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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redkarr - 2003 Toyota Camry Solara
By syzygy - January 13 - 10:00 amGreat looking, fun car to drive. Very nice features inside ie; stereo, panel layout.
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Fabulous - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By qtip - January 13 - 10:00 amNo granted, I have only had this car for three days, but I just love it. Many areas of this car have the quality look and feel of the more expensive Lexus SC cars. The interior design well thought out and built, but it was the handling on the test drive that sold me on this baby. We took this car out on a slightly pitted back road and let it open. The suspension was fantastic and when taking tight turns at high speeds we experienced very little roll. This car hugs the road very well and the automanual shifting makes it very fun to drive. It is by no means a sport coupe, but is far more sporty than the Camry or old Solaras.
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2004 Camry Solara SLE Convertible - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
By steve7749 - January 11 - 3:40 pmThis convertible meets my expectations with the exception of fuel economy far below the EPA estimates.
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Incredible Car - 2000 Toyota Camry Solara
By eastsideirish - January 10 - 11:17 pmI bought my 2000 Solara used in 02 (with 61k) and had it for 10 years (ended at 162k). I had a 89 Beretta and 93 Civic before buying my 1st Toyota. Both were often in the shop so I bought this b/c of the Toyota reputation and it never let me down. In 10 yrs all I did was replace the brakes & battery twice, the alternator and the air conditioning. It rode smooth until some asshat hit & totaled it. It was even pretty good in the snow! If anyone is looking to buy a Solara I would highly recommend it--and trust me Im not a "car guy". My family was always American car owners. Now everyone owns a Toyota. Well, except me, I bought a Lexus w/ all the $ I got for its high resale value!
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Awesome vehicle, great value - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
By Geri C. - January 10 - 7:03 amI just took delivery of a 2006 Solara and it is awesome. My previous vehicle was a 1999 Solara, which was a great car. I didnt think they could improve on the car, but they did! The new Solara is so quiet, it has great acceleration and the JBL audio system amazing.
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i love solaras - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
By bbstar - December 31 - 2:00 amFantastic vehicle, rides great, very quiet, i love the 5 speed and 6 cylinder combination.
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Solara stylish and fun to drive! - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By Bix - December 31 - 2:00 amThe Solara is absolutely the perfect car for me! I was first attracted to the stylish exterior, but was also pleased with the way this car handles, and the comfortable interior. Toyota really came up with a great car!!
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not impressed - 2002 Toyota Camry Solara
By zippo - December 30 - 10:00 amRode in one that of friend owns. Can you say rattles? Actually considered buying one and Im satisfied I didnt. The ride and mileage wasnt very impressive either.
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This car is BULLETPROOF - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
By x1mjp1x - December 28 - 4:51 pmIve racked up over 300,000 miles on this thing and the engine still starts and runs as quiet as the day I bought it back when it had 70K miles on it. The only mistake Ive ever made was a valve repair job at the Toyota dealership that cost me $1300. Couldve taken it anywhere else for half that price. Outside of that, for a car to be this old, replacing parts is normal, but infrequent. Its ridiculously over-powered and has higher horse power, torque, and towing capacity than some brand new SUVs. Why Toyota decide a car this size needed this much power in its class, who knows. Ive never towed a damn thing with it. I love this car. I talk to it and tell it so. I believe it loves me too.
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1999 Solara to a 2004 Solara - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By JasonS72 - December 26 - 10:00 amI purchased a Solara when they first came out in March 1999. It was my first car purchase and I have loved it ever since. I have had no major issue with the vehicle. I am purchasing a 2004 Solara and will really miss my 1999. It still runs like it was a new vehicle. This car is simply one of the best on the road, for the money.
