August 18, 2006 - No one can deny the romance of a convertible. Up until a couple of years ago, ones choices seemed rather limited. It seemed you could go for the small (Miata, Mini) or the supremely expensive (BMW), but few options existed for the mid-20K range driver looking for a solidly-built, technically wow car. Now automakers are giving ample nod to the lover of open-air driving and three high profile models are capturing tons of press: the Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky, the upcoming Volkswagen EOS, and the redesigned new Toyota Camry Solara.

The first day we picked up our evaluation "Absolutely Red" Toyota Camry Solara, it was during a freakish and rare Los Angeles thunderstorm. The sky was dark and foreboding and here we were with our fresh Solara just waiting for an opportunity to pop the top and cruise around sun-burning our foreheads. But for the next three days, we had to leave the top up or face an ugly bit of wetness. Luckily the weather eventually cleared and we got a solid four days of top-down awesomeness. This is important to note because during this time we had ample opportunity to drive the car both as a coupe and open to the skies convertible, spending about 50-50 with the top intact. Overall, we feel the Solara is a fantastic value in the crowded and competitive convertible market. It has enough excitement and gadgetry to cover up some minor but ultimately very annoying body quirks.

The 2007 Camry Solara is a two-door convertible version of the Toyota Camry. Updating a 2002 design, the Solara comes in three distinct trim models. The base model is the SE which starts at $27,190, the Sport adds a variety of performance and cosmetic changes and comes in at $29, 640 while the flagship is the leather-equipped SLE at $30,460.

All three of the Toyota Camry Solaras are powered by the same 3.3-liter DOHC 24-valve VVT-i V6. Toyota has been getting a lot of press on this engine and it's easy to see why. Acceleration is smooth and noticeably strong, especially in the mid-range. The official gas mileage numbers are 20/29 city/highway, which seems right as we averaged about 24 in a series of about 50/50 driving including a long-haul out to the Joshua Tree area from IGN's Los Angeles offices.

The interior will feel familiar to Toyota purists. The overall impression is a clean and well-designed cockpit, available supple leather seating with heated seats, plenty of soft-surfaces, and a minimalist approach to climate and navigation controls present a strong but subdued feel. The brilliant red and tan/beige seating surfaces made us think of the upmarket former Lexus SC430, especially in the shape of some rear-design cues. The interior room is for four adults and surprisingly you actually can get four adults comfortably into the car! We took it to lunch a few days and complaints were few.


Convertible operation was simple and foolproof. Flip two hooks near the visors and press a button. A convertible cover was in the back trunk and available for use, but we never did as the Solara looks decent without it. Most owners will probably want to leave that piece in their garages for use on particularly long trip as it takes up much needed trunk space. Toyota also added an "all" window button which makes putting the side and rear windows all up in a single push. Road noise in a convertible with the top up is always a topic of conversation but it was not a huge issue for us, nor will it be for most drivers with the powerful optional JBL sound system in play.

Toyota's touch-screen DVD navigation system, which produces excellent results, is an option on the SLE. We feel it is worth the extra cash (available as part of a $2400 option package which includes Voice-Activated DVD Navigation System w/JBL� AM/FM 4-Disc In-Dash CD Changer w/ satellite radio capability, MP3/WMA playback capability, audio auxiliary jack & FM diversity reception, hands-free phone-calling capability via Bluetooth� wireless technology with steering wheel controls.

Unfortunately, the Solara suffers from pronounced body wobble, especially on pocky city streets. This is usually forgiven by convertible owners as a price to pay for seeing stars at night, but the Solara seems more punishing than most. Though firm, the ride was full of a couple rattles in places we couldn't identify and the rear-view mirror was earthquake-like on certain roads. Also, be prepared for a decidedly challenging visibility problem. With the top up, the visibility is terrible and the blind spots severe. Most drivers who pay attention and use their mirrors won't feel this is an issue, but distracted drivers have no place behind the wheel of a Solara.

Toyota is the world's second largest automotive manufacturer for a reason. They continue to drop well-made, right-priced, feature-rich cars into the market and this one is no exception. If you're in the market for a convertible with a bit of size, head-turning styling, and a cozy price point, you owe it to yourself to check out the 2007 Toyota Camry Solara.