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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Disappointed Owner :( - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
By Sad Owner :( - April 25 - 11:16 amIm very disappointed on how the cars finish has held up. My sun visors on both sides have been replaced 3 time because of a wear hole in the same place, dashboard marks up and cant remove marks, top has a hole in it from where it folds over when the top is down, window rubber stoppers keep falling off after 3 repairs, door panel is coming undone and about 5 more things that are poor quality. Ive been to the dealership MANY times and was told by Toyota area tech that Toyota doesnt care and thats what happens to convertibles when exposed to the sun. POOR ENGINEERING!!! I thought I was buying a Toyota and a company that stands behind without a fight, but I was wrong. This was my 5th new Toyota.
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review of my Solara - 2002 Toyota Camry Solara
By jmeitzen - April 19 - 10:00 amVery pleased. The 5th Toyota Ive owned has the most power AND gets the best gas mileage of them all, plus is safer, smoother, and roomier. Wish I got a sunroof though. The back seat is a little hard to get into from drivers side, but roomy for a 2-door, but a little short on head room. Needs option for a graphic EQ & a deck that plays a CD w/MP3s but sound system is still above avg. I prefer rear wheel drive. Torque steer not bad; level largely determined by tires. Turning circle not as tight as a 96 Camrys. Anyway, Im not selling the car anytime soon. Excellent value for quality, comfort, and power for the price.
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My 2006 Solara - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
By J.J. Hemingway - April 18 - 1:56 pmGreat car. After driving a Mazda Miata for a number of years I graduated to a car with a trunk & back seat. Steering and handling not as tight at the Miata. But overall a great car. Great pick-up, and people swear it is a Lexus - almost but half the price of the Lexus convertible. Always gets lots of nice looks and comments. I love cars that have that effect on people!!
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Good car... but not great - 2007 Toyota Camry Solara
By randycareagain - April 12 - 10:53 pmMy mom bought this car brand new and I bought it off of her in 2010. I got it from her with around 70k miles on it. The 4 cylinder is a good, gas-sipping engine but a bit underpowered. This showed when driving on hilly interstates and with the cruise control on. The sport shift was also useless with very slow response. The only real issue I had with the car is the long, heavy doors. After a while, the driver side door started to sag causing the windows not to seal all the way. Heavy rain or even a car wash would allow a bit of water to leak into the car. Those issues aside, I was very happy with the car and just traded it in recently with around 132k miles on it.
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car hesitation and drivability - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
By Ginette - April 3 - 6:00 amGreat car, very confortable on good roads, while not as great on our poor quality Quebec roads. A/C is fantastic.
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Suppercharged Solara - 2000 Toyota Camry Solara
By xxxxxxx - March 2 - 10:00 amI would encourage anyone seeking more power on the v6, 3liter engine to speek with Toyotas TRD (Toyota Racing Division)group, for about $5,200 I had a Toyota dealership install TRD supercharger, upping HP from about 200 to 276, sport suspention-springs and struts which lowers the car about an inch and a half, short shift making for a sweet short through and lastly a sport exhaust, throw in a K&N filter and Im the sleeper no mustang GT, regular BMW or Boxter expected to meet. All this and maintaining the Toyota warrenty!! Have Fun.
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I love this car! - 2002 Toyota Camry Solara
By smhmkh - December 12 - 10:00 amI bought my Solara used with only a little over 23,000 miles, and it was 3 years old. I love the smooth drive, the power, and the fully loaded interior. It hums with style. I am completely satisfied and would buy another Solara any day.
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Great in Summer, Terrible in Winter - 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
By Spookieken - November 1 - 2:00 amI love the car in the summer, but it is awful in the snow. The tires spin, the car gets stuck and fishtails out of control at times, even in light snow conditions. Its definitely not made for the new england region.
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Great convertible - 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
By Jerrys Solara - October 25 - 10:00 amI have owned my Solara convertible for 1 year. It is a beautiful convertible with all the Toyota quality and reliability. Excellent on the highway at 70+ mph, very quiet. People stop to tell me what a pretty car it is. Large trunk, spacious rear seat. It is an unexciting car to drive. The rear window visibility is below average.
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5 Years 105,000 Miles - Still Love It - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By Diana - August 22 - 10:43 pmEight cars to date, this is the first car Ive owned where I put more that 50,000 miles on it. This is my second Toyota. Hasnt had any problems, engine is still quiet and smooth, and parts still fit together like they were new. Mileage has gone down some, from 30 to 28 MPG - still excellent for me. Was not looking for a sport car, just a sporty look, so the performance (or lack thereof) isnt important to me. I never thought I would have a car this long, and I am in no hurry to buy another.
