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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  The definition of Refinement - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
  By redneb - September 24 - 8:33 pm

  Smooth, 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.

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  Quality/Sporty Ride - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By SusanE. - September 20 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this car with several issues at hand, quallity, reliablity, comfort, and able to fit the "kids" in. But yet still have a sporty look. Well, this car far exceeds my wants and needs. For this single mom, this is a great pic. Hands down!!

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  Fun car to drive and easy to own - 2002 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Ray - September 12 - 6:43 am

  I would recommend this car to any buyer. Its extremely reliable, handles great, comfortable ride, power to spare and is just enjoyable to drive it.

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  Best I have ever had - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Pamela Byrd - September 9 - 6:46 am

  I have been amazed by the performance of this car. We went from a Lincoln Continental to the Solara and I was a little concerned about the comfort and accceleration. We have enjoyed it and have no complaints other than the heating and cooling system. It seems like it is hard to adjust. Other than that all I can say is THANKS TOYOTA.

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  Excellent - 2003 Toyota Camry Solara
  By mark04 - September 6 - 2:00 am

  The car is phenomenal. The ride is flawless. Very Lexus-like. Quality is impeccible. For a 4 cylinder it is very peppy. Interior is very comfortable.

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  LOVE my Solara!!! - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
  By solara - September 5 - 4:03 pm

  Absolutely love my convertible, interior is beautiful, runs smooth, looks great. One thing I dont like is where the clock is, cant see it if it is a sunny day. Another thing it would be nice if the seats raised up with a lever, I have had short people that sit in the front that can barely see out the side window. And I like to lean my elbow on the door while I drive. Other than that ..oh yeah one more thing the antenna, I have had to replace it ..on the 3rd time, be nice if it were in windshield. It is the funnest car to drive, my husband and I look for excuses to drive it on a nice day!!!

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  Excellent - 2003 Toyota Camry Solara
  By SolaraLvR2 - August 31 - 2:00 am

  Excellent car, fun to drive, confortable, smooth and relatively luxurious. A bit pricy but well worth it.

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  5 Years 105,000 Miles - Still Love It - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Diana - August 22 - 10:43 pm

  Eight cars to date, this is the first car Ive owned where I put more that 50,000 miles on it. This is my second Toyota. Hasnt had any problems, engine is still quiet and smooth, and parts still fit together like they were new. Mileage has gone down some, from 30 to 28 MPG - still excellent for me. Was not looking for a sport car, just a sporty look, so the performance (or lack thereof) isnt important to me. I never thought I would have a car this long, and I am in no hurry to buy another.

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  I love my Solara - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Marty - August 21 - 8:46 pm

  I love this car. It is the best car I have ever had. I have a Mercedes S500 that sits in the garage while I prefer to drive my Solara.

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  Good Sporty car - 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
  By rscarawa - August 21 - 10:00 am

  I purchase this V6 5speed car about 6 months ago and have been very happy with it. It is a roomy 2 door coupe with similiar room to the camry. The engine is reasonably powerful and the interior rid is quiet. I have the JBL radio. It does pretty good but some songs seem to be unbalanced. The suspension is not sporty. It is very soft and there is much body roll. The clutch has a very smooth feel and the gears shift quickly. Gas mileage is 25 city and 31 hwy I added the TRD struts, springs and swaybar to improve the handling of the car. This makes the Solara handle like a much smaller car. If you like the small car feel, this is the way to go.