The Toyota Camry Solara is a compact car built from 1999 to 2009 over 2 generations. Most were assembled in the United States — 66.7% of those on record. Between 1999 and 2004 it grew 7 cm longer and gained 68 kg. Engines offered: 4-cyl, V6. Worth buying? It scores near the top of what we track at 4.5/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Camry Solara is
The Toyota Camry Solara is a compact car that Toyota built from 1999 to 2009 — 11 model years. Our measurements put it at 2 generations, the current one starting in 2004. It has been offered with 4-cyl, V6 power. Its closest siblings in the Toyota range: Corolla, C-HR, Yaris.
Where the Camry Solara is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 583 Camry Solaras on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | 4T1 | 2000-2008 | |
| Canada | 2T1 | 1999-2003 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Toyota VIN decide which of these 2 lines your Camry Solara belongs to. What every character in a Camry Solara VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Toyota Camry Solara adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Camry Solara generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Camry Solara's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the Camry Solara that gives 2 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-2003 | 483 cm | 267 cm | 1440 kg | - | - |
| 2004 | 490 cm | 274 cm | 1508 kg | +7 cm | +68 kg |
Between 1999 and 2004 the Camry Solara gained 7 cm in length (+1.4%) and 68 kg in weight (+4.7%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the Camry Solara that is 68 kg against 7 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Toyota Camry Solara tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Camry Solara owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Toyota Camry Solara have? Power & range
The Toyota Camry Solara is offered with 2 powertrains — 3.3L 6-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 2 for the Toyota Camry Solara, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 3.3L · 6-cyl | Automatic (S5) | FWD | Regular |
| 4-cyl | 2.4L · 4-cyl | Automatic (S5) | FWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The Camry Solara by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Toyota Camry Solara. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Camry Solara | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 15 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Reliability | 4.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Insurance | $1,329/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 412 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Toyota Camry Solara?
The Camry Solara is a compact car, built from 1999 to 2009 across 2 generations. Engines offered: 4-cyl, V6.
Where is the Toyota Camry Solara made?
Across 583 cars in our records the split is: the United States (66.7%), Canada (33.3%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the Camry Solara have?
2 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2004. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the Camry Solara grew 7 cm longer and gained 68 kg.
What is the Toyota Camry Solara warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Camry Solara reliable?
It scores 4.5/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Camry Solara?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Toyota
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Camry | 1983–2026 | 162 | 52 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Toyota RAV4 | 1996–2026 | 168 | 78 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Toyota Corolla | 1981–2026 | 222 | 52 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Toyota Tacoma | 1995–2026 | 197 | 24 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Toyota Highlander | 2001–2026 | 110 | 36 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Toyota 4-Runner | 1984–2026 | 172 | 23 mpg | 4.0/5 |