Toyota Ends Production of Solara Coupe

Home > Industry Analysis > Content

【Summary】Toyota discontinued the Solara coupe after almost 10 years due to its lack of sportiness and outdated features. The second-generation Solara had underwhelming performance and a less pleasant ride quality. Additionally, the preference for crossovers and SUVs contributed to declining sales. The convertible variant accounted for 70% of sales, leading to the discontinuation of the coupe.

FutureCar Staff Nov 19, 2023 10:15 PM PT

The Toyota Solara, in summary, fell short in terms of both performance and sportiness. Car and Driver accurately described it as a "more stylish variant" of the Camry rather than a true sporty coupe. Adding to its drawbacks, the second-generation Solara, introduced in 2004, used older Camry underpinnings and had even less power, which contradicted its supposed sporting intentions.

However, it wasn't all negative for the Toyota Solara. The cabin of the vehicle was well-designed, ergonomic, and made with high-quality materials. Despite being a "sportier" version of the Camry, the ride quality was not as smooth, although it did handle reasonably well. The second-generation Solara offered a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and a revised 3.3-liter V6 with 225 horsepower, but neither engine provided exceptional performance or low-end torque. Additionally, the optional five-speed manual transmission was not available with the V6 variant, and the Solara convertible had a chassis that was prone to feeling unstable.

Another factor that contributed to the Solara's decline was the decreasing demand for two-door sporting coupes, as consumers favored crossovers and SUVs instead. As a result, Solara sales plummeted after 2005, leading Toyota to discontinue the coupe variant in 2008 and focus on selling the remaining Solara convertibles in its inventory. Unfortunately, fate had other plans for the Solara's success.