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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  Fantastic Car - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By dkh - March 23 - 1:10 pm

  This car is the best for comfort and fuel economy much better than predicted, 26 city, 31 highway on average. The gauges are easy to see and read. Would buy this car again.

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  just like a lexus - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
  By daphne - March 21 - 10:00 am

  I Love my car, once i sat in it at the dealers, my mind was made up,the interior is so nice with the cherrywood grain ahhh, sweet,hey the car is noticed where ever Im at, I get the same question, what kind of car is that? and boy is it nice, oh yea the solara, is my lexus and i would not have it any other way, daphne

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  solara 2004 - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By hope - March 21 - 10:00 am

  Excellent Car...i get so many compliments!

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  car that sucks. - 2003 Toyota Camry Solara
  By david young - March 17 - 2:00 am

  hello, i just though i would warn all of you people out there going to buy a new solara that they suck. with 22000 miles on it my new car broke every tub the car had. it cost 3000 dollars to repair. but was under warrany thank god. but the car should never have done that in the first place.

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  Best car I have ever owned - 2003 Toyota Camry Solara
  By tpacey - March 17 - 2:00 am

  Very smooth and quiet. Like a Lexus

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  Satisfied Customer - 2002 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Satisfied Customer - March 9 - 5:33 am

  Purchased used with 82,000 miles. Have driven 5,000 miles so far. Typical Toyota, feels like a new car. Paint and interior still look like new. Even my 18 year old son (a Jeep guy) admits it really drives nice. Glad we bought it!

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  Love My Car - 2003 Toyota Camry Solara
  By kumarr - March 7 - 10:00 am

  Great car, easy to handle, quick and well responsive for me, great acceleration, and amazing looks. A fun set of wheels

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  Solara Convertible - 2007 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Bob - March 7 - 1:43 am

  This car is awesome. I love the way the top goes up and down in 10 seconds! Gas mileage is great and overall the car handles very well.

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  Great Convertable - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By R. Culp - February 24 - 2:33 am

  The Solara convertable is the best buy for the money of any convertable in the 30K-60K range. It has eye catching looks comfort and performance and is fun to drive. I looked at them all and the Solara is the best.

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  02 Solara Coupe - 2002 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Lunar Mist - February 21 - 10:00 am

  We traded in a 1995 2-d Camry with 200k miles for the Solara. This makes the 5th Camry weve owned. Very satisfied with the vehicle. Beautiful machine both in style and performance.