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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Good Sporty car - 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
By rscarawa - August 21 - 10:00 amI purchase this V6 5speed car about 6 months ago and have been very happy with it. It is a roomy 2 door coupe with similiar room to the camry. The engine is reasonably powerful and the interior rid is quiet. I have the JBL radio. It does pretty good but some songs seem to be unbalanced. The suspension is not sporty. It is very soft and there is much body roll. The clutch has a very smooth feel and the gears shift quickly. Gas mileage is 25 city and 31 hwy I added the TRD struts, springs and swaybar to improve the handling of the car. This makes the Solara handle like a much smaller car. If you like the small car feel, this is the way to go.
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Average Car - 2002 Toyota Camry Solara
By SCR - July 31 - 10:00 amAfter owning Hondas for many years, I decided to switch to Toyota because I liked the look of my Solara. Theres plenty of room. Its smooth riding and handling. It has a luxurious look for the price. Its just not a fine tuned car. It doesnt have the precision of my Hondas. Its an excellent car for someone who wants a vehicle that you put the key in, put gas in it and go. Dont expect to get much more out of it. I compare it to a big econobox that you really cant get much more out of the engine or transmission. Nonetheless, everyone who gets into my car seems to love it. I wish I shared their enthusiasm since Im the one who drives it everyday.
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End of the Line - 2008 Toyota Camry Solara
By RG - July 26 - 2:26 amConvertible is one that actually can comfortably hold 4 - with my two active sons in the back seat. It has very nice ride, especially on the highway. Navigation system could be improved to allow adjustments while moving. Voice recognition better than others used. Overall an enjoyable car to take out on ride, especially on a nice sunny day, with enough room for the family and all the junk in the trunk.
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So Far So Good - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
By Jeffry - July 19 - 2:00 amI spent over a year trying to replace a 1987 Audi 5000 Quattro for a reaonable cost and this is what I came up with. Most any other car I could afford had low frequency road noise rumbles which I cant stand. Im 40-something but single and work in entertainment, so style is important. The Solara is a not- a-family car with enough room for 3 hotties in the back seat and a good sound system. To be called a "fly ride" by 20-something starlets and still attractive to middle age executive types of both sexes is a neat hat trick. Looks like a Lexus at a fraction of the price. 140 mph speedometers on cars that will never go that fast are truly stupid.
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Beware the 4cyl - 2007 Toyota Camry Solara
By Sorry I bought it - July 14 - 11:20 pmThe 4cyl is a clumsy and unrefined engine that ruins an otherwise good car. Poor engine controls, driveablity, hesitates badly often and wants to stall when it is cold (warming up) leads to an unhappy driving experience. Have been back to the dealer several times and Im told the car is operating normally, and I should drive it "more aggressively". I bought the 4 to save gas, not beat on it. Combined hwy/cty or city only mpg is worse than my old, big 6 that I traded in. Hwy mpg is ok. Ive had other small issues that the dealer took care of.
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2006 Convert. - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
By Barry - July 5 - 4:36 amThis is my 3rd convertible in 8 years and without a doubt the best. I went from a Chrysler Sebring to a SAAB 9-7. More room inside, better looking on the outside. Very quiet with top up, you forget that you are driving a convertible.
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Great car - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
By matt - June 29 - 1:36 amI bought the car used from relatives in 05, with 203,000 miles on it, and its now running 260,000 with no problems. I had to replace brakes, rotors, and struts when I bought it (blame it on a bad mechanic that my uncle used to use) and only have replaced spark plugs ($30 from Toyota) and spark plug tube seals ($12 from Toyota). Its a great car, great ride, performance is lower because its a 4-cyl. Great first car.
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Not as nice as youd expect - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
By TonyV - June 4 - 10:46 amYoud expect more from Toyota. After a month check engine light came on and the dealer determined that cylinder 3 misfires (it had erratic idling and would not accelerate properly). All they did was reset the computer. 2 weeks after they did it, check engine light came on again. Feels like the same problem. The car has 1400 miles on it. Also the door does not always close right away. This is due to the fact that there is no frame around the glass. Also even when it does close, there is excessive noise from the wind when driving at 50 mph. You have to pull the window down and then close it again for the wind to go away. Taking it to the dealer again tomorrow...
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Smoooooth Solara - 2002 Toyota Camry Solara
By Chop100 - May 13 - 10:00 amI traded-in a 2000 Volvo S70 for the Solara. The Solara wasnt on my radar screen but the salesman suggested I try it and I was impressed from the get-go. It doesnt take corners like a sports car, but the overall performance with the new 157 hp 4 cyl is surprisingly good.
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Hoped For Better - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
By Mark - May 10 - 6:53 pmI find this vehicle to be a pig on fuel and underpowered at that. The car is fun to drive because of the conv. top but lacks in stereo quality and the navigation system has a mind of its own. At times the nav. is very annoying, but all in all a fun car. The tires are low profile on 17 wheels and they cut the moment you touch a curb.
