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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  Quality ride - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By drgreyhound - October 7 - 5:10 am

  I traded in a 2001 Solara for the newer version 04 & was happy with the increased power and heated seats/mirrors. The car has great acceleration and gets good gas mileage for a heavy car. It has the quality of a Lexus but the price of a Toyota

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  Nothing but excellence from Toyota - 2000 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Shirley Perry - October 6 - 1:30 am

  Ive owned a Mercedes Sedan,97 Volvo T5/750, & assorted American Cars. Even an 86 Toyota Supra-Loved it! What power!!!The 2000 Solara has been my most reliable, smooth driving, gas efficient automobile of all time! With its beautiful lines, lots of horsepower & great sunroof. Honestly -- I have never had ANY mechanical problems. I kept the maintenance up to date that they recommended, its as reliable as the day I drove it off the lot. Could have traded for a newer one - but I like the sporty style of my 2000 (w/ the spoiler on the back). Its red exterior glows because I keep it waxed & cleaned. The leather interior has never faded or ripped. Its truly a great car- I Love My Toyota!

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  Solara Review - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By kalia - October 4 - 10:00 am

  I fell in love with this car the moment I sat in it. It has a beautiful interior. I love the sportyiness of the car itself. I was looking for a sportier car away from a Camry and the Solara hit the spot.

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  2003 Solara - 2003 Toyota Camry Solara
  By jvoelzow - September 28 - 10:00 am

  This is a great car for the money. i would recommend it to anyone and intend to buy a new one.

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  Love mine - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Z - September 26 - 9:00 pm

  This is a great car, fun to drive with the sequential shifting feature. Very good pick up. (Being a true stick man, I wasn’t sure if I would like it but it does really add to the driving experience). Nice exterior styling, bodylines, and 17 inch wheels. Powerful stereo with the 6-disc changer and subwoofer. Our dealer was great to deal with; we got a great price for it being a 06. Love the cosmic blue with the black top.

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  1st and only owner of my 2001 Solara v6 SLE - 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
  By dsquared1 - September 24 - 4:04 pm

  Have owned this card since October 2001. Bought it from Toyota of San Francisco. I was never big into Toyotas having driven only American cars. I have to say that American cars, in my opinion now are pieces of shit. The Solara has over 105K miles on it and aside from regular maintenance, I have had to do nothing more to keep this car in tip top shape. As opposed to my 1996 Dodge Intrepid which I bought brand new, had to replace its engine 2 times and transmission once before it hit $50K miles. The Solara is rock solid in build quality and is the most reliable car I have ever owned. Even after 11 years, the paint is perfect (no chipping or fading). No wonder the Japanese are dominant.

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  best bang for my buck - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
  By steven messina - September 21 - 11:20 pm

  well were to start what a value! i love my solora i have the 3.3 liter convertible with navigation. The solora is my daily driver, the gas mileage is awesome. Ill pop the top on the way to work in the morning, or late at night. I have owned toyotas before and the quality dependablity and reliablity is what keeps me coming back. my fiance and I are planning to buy the 06 hybrid highlander..we test drove it the day i bought the convertible and boy did that drive just like a v8!...the gas mileage is better then most cars..n e ways if you dont think that toyota is right for you then try owning one.

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  All Around Fun - 2003 Toyota Camry Solara
  By MountainCool - September 20 - 10:00 am

  This car is sporty and looks outstanding. Has ample back seats for passengers, which is a plus. Appears that the Solara convertibles are hard to find but am glad I persisted. Almost bought a sedan but a test drive in this car convinced me to find one. Considered waiting for 04, but the convert wont be out til late Spring 04. Fun to ride. Drives smooth and quiet but still lots of power. Planning on having this gorgeous car for quite a while. Highly recommend.

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  Solara 2006 - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By NB - September 16 - 10:50 am

  My Solara 6 cyl performs like a thoroughbred. The leather seats are comfortable and the instrument panel is very good. There is a need for a place to put your loose change. The armrest compartment needs to flip open to the side instead of opening flipping backwards. The navigation system should offered as an option.

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  my 2004 solara - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By magnisium4 - September 14 - 10:00 am

  I own three solaras and i love everyone but my third solara ( 2004 solara )is the best of best of the best i have ever had.This car is so nice that it should be named the best car of the year.but i believe and it looks like this car was mixed by two other cars , The ( 2003 nissan altima ) and the ( 2003 honda accord coupe ).and the back lights of a ( 2003 nissan 350 Z ) .All but that i love it.Its the reliability that matters,its a lovely car and i hope that it suceeds in selling . Yours sincerly: sean clarke/magnisium4