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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  Somewhat Disappointed - 2008 Toyota Camry Solara
  By xwxman - May 28 - 3:06 am

  Disappointed that the new engine and trans needs a TSB update (0068-08) to fix poor shifting and acceleration. Disappointed that the radio display is very weak/dim and unviewable with sunglasses. Disappointed that the brakes grab and are noisy. Disappointed with rattles and squeaks that have already cropped up.

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  Love my car! - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Christine - May 24 - 3:33 am

  This car is sporty and fun to drive. The rear seats have much more room than any convertible Ive ever ridden. Its a wonderful car to drive daily in the south. Vacations in the car have been wonderful.

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  Solara SLE - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Solara Lover - May 22 - 2:00 am

  Bought the car a few months ago. Love it! Its Quick, tight, stylish, and smooth as silk. The previous owner put a trd sway bar and 215/55/16 toyo tires on the factory rims. It handles like a dream! The mirrors should fold though, and the sound is not as crisp as my maxima BOSE was.

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  It Has Surpassed My High Expectations - 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Mainstay - May 22 - 2:00 am

  I had a high expectation of quality and performance for this high end Toyota automobile. The car has been a true pleasure to drive and has greatly increased my feeling that I made the right decision. For me it has been a perfect combination of a sporty car, plenty of power, mid-sized room, luxury feel, nice features, quality/reliability, and the fun of a convertible. I have been driving it for about one month now including one long road trip. The only negative that I have found is that the top makes a flutter sound on the interstate when I get behind large trucks. I am sure that it is a wind force thing. It was noticeable without the radio on, but not a real problem. I love the car.

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  Outstanding Quality - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Patricia Kappenhagen - May 20 - 10:06 am

  I have less than 3,000 miles on my car but driving it from Texas to Florida was a great experience for my husband and me. The quality and handling of the vehicle is superb in all categories.

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  Excellent - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By IMAPUGLUVR - May 18 - 2:00 am

  I have had my Solara for two months and love it!

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  Great with the top down only - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By murphydurphy - May 15 - 10:00 am

  We bought the car during the summer months. Should have driven the car with the top up. Impossible to see on the sides. I hate driving at night due to the terrible blind spots. We have owned other convertibles never had blind spots as bad as this Camry. With the top down its great. But we live in the Midwest so the top is not down a whole lot. I hope Toyota works on the blind spot problems. If anyone test drives this car they need to drive with the top up as well as down. Be careful. I have almost cut off many people due to the blind spots. Added the little round mirrors on the side mirrors to help with this problem. Most likely would not buy another Camry convert.

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  Love the new Solara Convertible - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By JR SSlawyer - May 14 - 10:00 am

  Had a 2001 Volvo and lease was up - traded for new Solara which I had seen at the Chicago Auto Show. The car rides smooth, has much more space and plenty of pep. For the few little "creature comforts" you got with the Volvo, the additional space and $10,000 price difference are worth it.

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  <3 - 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
  By lovemytoys - April 30 - 7:50 am

  I bought my Solara over 3 years ago at 50K. Now its at 99.6K and has never left me stranded. Replaced timing belt, brakes, window fell off track once and valve cover gaskets and struts most recently. The car does have a smoking issue still, and has oil changes no more than every 3K (castrol syntec). Just now needing a transmission checkup and probably a flush. The ac compressor makes noise but hasnt died yet. Overall its great, minor maintenance compared to vehicles.

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  06 Solara - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By jashrt - April 23 - 6:23 pm

  Very enjoyable to drive. I like very much not seeing a lot of Solara on the road. While driving on the freeway at about 70MPH a truck in front of me lost part of its load. I had to make a quick move to the emergency lane and back on the road the car handle great!