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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UNBELIEVABLE MACHINE - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By SnoopBman - October 5 - 2:33 amIve owned my Solara for 4+ years now and I have nothing but positive words for this car. I currently have around 165K on the car, primarily highway miles and it still runs as soft, smooth and quietly as it did the first day I purchased it. Im amazed at what Toyota has done with this machine. Ive only had minor repair issues in the past mainly due to my excessive driving. Only had to replace driver side window regulator because it was broken into and regulator was damaged. And I have an AC leak which I hope wont be too much of a repair before this summer hits.
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Worst Owning Experience Ever - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By Eric S - October 4 - 12:00 pmHad problems from day 1. The car had the "Left Drift Issue", rattle in dashboard, and the start of transmission problems. The car was in the shop 4 times for the pull issue and the rattles, but the dealership was never able to fix them. Eventually was told that the car is suppose to pull to the left. Completely unsatisified with this car, coming from a family that owns nothing but Toyotas. Owned the car for a total of 5 months before I had enough and traded it in on a brand new Scion tC, which has had absolutely no problems at all. I guess the plant in Kentucky should take notes on how cars are built in Japan because they sure as hell cant compete with the quality from overseas.
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Great cap down! - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By swanney2 - October 1 - 2:00 amNoting close to it for the money!!
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I love it! - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
By Convertible Girl - September 30 - 6:36 amIts the best looking convertible for the price and it drives very smooth like a more expensive car. Every Friday night I put the top down and sail home with a big smile on my face! Its so much fun to drive!
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Great Car!! - 2000 Toyota Camry Solara
By jitenbm - September 29 - 10:00 amA really fun car to drive. And very reliable, comfortable and safe. But for the economy (what do u expect from a V6?!), a great buy.
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euphoria - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By miguel a. - September 26 - 10:00 ami just bought this vehicle and both myself and my wife are overwhelmed by its performance,beauty,and comfort. i hope it it not let me down!
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Solid - 2008 Toyota Camry Solara
By SC - September 22 - 6:50 amAwesome purchase for the money. Lots of features for cheap. Alloys, fog lights, power everything, ABS, moonroof, steering wheel audio controls. Avg. 31 mpg in mixed driving so far. Im 63" and have plenty of room. Can fit in backseat no problem. Very sufficeint power with the 4 cyl.
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Outstanding Quality - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
By Richard - September 19 - 11:46 amThe quality and finish is better than BMW. The sound system is a 10, the highway mileage is outstanding at 35 MPG, the the rear seat legroom is more than any other convertible and accomodates 6 adults. The trunk can hold 3 sets of golf clubs, the Audi A4 cant even hold one set. The large trunk trade off is the boot height and restricted rear vision. Feature for feature the $30,000 Solara beats the $82,000 BMW 645 Convertible unless you prefer to have a V-8 and get 15 MPG and pay the gas guzzler tax.
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Surprise - 2003 Toyota Camry Solara
By Fabio - September 18 - 2:00 amInterior make you feel you are in a much more expensive car. Very quiet interior and powertrain. Had VW Passat before no comparison. Solara is a dream as far as low noise is concern. Handling is good. Acceleration is great. Had vibration on the steering when applying brakes, fixed by dealer next day by recalibrating rotors.
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A Most Excellent Car - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
By David - September 11 - 7:00 pmThis is not only the first convertible Ive ever owned but its my first actual new car. After exhaustive research prior to buying I have to say that I am completely thrilled with the Solara. Fun to drive, hip and showy to look at and I know I can count on the Toyota quality. People mistake it for a Lexus constantly at first glance. When I drive it I can actually feel myself relaxing and unwinding on the way home from work. I couldnt have made a better choice! Black-on-black 2006 Solara Convertible SLE.
