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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04 Solara V6 SLE - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By Angel1122 - May 28 - 10:00 amI shopped against Honda Accord coupe and Infinity G35 Coupe and selected Solara for its smoothness, refinement, better ride, excellent low end power (esp. compared to Honda)...
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Great Car! - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
By Hermosillo - May 28 - 8:06 amGreat car, have had it for almost 7 years now, 120,000+ miles on it, not a single repair, no squeaks or rattles, still running as smooth as its first year. I have put many miles in Mexico on so so roads with no problems. Friends cant believe it rides so smooth and how good it feels and looks after 7 years and more than 100k miles. Have had all the services done at the dealer. Great for long trips, very comfortable, good mileage. Ive driven the car from No Cal to Central Mexico, on rain, snow, desert, still running strong!
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great car - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By Coupe - May 28 - 1:40 amGreat car but bad visibility out the back. That is the only drawback.
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Great automobile - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By Dick H - May 22 - 2:00 amI have owned this "absolutely red" Solara for about 3 weeks, and find it a joy to drive. Good roads, or bad; good weather or bad; night or day this is a wonderful car! We have had ice and snow at times, and this vehicle is a real champion with the wide tires, anti- lock brakes, and traction control. The fit and finish is first class, and the gray leather seats looks great with the gray dashboard and red exterior.
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Great Car - Terrible Dealer - 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
By Fearless Fossdick - May 21 - 10:00 amCar was delivered with 15" steel wheels when 16" alloy are supposed to be standard. I guess the dealer swapped them with another car. Clutch has chattered since the day I picked it up, steering pulls to the left and there is a slight gear clash when shifting into 3rd. Its been back to the dealer several times but they dont see a problem. Stay away from Mt. Kisco, NY Toyota!
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I Love it !!!! - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By toyota solara - May 11 - 2:23 pmI absolutley love my car.... fun to drive its a looker have had numerous folks come to me and ask how i like it... Its my first toyota and i look forward to its longevity...
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great car but.. - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By mightypanther - May 11 - 10:00 amenjoy my solara very much..however i have had a swerve to the left since i bought the car with 15 miles on it..toyota has checked it a number of times with no success..i am frustrated that no one knows what this problem is.dealership has treated me well but it is time to get the problem fixed and quit speculating
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great car - 2007 Toyota Camry Solara
By JL - May 6 - 4:40 ama pleasure to drive, very comfortable and creature friendly, an over all sharp car value packed
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Great car, great price, best fuel economy - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
By Joe - May 4 - 6:00 amI bought this car to commute in and it has been a dream. I moved from a Lexus to the Solara so that I could have a cheap commuter vehicle. No compomises in build quality and getting 10 more mpg. I also like the fact that my Sirius radio fits in the space inside the dash. Rear of the car looks like a SC 430. Sweeet.
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Love it more every day! - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
By Pati - May 1 - 10:50 pmWe researched a lot of cars and although I really wanted the convertible at first, the visibility was terrible. At 5 tall, I am able to adjust the seat so that I have no problems with comfort. I do agree that memory settings for the driver seat would make this car complete. (My husband is 62") The rear seat is big and the trunk is much larger than the convertible, plus the 60/40m split seat behind that folds down to access the trunk is great for skis or a random trip to the hardware store. It combined my wishes for a sporty looking car with a great luxury car that my husband wanted. It is close to perfect!
