2008 Toyota Camry Solara Coupe

The front-drive, two-door Solara is based on the 2002-2006 Camry sedan, which is powered by either a 157-horsepower four-cylinder or a 210-horsepower V-6 and five-speed automatic. While the latest Camry sedan has a new, more-powerful engine, the Solara soldiers on with the old power plants, despite getting a slight styling refresh in 2007. Reviews report the Solara's acceleration to be unimpressive, even with the V-6, and the transmission is noted to have a tendency to shift sluggishly. Handling is likewise reviewed as mediocre, which does not make the Solara fun to drive. Many reviews say the Toyota Solara's tired styling and older platform can no longer compete against cars like the new Honda Accord coupe (*est. $21,860 to $30,510) or the Nissan Altima coupe (*est. $20,950 to $25,850), though some critics praise the Solara for its comfortable ride, inviting interior and roomy backseat.

Because the Toyota Solara has been in production for many years, there aren't many recent road-tests reviews available, and it wasn't included in any 2008 comparison tests. Consumer Reports offers a review of the Toyota Solara along with valuable historical reliability data. Reviews are also available from Edmunds.com and ConsumerGuide.com.