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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Excellent wheels! - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By tappy - November 1 - 2:00 amI love everything about this car except for two things. I was disappointed that it did not have a cassette deck in it. I guess if youre over 21 youre supposed to have only CDs! Additionally, since it is a very sporty and performance minded automobile, it should have dual exhausts!
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Fun car, smooth ride, roomy - 2008 Toyota Camry Solara
By tkoz - October 29 - 5:03 pmOverall this car is a winner. Its fun to drive and very smooth (like a Lexus). I bought this car because of its room and style. Fits four adults comfortably and also can fit three teens in the back (need to cross-over the seat belts). I wish it had a little more pick up but hasnt been a problem. Wish the driver seat had a memory for at least one driver. Bluetooth for phone doesnt allow name of person calling to be programmed. Doesnt have the RDS (radio display signal).
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my best toyota purchase yet - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
By hectors got his kind - October 28 - 10:23 amafter owning the 2000 celica gts that was my first toyota which i also purchased new.comparing this one to the celica this car i believe will give me less problems overall.the celica gave me quite a bit of problems but still performed excellently after the warrantywas expired. thank you toyota for making the kind of cars i will now buy for the rest of my life.i feel like a millionaire in my 2006 solara.
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wowww - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
By dick wheeler - October 23 - 6:24 pmgreat car fun to drive
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jim - 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
By jfarrell - October 21 - 10:00 amGreat car. Runs terrific with good pick-up and handleing. Front wheel drive.
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Sublime Car - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By Toyotafan_2004 - October 21 - 10:00 amJust owned the car for 2 weeks. Compared with ES330 and thought would buy ES but finally bought Solara SLE V6 with Nav. The ride feel is very much like ES but has no transmission issues reported by ES owners. Engine is the same as the ES. When comparing with Camry XLE V6, one can immediately tell the difference. XLE does not have the luxury ride feel as the SLE does. Plus SLE is a 2-year newer design with audio control buttons on the steering wheel, compared with ES and XLE.
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my car I love it!!! - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By suzanne p - October 16 - 10:00 amI love this car. long trip, very comfortable, wish it had onstar on board but you cant have everything. Only things I have found negative with this car 1. you have a blind spot I have learned to figure it out but a little scarey at first. 2 this is minor but there is a cover for the front seat belt, floor behind the seat.I have had it replaced and again it has fell off and my back seat is not being used. If you push the front seat back it flys off.
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Awesome!!! - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
By Solara6 - October 16 - 3:46 amI have has this car for 2 months and have 2000 miles on it and I have to say it is an excellent car!! I paid 20k for it with a power drivers seat, spoiler, and 17-inch rims (from the 06 Avolon XLS)!! The ride is smooth and quite, the interior is sporty with the "silver" trim, and the dash at night is amazing. I get definite power with the 4 cylinder, and if i want more I can drop into a lower gear for more with the electronic shift. You can keep it in manual mode all the time to get optimal power. The looks of the car are amazing, everyone has commented on the style of the car, it is HOT!!!! I wish there were more after market accessories for it though. A great buy for the price!
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Solara Believer - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
By Solara Believer - October 2 - 10:00 amIm the original owner and love this car. Its handling in town and on the freeway is exceptional. Its got a lot of zip for a V6 and the interior is very quiet. I love the JBL sound system, as well as, the smooth ride. Very fun to drive.
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The definition of Refinement - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
By redneb - September 24 - 8:33 pmSmooth, quiet and comfortable. I have owned this car for 7 months. Previous car was a Chrysler Sebring Conv which I owned and drove for 7 years. Solara is far quieter has good interior space including trunk, nice 5-speed auto trans [although I would prefer a stick.] Confidence inspiring brakes...Toyota reliability. Good size fuel tank and excellent highway MPG of about 30.
