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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Blind Spot - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
By Debbie - April 9 - 2:16 pmSo far the only negative thing I have to say about the Solara is the blind spot. Quite frankly Im surprised more people have not mentioned this problem. I even had my 21 yr old daughter take the car to a trip to Orlando and she came back stating that shell never drive it again due to the blind spot. Ive had other convertables and have never noticed a blind spot. I am never quite sure that I am in the clear when I change lanes!! This problem could cause me to sell earlier than I would want to.
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Love It - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
By Rhonda - April 9 - 1:50 pmI love this car. Fun to drive, great with the top down. Its comfortable, reliable and performs great. Gas mileage is better than my 1998 Camry.
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Excellent! - 2003 Toyota Camry Solara
By Tony Y. Shen - April 6 - 10:00 amIts an excellent car, one of the most, if not the most, comfortable car in the market.
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Cowl shake - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
By bluewater bill - April 3 - 6:50 amWe have 2500 miles on our convertible. It is a very nice and well behaved car. Our major compaint is cowl shake. Going over a bump makes the whole car shake. I have reviewed other reviews and have not found this to be a current problem but got mention back as late as 2004, but I thought this was thing of the past.
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WOW.....JUST WOW! - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
By Jesper Joackeas - March 30 - 2:00 amTHIS CAR ROCKS MY WORLD!
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Great ride for older people - 2003 Toyota Camry Solara
By TonyCanada - March 30 - 2:00 amReliability is never a question. A great highway cruiser with good power. Suspension is on the soft side (no confidence in the turns). This car is more Lexus than Toyota and is great value if you only need two doors.
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First Class Fun & Reliability - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
By Charles - March 15 - 7:26 amIve owned my Solara for just about a year now. Its been quite a reliable, enjoyable, auto that looks quite attractive still. The only problem that Ive noted is that it is quite difficult to see out the rear passenger window when trying to back out of parking spaces, or merge into traffic. Otherwise, the car is more enjoyable and reliable than I had expected.
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Love This Thang! - 2003 Toyota Camry Solara
By Rumberger - March 8 - 2:00 amFabulous. Style to the max. Hugs the rode with determination. Great pep. Comfortable. Best leg room in the back seat of any others on the market. Roomy trunk space. Feel like a million bucks at a fair price.
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Lovin It - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By happy go lucky - March 1 - 2:00 amI could not be happier with my new Solara. The drive is incredibly smooth and quiet. The interior is fancy looking. The exterior is fancy as well.I had to choose between this and the Honda Accord and I chose the Solara because it drove so much better.
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Reliable Comfortable Good-looking Value - 2000 Toyota Camry Solara
By dapqam - February 23 - 11:26 pmI bought this car when 2 years old and with 30K miles. Now have 72K miles and only one significant problem. Driver side window motor quit. $500 dealer replacement. Otherwise great. Comfortable, good looking, reliable. In summer of 2008 I finally replaced the original battery! I take good care of my cars, synthetic oil, regular maintenance on coolant, brake fluid, transmission fluid, filters. Twice yearly oil application on underside of car and in doors and under hood to prevent rust. I plan on keeping this car indefinitely. Am always tempted to buy a new Camry but I keep this one because I am so happy with it.
