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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  Toyotas for us ! - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
  By MILK HAULER - January 20 - 10:00 am

  This is our second Toyota, first was a 03 Camry XLE. Wife had to have the soft top. So far this seems to be a great machine. Its got the bling factor she needed for a progressive real-estate broker. The fuel milage and sportyness to make it fun to drive! Thanks Toyota!

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  1st Toyota! - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Robert J Hayden - January 4 - 9:16 am

  I always was intrigued by Toyotas but never found 1 that I wanted, or not @ a great price. The choice was between this & the Accord coupe. This won because it had more equipment & was an 06. The car rides great, excellent power, 5 speed automatic & nice, leather seats. Body is supurbly tight! Engine revs to 2100 rpm when cold, too high? Redlines @ only 5800 rpm, maybe because max torque is @ 3500 rpm? JBL stereo is awesome. Its an American made Toyota, assembled in Georgetown, KY. If you can get a good deal on a Solara, buy it!!

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  The best - 2002 Toyota Camry Solara
  By rallen - December 31 - 8:23 am

  I have owned over 50 cars over 35 years of driving. This is the best. Average 33 mpg no matter how I drive. Over 125,000 miles and no problems. None. This car is even better than my 1983 300td Mercedes.

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  One year later and still in love - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
  By rscott77x - December 31 - 2:10 am

  This car is still a delight to me every weekend when I drive it (I metro to work during the week). It is a real looker. Folks stare! Build quality is a daily joy. This was my first new car in 30 years and worth the wait.

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  Unbelievable - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Willyb - December 30 - 10:00 am

  Recently purchased. Excellent ride and comfort on 1000 mile highway trip. 4 cyl had plenty of power for 80-85 mph cruising and passing. Unbelievably quiet at highway speeds. 33+ mpg is hard to beat

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  ramblers of russellville, ohio - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By sportster - December 30 - 10:00 am

  We have had this car for 6 weeks or so and it is great!!Red and hot!!

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  quiet and smooth - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By gop_reptile - December 30 - 10:00 am

  The 4 cyclinder is responsive and quite powerful at high speeds when passing. While not as fast as the V6 the fuel economy is about a third better. Handling in the corners is great. Even at high speeds (80 mph +) the ride is very quiet and smooth.

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  2004 Solara SLE V6 - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Roadrunner - II - December 24 - 2:00 am

  I traded in a 2000 SLE V6. This car had the same sticker as the 2000 did but comes with many more features that were only found on the Lexis back then. This car is smooth, quiet, comfortable, powerful and fun to drive.

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  good looking fun driving - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By SLS - December 22 - 7:20 pm

  best looking convertable around smooth driving quiet and quick,this car is priced extremely well/ No reason to go back to the dealer

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  Great economy, zero fun - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Kent - December 20 - 2:00 am

  Very reliable, great mileage. Very uncomfortable interior design. Toyota cheaped out on the interior. The seats are the worst. Body looks great but feels cheap and looks cheap when you look close. Great truck space. Very zippy for a 4 cylinder. Radio controls on steering wheel are nice but they dont allow you so scan, you can only choose preselected channels??