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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  Smoking - 2003 Toyota Camry Solara
  By John Adcock - August 1 - 2:00 am

  This car is totally impressive. Toyota just keeps them comming. The 4 cylendar with the 5 speed has all the power the you need and the comfort is unmatched. Quiet, tight, quick and very sleek. A real eye catcher too.

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  Get it before its gone!!! - 2008 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Shacojinn - July 28 - 1:40 pm

  Purchased the dark grey on black w/ black top three weeks ago. First convertible ever. Great so far. Dozens of compliments already. The sport trim rocks! Getting 28 and some change on the mpg, mostly hwy. Rides very smooth, a great cruiser, turns lots of heads.

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  A Great Used Car - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By chris_s_2010 - July 28 - 7:57 am

  This is a great choice as a used car. They arent too expensive, they still look classy and they are very reliable. With the V6, the gas mileage is still decent. I bought this a a second car so I didnt want to spend too much. I bought it for $8500 with 166k km (103k miles) on it. Like (almost all) Camrys these cars last a long time and they have a strong reputation for reliability. Its been about 6 months since I bought it and I have no regrets. This car is comfortable to drive, pretty quiet and has power when you need it. Not a sports car but sportier than your average sedan!

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  AWESOME! - 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Judi in Richmond - July 20 - 11:46 am

  Purchased with 112500 miles...no problems and I love the car. Smooth driving, high performance and handles great in the rain. Love having the top down and enjoying the fresh air. Cant explain why I waited so long to consider a convertible! Best decision ever made. Dont have a garage, but have purchased a cover for the winter months when I wont be using it. Have found 2 new (2008) models in Virginia but Toyota has now stopped building Solara. Too bad....I might want to a newer one in next couple of years. Best convertible on the market.

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  2004 Solara Sport.. what a ride - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By nassaupc - July 10 - 10:00 am

  I absolutely love this car. Mechanically the best car ever driven off the lot. Handles terrificly. Has an amazingly small turning radius. Standard stereo has great sound, deep full bass, no car vibrations when you crank it up. Automatic transmission shifter a bit confusing to get into proper position. Standard gauges include trip odometer, your average mpg, you real time mpg,and how long in miles before you need to fill up.

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  Smooth & Stylish - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By jint fan - July 10 - 10:00 am

  We love this vehicle. It drives, rides and handles great. The 6 cylinder engine, auto tran. w/a 5 speed manual option really moves in and out of traffic. We get compliments on its looks everywhere we take it. Take it out for a test drive and dont be gentle. Thats what convinced us.

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  GREAT CAR! - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Twink25 - July 7 - 8:40 am

  This is the best Ive owned so far, drive quality and overall fit and finish is superb. The 4cyl. has plenty of zip and I especially like the smooth, quiet ride, its far better than other sport-coupes Ive owned and with much more space. Only thing I dont like is the air-conditioning, it doesnt seem to get very cold. Ive taken it to the dealer to get it looked at and it checks out, it just doesnt run as well as other vehicles Ive had. Otherwise, everything runs perfect. If you want a Lexus-quality car w/ a moderate price-tag, this is it!

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  COLOR ME LEXUS - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By CBRADY2001 - June 27 - 2:00 am

  I have a very close friend that has a 2003 Lexus SC430. When my wife and I visited he and his wife in January he took it for a drive and commented that he could have purchased two of the Solars and still had change in his pocket. Thought the quality was of Lexux class. He also drives an LS430. We drove the car from Ohio and stayed in Florida for two months. We averaged 30.8 miles per gallon for the whole trip. The car is magnificent!!!

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  SCARY - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By sweilz1 - June 22 - 10:00 am

  View info on gov website for NSTHA. I have not enter info, but many others have..all same complaint. Dangerous to drive. Pulls to the left, and slides to the right (as thou on ice). Very SCARY. My car is being Lemon Lawed.

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  2nd solara - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By TOK - June 20 - 7:43 pm

  This is my second solara(was an owner of the first solara and loved it!). This one seems a bit less roomy, but the ride is smooth, great handling and simply fun to drive. Rear window takes a bit getting use to after driving the very roomy Camry with great visability, but worth it. The new color Oceanus Pearl with gray leather interior is a real head turner.