The Solara's interior reflects the improvements made outside, with simple, elegant design combining with rich materials and high-quality surfaces. I took the time to poke around inside after it was introduced to the media, and couldn't help but feel at peace despite a swarm of journalists flooding the exterior and adjacent seat, cell phones to their ears, jotting in their note pads and madly clicking their collective cameras. The featured car, again in SE Sport trim, boasted beautifully finished graphite-accented trim. Graphite won't grace all models, with the SLE receiving woodgrain accents and SE models finished in brushed aluminum.
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| The peaceful interior of the 2004 Solara is simple and elegant in design, combining rich materials and high-quality surfaces. (Photo: Toyota) |
Truly, its fit and finish, highlighted by gaps between interior surfaces at a very narrow 0.5 millimeters or less, made it feel more Lexus than Toyota, a trend that has benefited even the lowly Corolla in recent years. But, just as in real estate, luxury is also quantified by sheer size. While midsize in exterior dimensions, its interior offers twenty percent more storage capacity than the outgoing model, including a front console compartment, dual compartments under the front console mounted armrest and cupholders that can be converted to hold yet more storage. The rear armrest also incorporates cupholders, as well as a compartment for additional stuff. All compartment doors also use silicone dampers for that upscale touch.
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| Toyota's new coupe offers optional rear curtain side airbags and standard front side-impact airbags, independent rear seat headrests and four-wheel anti-lock brakes. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
Its hardly worth building a car without safety considerations playing a huge part of development, therefore Toyota's new coupe offers standard front side-impact airbags, independent rear seat headrests and the aforementioned four-wheel anti-lock brakes. For a little more money front and rear curtain side airbags will also be available.
But to some, safety is an afterthought. Such free spirits might pay more attention to the optional Sports Package, as I stated before only being available on the Solara SE. Along with the 5-piece body kit and its dark-charcoal interior with black graphite trim, supportive sport-fabric seats, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift knob, and aluminum pedals add a racy personality. A performance-tuned suspension with more rigid springs and beefier shock absorbers join 17-inch alloy rims, improving both appearances and at-the-limit grip.