2004 TOYOTA Camry Solara 3.3L V6 5AT (225 HP)

Vehicle Overview

While the four-door Camry was a dream for many, the two-door version named Solara was designed as a personal luxury coupe for empty-nesters.

Toyota didn’t need another sport-coupe vehicle on the market. It was already focused on a different segment when it introduced Solara’s first generation in 1998. Fast forward four years, and in the summer of 2003, the carmaker revealed the second generation of the comfortable coupe.

Despite its aerodynamic look and raked windshield, the Camry Solara was not a sports car. Its front fascia featured a small reversed trapezoidal grille, and a pair of elliptic headlights swept back over the fenders. Its fat bumper sported two round fog lights and a broad grille between them. The beltline stretched over the fenders and doors in a fluid, wave-like shape, while at the back, the carmaker added narrow taillights. Since it wasn’t a sports car, Toyota didn’t consider installing a rear wing or even a lip-spoiler on the trunk.

Inside, the carmaker installed a large interior with wide bucket seats at the front and zero side bolstering. On the tilted center stack, Toyota added an option for a navigation system with large buttons and turning knobs. Like most personal luxury coupes on the market, leather upholstery and wood trims on the dashboard were mandatory.

Under the hood, the carmaker offered a choice of two gasoline engines. For starters, it began with an inline-four unit, complemented by a punchier 3.3-liter V-6. Toyota paired both of them with a five-speed automatic transmission.