The heartbeat of America
There's no doubt about Toyota's luxury coupe. It's built in America by Americans, for Americans. And no matter how you look at it, the Solara draws its inspiration from Chevy's Monte Carlo, a car that sold like hotcakes in the eighties, but not quite as much today.
Is there money to be made with the Solara? A big two-door coupe such as this one must not have a large fan base. Yet it's based on Camry mechanicals, so development costs are lower than starting from scratch.
The Solara isn't based on the new-generation Camry, as evidenced by the engine choices. The new Camry sports a 268-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6, but the Solara soldiers on with the 3.3L that makes a modest 210 horses. You won't really miss the extra ponies, since the car is pretty quick as is. The five-speed automatic responds rapidly, and the manual mode will hold a gear right up to the engine's rev limiter. Fuel economy is pretty decent, as my average is 10.1 L/100 km with a mix of city and highway driving.
Boy, is this car smooth. And quiet. Turn off the radio and the climate control system, and all you hear while driving is a little tire noise, and that's it. In fact, it's one of the most silent vehicles I've tested so far. Is this a purchasing factor for some people? Definitely. Nothing beats a relaxing ride in a quiet car after a busy day at work, and the Solara excels in that area.
The cockpit of this Toyota is pretty spacious for all adults, big and small. The gray and silver color scheme is very nice, and everything looks and feels solid. The fake wood trim looks convincing, but in my opinion, it doesn't fit very well with all that silver trim on the dash. Even the center armrest and door panels are cushioned. The 6-CD changer offers MP3 compatibility and sounds very good. The climate control system sports big buttons and make it easy to adjust while driving.
Rear seat accommodations are generous for a coupe, and climbing back there is actually not that hard. Headroom and legroom are adequate. As
for the trunk, well, it's huge.
The exterior shape of the Solara is classy and elegant at first glance. Look closer, however, and the stylish sheetmetal is somewhat burdened by very long front and rear overhangs, consequence of trying to make a long car with a not-so-long wheelbase. In general, the car's styling might be forgettable, but it doesn't offend in any way.
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| 2007 Toyota Solara SLE V6 (Photo: Philippe Champoux, Auto123.com) |
Is there money to be made with the Solara? A big two-door coupe such as this one must not have a large fan base. Yet it's based on Camry mechanicals, so development costs are lower than starting from scratch.
The Solara isn't based on the new-generation Camry, as evidenced by the engine choices. The new Camry sports a 268-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6, but the Solara soldiers on with the 3.3L that makes a modest 210 horses. You won't really miss the extra ponies, since the car is pretty quick as is. The five-speed automatic responds rapidly, and the manual mode will hold a gear right up to the engine's rev limiter. Fuel economy is pretty decent, as my average is 10.1 L/100 km with a mix of city and highway driving.
 |
| 2007 Toyota Solara SLE V6 (Photo: Philippe Champoux, Auto123.com) |
The cockpit of this Toyota is pretty spacious for all adults, big and small. The gray and silver color scheme is very nice, and everything looks and feels solid. The fake wood trim looks convincing, but in my opinion, it doesn't fit very well with all that silver trim on the dash. Even the center armrest and door panels are cushioned. The 6-CD changer offers MP3 compatibility and sounds very good. The climate control system sports big buttons and make it easy to adjust while driving.
Rear seat accommodations are generous for a coupe, and climbing back there is actually not that hard. Headroom and legroom are adequate. As
 |
| 2007 Toyota Solara SLE V6 (Photo: Philippe Champoux, Auto123.com) |
The exterior shape of the Solara is classy and elegant at first glance. Look closer, however, and the stylish sheetmetal is somewhat burdened by very long front and rear overhangs, consequence of trying to make a long car with a not-so-long wheelbase. In general, the car's styling might be forgettable, but it doesn't offend in any way.