnt like about it...minimal head room, seat belt is hard to reach and it is very hard to see where the bumper is when backing up. After driving it for a while though I have realized that those things dont really matter once you get used to it and it is a REALLY FUN CAR TO DRIVE! Its like a full sized sporty sedan. Highly recommend it.
