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:
Showing 441 through 450 of 1,098.00-
Driving enjoyment - 2003 Toyota Camry Solara
By Muffin - December 12 - 2:00 amQuick, quiet with responsive handling. You can have a normal conversation at any speed, top up or down. A joy to drive.
-
Comfortable, perfect size and yet sporty - 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
By csimons23 - December 12 - 2:00 amI love my car. I had a Toyota Corolla, and then purchased the Solara. It is very comfortable to drive, sharp and full of class. Not too big, not too small, just right. I highly recommend a Toyota Solara!!!
-
Too Much Fun - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
By Lue - December 8 - 5:56 amI have enjoyed every minute in my Solara. The ease with which the top and windows all go down simultaneously is great! The problem I have are that the back windows cannot be controlled independently. They cannot be opened or closed from the back seat. They are controlled only from the front drivers side and only while opening or closing the front windows simultaneously.
-
Typical Toyota - 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
By Solarian - December 7 - 10:00 amNothing bad to say. A fun car to drive.
-
Love My Solara - 2002 Toyota Camry Solara
By dollydodah - December 7 - 10:00 amMy solara is fantastic. Its sporty on the outside and classy on the inside. Very comfortable for four adults. Its a keeper!
-
2006 Toyota Solara convertible SLE - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
By Stephen A. Zinone - December 6 - 2:56 amLooks like my two years of research paid off -- my first convertible is a winner!
-
love being an owner of a Solara - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
By k mikkelson - December 5 - 5:40 amSolara rides great and is very fun & comfortable to drive, especially on long trips; very quiet; nice car. Mileage on an 800-1000 mile trip average to over 25.
-
Beautiful Car - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
By Cari - December 4 - 7:13 pmI love my Convertible Solara. Every where I go I get people turning their heads. The car it self is smooth and comfortable I wouldnt trade it for anything else, its perfect for me.
-
Great Car for the Money - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
By Mike - November 25 - 10:40 pmThis car was a lot of firsts for me. It was my first Toyota, it was my first car I ever paid full list for and it was the first car my wife and I agreed upon from the get-go. It has been a great car. With the top up you dont know youer in a convertible - its that solid and quiet. With the top down it rates a 10/10 on the fun meter. It has been a trouble free ride and we both enjoy it. After three Chrysler Sebrings in a row, which were not bad, this was a real eye opener as to just how good a moderately priced car could really be. With the quality and luxury features, they could have put a Lexus badge on it and charged another $10K.
-
Comfortable - 2002 Toyota Camry Solara
By mimi919 - November 17 - 10:00 amI have owned my SLE Solara 3 weeks now and have about 1,500 miles on it. I find the Solara to be a very comfortable car with fantastically comfortable seats,roomy interior front and back....handling at all speeds is very good with a quiet ride. Unfortunately the Solara does lack luxury feature and for that matter even standard features of todays cars such as auto locking door locks,trip computer,rear heat outlets,delay headlights,power passenger seat,ect.
