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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Looks like a Lexus, feels like a Toyota - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By Philipjgcspt - April 19 - 10:00 amThe Solara is pretty big for a sports coupe. I like it because of its roomy interior for the driver and passenger, but it is a little tight for people in the back. Make sure your friends are 510" or shorter. Nice acceleration for a V4 and gas mileage is good. The design is comparable to a Lexus 430 (which I would have bought if I had the money); the big difference is that the Solara uses a platinum-color plastic mold, whereas the SC430 uses an wood accents on almost everything.
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Beware of Toyota and Customer Service - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By A Wallace - April 19 - 10:00 amIf you own a 2004 Toyota and are involved in an accident be prepared to wait on parts needed to repair your car for at least 8 weeks. Only having owned my new car for 22 days,I was involved in an accident on Feb 22, 2004. There were two parts that have delayed the repair of my car...1. Radiator support and 2. Air bag sensors. I have contacted customer service at Toyota headquarters and transfered to the parts delay team and the only answer I get is that the parts "may" ship on Friday and then they dont. Customer Service is just a word at Toyota. Love the car (what little time I have got to drive) but will not purchase anything from Toyota.
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Love it - 2000 Toyota Camry Solara
By Jeff26 - April 17 - 10:00 amBought the SLE coupe as a certified used vehicle about a year ago and have put 17,000 trouble free miles on the car. Smooth, quite ride (except with the sunroof open). Great acceleration and good handling. Gas mileage is lower than I wouldve expected from a V6...Im averaging 21-22..would expect 24 or so...but even so, it is still well worth it!!
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2004 Toyota Camry Solara - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By FORBON32 - April 13 - 10:00 amI purchased a black Solara SLE V6 Coupe a few weeks ago. Took it to the dealership today to check and fix the alignment. It seemed to pull to the left pretty bad. Just got home and test drove it.....it seems completely fixed. Other than that problem, upon purchasing the vehicle, there were some chips and blemishes in the paint(Of course with black you can see everything). Am planning on taking it back to the dealership to have it fixed. Other than that I simply love driving my Solara and the inside and stereo system is awesome!!!!!!!!
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Cant trade this one - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By Amy - April 12 - 3:33 pmI have had this wonderful car for 5 worry-free years. I only change the oil, and just got a new battery and new tires. This car gets excellent gas mileage (4-cyl model - 38+ on my most recent hiway trip), and all comment on its great looks. I would like to have something to carry my kayaks in, and have been looking, but just cannot part with this great car. Im going to the outdoor outfitter to get a Thule rack for the top (I already have a bike rack), so Ill still have my low maintenance, excellent mileage, comfy car. Drove from Virginia to Texas in one day (4am to 11pm), and felt great when I got there - the car already had 60k miles when I made the trip and was totally reliable.
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WORST CAR EVER - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By barkins - April 8 - 10:00 amOur family has been buying Toyota for the past 20 years. From Corollas to Camrys and we couldnt imagine getting any other car when it came to buying a new car for me. It was the worst mistake of my life. From day 2 the car started to make a loud engine noise, the alignment was always off, the tire pressure light keeps going on and the seats move around during turns and sudden breaking. The dealership did nothing to fix any of my problems and nor did any other in my area. They all said the same thing; "ITS SUPPOSE TO DO THAT" I guess Toyotas are suppose to suck. I finally got rid of it and am now driving a Honda Accord with ZERO problems. Good buy Toyota forever.
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Most Fun-to-Drive Car Ive Ever Owned! - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
By Sharon S - April 3 - 4:40 pmThis is the first convertible that Ive owned and I absolutely love it! Its a beautiful car on the outside and very stylish on the inside. The ride is smooth and quieter than I expected for a soft top. The seats are very comfortable and the sound system is nice... basically like sitting in your living room chair, listening to your stereo. Reviewers on other sites complain about the lack of sports car performance on this car, but this not a sports car, its a touring car with extra horses. Lastly, the price is right for those like me, looking for luxury at a reasonable price. It even uses regular 87 octane gas! This car strikes just the right balance between practical and fun.
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Unlit dashboard switches - 2007 Toyota Camry Solara
By Jean - March 29 - 1:46 pmOverall I am quite satisfied. Theres nothing like a Toyota for dependability and style.
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Great car but some flaws - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By solaraowner - March 23 - 6:43 amI bought this new in 2004. Its reliable and Ive never had any major problems with it, except cosmetically. The paint scratches very easily and the interior plastic panels came loose multiple times and I had to take it to several dealers before they fixed it for good. I wish for the money the car had a more quality interior. Mileage is excellent. The tire pressure monitor is way too sensitive and I wish it told you the pressure- sometimes it goes off it there is too much air in the tire, but you have to check the tires BEFORE adding air for this reason. The snow guard or whatever under the car came loose a few times when other people drove my car and the driver seat can come loose.
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Luxury and Fun - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
By josmama - March 13 - 9:16 amThe Solara has been a fun and reliable car. It handles well in snowy conditions and is so much fun to drive in the summer. I have had so many compliments on what a nice looking car I have! Visibility is a problem when the top is on, as with all convertibles, however, you get accustomed to it. It does have a couple second delay when accelerating, once it gets past that...youre gone! Its a good combination of luxury and fun! Love this car!
