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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  Great car - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Rose g - August 9 - 10:00 am

  The ride is great and the new motor is very smooth

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  Great4 seat ragtop! - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Indasun - August 9 - 10:00 am

  I didnt want to give up my back seat and bought the Solara instead of a Nissan 350Z. Glad I did. I love using reg gas and having affordable tires.

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  I love this car! - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
  By dr jim - August 9 - 10:00 am

  I have always expected Toyota reliability to be excellent while wrapped up in plain old vanilla package. However, the Solara convertible is a joy to drive, great to just look at, and is getting over 30 miles per gallon during a mostly interstate comute. LOVE the car.

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  Very Pleased when I get to Drive it! - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Dan R - August 9 - 10:00 am

  Best Quality car I have ever owned! Handling and cornering is great. Slight hesitation noticed when demanding power. Rear visability poor due to roll bars built into rear seat rests. Fun to drive and gets many compliments when I manage to get the keys away from wy wife.

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  Design Flaws in my Toyota Convertible - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Nancy Yanes Hoffman - August 9 - 10:00 am

  1.NO TAPE DECK! Tape deck removed and replaced with useless map guide. 2. Passenger front seat is not electric. 3. Neither trunk nor passenger door can be opened with a KEY. Can only be opened from INSIDE the car. 4. Huge pillowed blocks bar rear-view visibility. Even with cushions removed, rear bar hinders visibility. 5. Only one electronic key given at purchase. 6. Coffee holders not firm and secure. Coffee always spills over. 7. Clock not brightly back-lit and poorly placed. You cant read the time from the drivers seat. 8. Virtually no room between front and back seats, which make the back seat useless. 9. CD only plays one CD at a time.

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  What an Improvement! - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Milwray - August 9 - 10:00 am

  Had a 2001 Solara Convertible that had so many problems with the roof (air/water leaks, creaks, severe shake, etc), that it was in the dealership more than I care to say. Even though Toyota said my complaints were "normal", I believed the car was doomed to be a problem. I had just filed the first step in the lemon law process, when the dealer called me to look at the new 2004 model. After much hesitation on my part, I decided to give Toyota another chance. They gave me a full days test drive before I purchased the car. AM I GLAD I DID! EVERYTHING I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE 2001 MODEL WAS ADDRESSED WITH THIS CAR. IT IS TRULY SUPERB!

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  I Customized Mine - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
  By MikeS - July 30 - 11:56 pm

  The car is a little boring if its stock. I TRDed mine and i love it, black with black wheels. I always get compliments and people mistake it for a 2004-2005. The only complaint I have is that i didnt get it in stick.. PS I got it with 72k miles on it and not one single problem..yet Buy with confidence. mike

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  Wonderful Car - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
  By H. Hart - July 29 - 9:10 pm

  My 1999 Solara SE V6 is a WONDERFUL car! For a first car, I thought it was too nice for me! I love the roominess of the two front seats and even the back seats. The sunroof is awesome and I love the one touch button that opens/closes or tilts it! Since this car is a Toyota, it´s going to be very reliable. I absolutely love the HUGE trunk! Everything is running smoothly with this car and my little sister can´t wait ´til she can drive it when I pass it down to her.

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  Fabulous Car! - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Bethers - July 22 - 3:03 am

  I work at a new car dealership, and I purchased this vehicle with 85K miles on it and it rides better than most of the new cars! Ive yet to have any problems with the vehicle. The acceleration is fantastic, and the ride is very smooth. The Solara is very sporty yet practical, and an all around great vehicle

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  Great Convertible - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
  By paulapi - July 17 - 1:16 am

  I am 55 and this is the most fun car that I have ever owned. The quietness on the road is remarkable. There is no wind noise and the car rides as well as any sedan I have owned. Tight feel and great ride!!