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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Great Solara - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
By Don Schubeck - December 9 - 10:00 amNo problems in 54000 miles. Im a former Detroiter who usually only bought U.S. vehicles. Have only replaced battery and tires. I have owned about a dozen vehicles (mostly new) and this is the best.
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Fantastic Car - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By jygjyfjhvhjgfkuh - December 9 - 10:00 amThis is the best car I have ever owned!!!
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A DREAM - 2007 Toyota Camry Solara
By D.C. Mike - December 6 - 8:46 pmI got the car in Sept of 06. Unbelievable feeling with the top down and power. Received a lot of looks. Very pleased. Last year that this car will be made. Buy it now. Solara will be gone forever!
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Great design inside and out - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By Josephus - November 28 - 10:00 amI purchased my new 2004 Solara one week ago, and so far I love it. The car has has excellent design inside an out. I just traded a Mercedes Benz ML430 SUV, and I can appreciate the improvement in gas mileage. This car is flawless. The engine is very responsive and powerful, and the transmission shifts gears smoothly and quietly. The interior is comfortable, and the SLE with navigation system has the same features I had in the Mercedes. Definitely a fun car to drive with plenty of good looks. The car could use better visibility through the rear window and power seats that allow easy entry for rear passengers.
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Best Car Weve Owned - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
By Pat - November 19 - 12:28 pmUpdate #2. Pretty much status quo. Car still runs perfect. Toyota quality is the best. Ive owned Ford. Chevrolet. Chrysler. Nissan. Some good some bad. So impressed with Toyota we bought a RAV4. I would feel confident driving this car across country. Update: Now have 150k miles. Car has been so reliable that we decided to do the full service (timing belt, plugs & fluids) verses replacing the car. Found an independent shop specializing in Toyota that gave us a price and warranty the dealer couldnt come close to. This car still runs perfect. Air & heat work great and the convertible top functions as good as the day we bought it. We have driven this car everywhere and I expect it to last us several more years. Purchased the car used from a private seller back in 2007 with 41k miles. We now have 140k miles and have not had any major mechanical problems since purchase. 2-sets of brakes and tires since then. One power steering hose and one inner tie rod, thats about it. Havent even changed the plugs yet but regular on the fluid changes. Engine still runs strong. HVAC controls work perfect (Air & Heat). Factory radio still sounds great. Power convertible top still works flawless (orig factory top still). Auto transmission still shifts smooth. Gets good gas mileage for a V6 especially on the highway. I expect this car to last us another 10 years. Pros: Good build quality, powerful V6, smooth auto transmission, tilt/telescopic wheel great for extremely tall or short people (which we are). Cons: Only con is when its raining and you open a door, water will drip from the convertible top down on your leg. Not sure if this is just our car or a Solara convertible issue in general but its a minor inconvenience.
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Great all-around car - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
By Derrick - November 17 - 3:10 amI bought my 1999 SLE in 2004 with 68k on it. Last night (6/25/09), I finally traded it in as it approached 149k. In the time I had it, I did a tune-up at 90k (more of a preventative thing). At that time, one O2 sensor went out and a little after that I had to replace the front brake rotors. Otherwise, it was simply regular maintenance. The styling held up over time and it was a very comfortable car. It was no hot rod, but it was never meant to be. I really enjoyed owning the car and only traded it because I wanted a hatchback.
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Love this Ride - 2002 Toyota Camry Solara
By Badjura - November 14 - 10:00 amAll the reliability of the Camry, all the looks of a sports coupe, and all the luxury of a Lexus. It gets great gas mileage and the 2.4L engine has enough get up and go to satisfy. Big enough back seat to accomodate two adults in comfort and has a large trunk. You will not be disppointed if you choose to buy this car.
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Quality vehicle - 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
By ld - November 3 - 3:46 pmMy first car, I like it. Fun to drive, great control & handling. The quality is as good as Toyota Camry, so you can see why its resale price is so high; but it has 2 doors, so it is good for young people if you do not have too many passengers. Only have check engine light on (wire broken, fix by $35), and clock/mirror off (fix $10), so it is very reliable. Definitely recommend to young people; not expensive, quality car.
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Love it but wish I had the V6 - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
By barba311 - November 2 - 9:52 amIm 17 and I bought mine 3 months ago with 65,000 miles as my first car I love ALMOST everything about this car. Its in superb condition. The car is comfortable, handles well, reliable because its a Toyota, and is for the most part rattle-free which means its built well. Two things I dont like about this car are the acceleration and the MPG. Even when I accelerate and brake gradually and coast as much as possible, I never get more than 17 MPG city, as opposed to the claimed 23 MPG city. Acceleration is not great, the V6 probably delivers better but overall I am very very happy.
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I love my Solara !!! - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
By traysea - November 1 - 2:00 amI absolutely love my car. Ive had no mechanical problems thus far and have driven it hard on business trips. The only complaint I have is that the tires are very very expensive and I wore out my first set quicker then I expected, but thats life right! I highly recommend buying this car used b/c the depreciation on it sucks. I also have a stick shift which I hear is hard to come by in the v6. One more thing.. my old colleage races his Solara against Porsces, BMWs etc and it performs good (of course not better then the fancy cars but it holds it own)
