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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LUXURY WITHOUT ALL THE EXPENSE - 2003 Toyota Camry Solara
By Baby-Doll - September 7 - 10:00 amI love my Solara...what else can I say. I did not upgrade to the V6 because of finicial responsibility, but I am still trilled with the 4 cylinder. It has alot of pick me up compared to my 92 Accord. It feels like a V6 to me. Love the stereo....Go buy you one today!
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Research pays off - 2002 Toyota Camry Solara
By msupakeng - September 7 - 10:00 amI relied on user reviews and Edmunds for months to help me find a new car to buy that I would be pleased with for years to come. I reveiwed several cars before choosing the Solara. Its sporty yet large enough to be practical. It accelerates quickly & breaks smoothly. I love my high quality automobile. I would recommend not only researching the cars themselves but also the financing. The only thing I dislike about my car is the sleazy dealership it came from. They ripped me off. I wont even drive my car by there let alone get it serviced there. So be sure to know all the facts about leasing & buying before you go to the dealership.
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Best value and good looking coup - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By cooldad24 - September 1 - 10:00 am1. Ride is smooth, and relax. The suspension is firmmer than Camry like Lexus ES300 in sprot mode. Maneuverability is good. The steering weight toward the light side. Neither wind nor road noise was heard. The ambient is very like the one in Lexas. Materials is first rated and on par of Lexus. Leather is great on touch. Engine is Quiet, smooth & strong. The AT works great and smooth. Everyone laid eyes on it liked it. It looks very sporty and sexy. The cosmic Blue metallic I have is a very soft color and pleasant to eyes. Overall, we are satisfied with car in every category including the price. For 26K+, it provides features better than we expected.
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Best Car I Have Ever Had - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
By rkempen - August 31 - 7:33 pmI am amazed of how much I love this car.
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Great Car! - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By ToyotaNewbe - August 26 - 2:00 amTest drive the Solara! Thats all it took! There are very few negatives about this car! I bought the SE with the V-6 (I added the moonroof and comfort package.) The Solara has the comfortable, classy feel, combined with sporty looks and tons of power. The shift positions of the Automatic/manual overide takes some getting used to. Im not sure how well the plastic light covers will hold up....the salesman swore by them. The worse problem I have is there is a large blind spot behind the car (with my seat down low, I can not see for more than 10 feet behind...even with the mirrors!) CarMax and Autobytel were the best prices.
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Worth the money - 2000 Toyota Camry Solara
By verified - August 24 - 6:20 pmI have had this car for 4 years. I bought it as a compromise between mpg and comfort as I commute over an hour to work. I have only replaced the battery and tires in those 5 years and have put 200K+ miles on. Performing past my expectations.
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Kuol lexi girl car - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By Sabrina Burdette - August 19 - 2:00 amExcellent is the best way to explain. Everything about my car is excellent or WOW
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99 Solara is a GREAT Car - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
By dos1943 - August 18 - 10:00 amRuns so silently that many people cannot believe the engine had been started. Fast and powerful for a 6 Cyl personal car
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Love it - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
By aj - August 18 - 1:33 amIve had my Solara a little over a year and I just love it. Its so much quieter than my previous convertible. It handles great and the engine has just enough pep to keep my happy but not enough to get me into trouble. I highly recommend this car to anyone who is looking for a good balance between fun and functional.
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Toyota Solara SLE convertible - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By ross333 - August 13 - 6:10 amThere is a problem with rear view visibility from the drivers seat with the top up. The rear seat head restraints all so block vision out of small rear window. The Toyota body is not stiff enough with out the unit body roof, this makes the convertible a bit unstable on all but super smooth road surface. You get a lot of shake car needs improved body supports.
