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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  Im glad everyone else liked theirs cuz. - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
  By disappointedowner - May 4 - 10:00 am

  I have 84k on my 99 solara. Im on my 4th set of tires, yes, 4th (no, Im not Mario Andretti). Had to have my fuel injectors replaced just after warranty was up (how convenient). The mirror unit fell out of the driver side sun visor and I was charged $186 for a new one. My air bag light has come on about 8 separate times, each $86 diagnostic check tells me "I dont have the gas cap on tight enough". I now have a record number of lights flashing on the dash - air bag, engine light, and track off, but all the diagnostic is going to tell me is that the gas cap isnt on tight enough.

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  05 solara low build qualit rattles etc. - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Rick - April 19 - 9:30 pm

  Solara is just ok, build quality does not meet my expectations for a (TOYOTA), rattles, thumps and bumps. I hope the reliability lives up to expectation. I wish I had spent a few thousand more for a Mercedes C-Class! We have one my wife drives, it is a PERFECT 10! CAUTION sady finance and insurance dealings. WATCH OUT, I caught them. Buy a C-Class! Rick

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  Only OK -- Wouldnt Buy it Again - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Travelpro0104 - April 14 - 4:56 pm

  After the leaky roof was fixed two times and I still have to fix the hesitation with excelleration, its an okay car. The tires for life deal is a scam since it requires oil changes every 3,500 miles or the warranty is voided. The car looks great, but I want more than "a looker" to keep me happy.

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  Camry Solara V6 - 2003 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Bob Burner - March 20 - 10:00 am

  This is a quiet and comfortable auto; no complaint there. But its turning radius needs to be shortened considerably. Also, I would like to see tighter steering; the Solara doesnt do well in highway turns. Otherwise, a fine car.

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  Wildest car Ive ever owned - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Ana - February 26 - 1:03 am

  I LOOOOOVE this car! Its beautiful to look at, great stability in the driving, outrageous pick up... just cant say enough about how pleased I am.... so far

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  Rattles in back windows - 2008 Toyota Camry Solara
  By RS - February 25 - 11:03 am

  My retirement car after looking at many convertibles. Love the car with the top down, but hate it with the top up because of the rattles in the back side windows, especially the passenger side). On bumps or rough roads, the window sounds like it is going to fall out of track. It started when I drove it off of the dealership lot and I was assured it would be fixed, but after several attempts to fix it, including shims being put in the back side window and a tear in the headliner while trying to fix it, I have now been told by the dealership and Toyota Corp. that there is nothing that can be done, that it is problem with this model. A $32,000 car and nothing can be done!

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  Best "compromise" used car I found - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By DaveV - January 26 - 4:48 pm

  I was in the market for a used car that was not too big, too small, not a real expensive "luxury" model nor a real basic model with no frills. I knew I wanted leather interior, a power drivers seat, good acceleration,comfort, quiet interior and VG seat comfort so the search went on for about two months reading reviews and test driving used cars. A 2010 Lincoln MKZ caught my attention but I found that the seat was not as comfortable as I wanted and the three Ford service centers in my area stunk when it came to appointments and their attitude towards their customers. I then test drove a 2004 Solara SLE and I knew I had found the right car so the search began for the right Solara for me. I ended up driving 149 miles to a Toyota dealer in Georgia to look at a 2006 Solara SLE V6. Based on the CarFax and Autocheck reports and the overall condition of the vehicle, it seemed to have been pretty well maintained so I bought it and drove it home. (newer timing belt and water pump) I had my local Toyota dealer go over the car and it needed spark plugs and a battery. The $498 for spark plugs (mostly labor) was a shock but the irridium plugs do last for a very long time and I only put about 5,000 a year on a car so those are likely the last plugs to go in for me. The transmission felt sort of odd in the way it sometimes shifted when I coasted to a slow speed then reapplied pressure to the gas pedal so I mentioned that to the dealer and they cleared and updated the computer module to learn my driving habit and that did make a difference. The new plugs did improve the feeling of acceleration and Ive been using 89 octane for the last two months then I plan on going to 87 soon to see if I feel a difference in performance. The car is comfortable, quiet inside, everything does what its supposed to do and the styling is timeless IMHO. Driving around town is pleasurable but this vehicle really shines on the highway at higher speeds with enough reserve power to pass other vehicles that are already doing 70MPH even with the A/C on. Thank goodness I felt the 3.3 engine was mandatory for me. On a smooth road surface the car rides on a cloud and when theres a bump or rough road surface the "sport suspension" shows up but the bumps are cushioned. So if you want a big old luxury car ride or a real sports car ride this car may not be for you as its a combination of both. There is some "road feel" through the steering wheel but not like a real sports model but overall this is a very nice vehicle and Im not sorry that I bought it. Just be aware of the older Toyota "dashboard" problem with cracking or feeling sticky and the pulling the left on some model years that Ive read about on-line. If the car pulls to the left dont rely on a wheel alignment to cure it. Find another Solara that doesnt pull to the left or that has a dashboard in better condition.

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  $2000 to fix the head lights? - 2007 Toyota Camry Solara
  By kathleen - January 16 - 4:16 pm

  The problems that are popping up are rather disappointing. We have a 2007 Toyota Solara convertible with HID head lights. The head lights work when you first turn them on but one goes out after 10 seconds and the other goes out after about 20 minutes. I was floored when they stated the bulbs were $368.00 each, and they did not stock them. I went to an auto parts store and purchased a bulb for $89.00 but it did not fix the problem. I took it to the dealer to repair the lights when they informed us that it would cost $2000 to repair the system and it was not covered as our car has 40,000 miles on it and I voided because I put in an after market bulb. The problem has not been fixed yet.

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  Fabulous - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By qtip - January 13 - 10:00 am

  No granted, I have only had this car for three days, but I just love it. Many areas of this car have the quality look and feel of the more expensive Lexus SC cars. The interior design well thought out and built, but it was the handling on the test drive that sold me on this baby. We took this car out on a slightly pitted back road and let it open. The suspension was fantastic and when taking tight turns at high speeds we experienced very little roll. This car hugs the road very well and the automanual shifting makes it very fun to drive. It is by no means a sport coupe, but is far more sporty than the Camry or old Solaras.

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  08 Solara SE 4 Hardtop - 2008 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Rob from Martinsburg - December 19 - 4:30 am

  I bought this car for a great price towards the end of February. Its not the top of the line model but it has the moonroof, 6 disc, and the alarm system. Yes, there is some tranny lag and no, I havent yet taken it in for the re-flash as I dont think that it will affect it much anyway. Ive found that the slow shifts do not occur when the shifter is in manual shift mode & Im having a blast shifting in manual through town and when merging. Gas MPG has improved @30 MPG combined with 4200 miles which is very acceptable being that my 05 XB gets 33 mpg. The Solara rides very smooth, the front strut tie bar keeps the front end flat and the trunk is huge. Headlights are great & cd display dim.