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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solara sports coupe - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By tara banks - June 1 - 2:00 amit is excellent. i love my new toyota solara sports coupe.
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My 2005 Toyota Solara SE Convertible - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
By Gary Green - May 31 - 3:13 pmDriving the 2005 Toyota Solara was a new experience for me as I had been driving a 1989 car. The convertible with the 3.3liter V-6 is smooth, quiet and has plenty of power. The interior and exterior are pleasing and modern. The rear seats actually hold two adults comfortably. The red exterior with black leather and trim causes this car to stand out in a crowd. Some of the things that I do not like are: the drivers seat speed; much too slow, the rear view is mostly blocked by the huge rear head rests, and the instruments atop the dash are difficult to see in bright light. The convertible top is simple to lower, and raise.
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Magnificent - 2002 Toyota Camry Solara
By KCN - May 30 - 2:00 amI bought one of the first ones in May 2000 and have been very happy. I wanted a family sized convertible and was about to buy the Chrysler Sebring, even though I wasnt wild about it. Then I heard an aannouncement of the Toyota Solara coming out in a year. I waited a whole year before the first production models were rolled out and have not been sorry about the wait.
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Great Alternative to the 4-door Blahs - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By Hern - May 21 - 10:00 amCouldnt make up my mind over the usual 4-door *yawn* options: Altima/Mazda6/Camry/Galant/Taurus/Accord . Solara is more Lexus than Toyota (just compare the int. & ext bits to the ES300). Quiet, quick ,and gas mileage close to 40 during 70-mile daily commute in Dallas traffic, and not weary afterwards. Lots of rear seat room for the 2 kids, and they can get out by themselves just fine. Lots of safety features standard. Likes to run, gets itÂ’s legs at 70 mph and just wants to go faster.
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Best coupe in its class... - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
By Mac - May 8 - 6:56 pmEngine a sleeper? This car is much faster than Accord with 240 ponies - greater torque, and at lower engine speeds + sequential shifter... For all complainers out there - try to shift it while driving - this car just might surprise you... I bought it for my wife and she loves it - beautiful interior, Lexus-like build quality, quiet engine, great performance, awesome stereo (option), and red interior with high quality beige cloth interior. I highly recommend this car instead of much overrated Accord....
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167,000 miles bought at auction - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
By Dana - May 2 - 2:33 amI bought this car at a auction with 130,000 miles. I have driven from SC to FL and SC to VA countless times. Now with 167,000 miles still runs great no problems at all! Very roomy, and fun to drive, looks great inside/outside. Im sold on toyota! I really dont want to sell it but with a baby I really need an SUV or sedan.
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Dream Machine in Red - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
By Denise - April 30 - 10:46 amI love my new car. It is so beautiful. Clean lines. Wonderful music system. Very easy to drive and handling and cornering is smooth. It has plenty of pep for my style of Metro driving. Seater heaters are very nice and I use them on cold morning. There is a blind spot on the right side... I have to be careful. The moon roof is perfect but a little noisey with the rubber wind shield, but doesnt blow my hair to pieces.
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TOO MANY CAMRYS - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By Elxtra - April 25 - 10:00 amJust got tired of seeing Camrys. I purchased my 2004 Solara SLE 9-1-03. I am very pleased with the car, it is quiet and smooth. Turns corners tight. Plenty of room and driver seat adjust nicely. Center console is large and two- tiered. Interior is sweet. All the fancy stuff. I know 3 days is not enough time to provide a in-depth review, Ill be back......
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GREAT CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By Daniel L - April 13 - 2:00 amI just bought my Solara and I love it! It is a fun car to drive for the price. I was amazed at the quality of the vehicle. I have owned many Toyotas and this is the most well made car for the price!
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Solara: Toyota or Lexus? - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By J. L. Mackey - April 13 - 2:00 amThis automobile has been outstanding since the first day. My wife and I have owned eight or so Toyotas and they have all been very reliable and of high quality. This one however, exceeds all previous autos. It,s a hoot to drive, has power to spare and looks like a design for the future (not some outdated style from the last ten years). Great value for the money. Go test drive one!
