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 981 through 990 of 1,098.00-
2004 Solara Review - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By Fergy1020 - December 17 - 2:00 amGreat car. 2nd Solara I have owned (1999) and the quality continues. Ordered with optioinal Nav system which is impressive and works very well. Also ordered with Satellite radion option which dealer thought would come with the Nav system. Was quite a project to get Satellite radio installed after the car was delivered without it!! Car rides well and is very quiet.
-
i love this car - 2002 Toyota Camry Solara
By bigatony - December 16 - 10:00 ami have had the pleasure of driving lexus, toyota, honda, and other types of cars and after very careful consideration to buying my first new car im 100% positive that i made the perfect choice in buying my 2002 solara
-
Solara V-6 Coupe sails - 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
By Chynadog - December 11 - 2:00 amI have a fully loaded coupe which would be an SLE if not for the manual transmission. The manual is a bit touchy in the lower gears and sometimes awkward. However, it begs to be accelerated and sails at highway speeds. It is quite comfortable on long trips. I have taken it on 3,500 mile round trips on a few occasions and this car is a dream on the freeway. The leather seats are a must, as are the v-6 engine and detailed security and safety features. If I had to do it over again, I might buy the automatic instead. This car is a classy and sporty Camry.
-
soooo satisfied - 2002 Toyota Camry Solara
By sooo satisfied - December 9 - 10:00 amAfter driving a 1998 BMW Z3, the Solara is a breath of fresh air. The Z3 was fun to drive, extremely dificult to live with, especially as my only source of transport. I love the Solara and have no regrets about trading in the Z3. The first thing I noticed about the Solara was that the steering is a little soft, but aside from that Im sooo satisfied
-
Its Awsome Baby! - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By lilpioneer12 - December 6 - 10:00 amIt is a great car that hold four people comfortably and it is real quiet compared to previous comvertables
-
I Love this car!! - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By AlwaysAToyota - December 6 - 10:00 amI purchased my Solara about a month ago and I absolutely love it! Ive had 3 Toyota vehicles in the past so I knew I would buy another, and I havent been disappointed! This is an attractive car and it drives even better. I love the power of the V6 and found it was good on gas. The interior is really comfortable and spacious and the radio sounds excellent too. I purchased mine in red in the SE sport trim and have gotten so many compliments on what Im driving! So if youre looking for a car thats affordable and want to look good driving it go with the Solara, I feel youll be just as pleased as I am.
-
Disappointed - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By djintn - December 4 - 8:56 pmSexy car, but with several problems. Been in shop four times within 11,000 miles, and two more times since then at 16,000 miles. Pulls to the left, BIG blind spot to the right rear, rattle in the dash and the 3.3 V6 has a hesitation at low speeds when you give it gas that has almost got me hit (Toyota claims that it was designed that way). Hood is magnet for rocks and paint is inferior. All of these issues can be found on the Toyota Owners boards and on the complaints section of the NHTSA website.
-
PERFECT CAR - 2003 Toyota Camry Solara
By ERIC - December 4 - 10:00 amWORTH YOUR MONEY, SMOOTH AND SLEEK, GORGEOUS OUTLOOKING,PERFECT INTERIO. CANT WAIT TO DRIVE IT EVERYDAY TO WORK AND FUN
-
My Toyota - 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
By cheryle - December 4 - 10:00 amI love everything about my Toyota. Gas mileage could be better, I get 19 to 25, but a small price to pay for the looks, styling and comfort. I really do love my Toyota!!
-
Functional, but with major problems - 2000 Toyota Camry Solara
By David Hull - December 4 - 9:06 amIve always owned Ford products until this Toyota, and was expecting great things. Bought it with just over 35,000 miles on it. At 55,000 miles, had to replace the engine after a broken push rod destroyed the lower half. Thankfully, the local dealer was able to arrange "good will" coverage, as the warranty had just expired. Ive never been able to keep an alignment on the car for more than a few months, and have major vibration through the steering column at highway speeds. It handles well but lacks any power, as you might imagine with a 4-cylinder. Im sorely disappointed with my first Toyota.
