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:
Showing 891 through 900 of 1,098.00-
great - 2003 Toyota Camry Solara
By moi - December 17 - 10:00 amThis is a fantastic car! Concumer Reports also recommends it, and the 2003 has better reliability that the 2003 Camry.
-
Convertible Bert - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
By kgulley - December 13 - 8:20 amI have grown to truly value this automobile in a really big way. Realistically, the only thing that I can say bad, is that the handling is typical of other Toyotas Ive driven, and I feel as though there is a certain amount of wind sheer and turbulence (if that is appropriate terminology) that I experience. Yet given the soft top, its understandable. Overall a great car, with no timing belt, unlike found in some other cars.
-
Give it a try - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
By novie - December 11 - 1:14 pm -
Reliable, fun, and hassle free - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
By Andy - December 9 - 6:10 amI bought my 1999 Solara in April of 2003 and havent had any major problems with it. Ive seen a lot of different reviews on here and some are accurate whereas others I cant understand. The interior is pretty straight forward, dont expect some crazy/flashy foreign interior. The ride is very smooth and it has decent power, but nothing huge compared to other coupes. I have had issues with the struts, but Im from Michigan. We have the worst roads in the entire country! Fuel economy is average, not as good as I expected from a Toyota, but overall Ive been VERY happy with my purchase. I have yet to fix a single thing on the car and Im approaching 76,000 miles on it.
-
lene - 2003 Toyota Camry Solara
By marlene - December 6 - 10:00 amac works very well
-
The best economy 2-door coupe ever.... - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By Siddh - November 27 - 5:40 amI had first driven a 2002 solara... and immediately fell in love with it. That was when i decided to get a solara as my first car. But in 2004, when i started looking for cars, i did not want to get the Solara, only because of the 2002s looks... this changed as soon as i saw the new 2004 solara.. i went for a test drive and did not waste any time getting it!! Its been almost an year, and it is a great car... no problems at all. All my friends now envy my Solara. Its got great interiors, and a great performance.. specially the V6. I would strongly recommend the Solara.
-
Thought I was Buying Quality - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By NrTsT - November 23 - 2:00 amI bought a Toyota after only owning Hondas figuring they would be about the same in quality. I was wrong. Since buying this car in December of 03 I have experienced many small problems.First the rear speaker deck rattles at the slightest hint of bass (music or or talk radio).Second the car has small rattlings throughout the cabin.Third the manual transmision is loud, notchy and at times very hard to shift.Fourth the AC fan has a highpitched chirping sound comming from it which means another trip to the horrible dealer to complain. Finally the dealer has been no help in resolving any of the above mentioned issues. Will not buy Toyota again:)
-
Awesome! - 2008 Toyota Camry Solara
By Wendell - November 16 - 6:36 amGreat style, well designed and fun to dive!
-
I love it. - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
By Jim Ehrsam - November 13 - 10:00 amSo far so good. The Solara Convertable gets a lot of heads to turn. You dont see them everywhere you go. We love to go cruising on Weekends and this is a great car for that.
-
Excellent Car - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
By murtaugh - November 13 - 10:00 amDefinitely has blind spots for backing up and multiple lanes when the top is closed. Excellent presentation. Very sharp looking car. Boot can be a little tricky to put on.
