2008 Toyota Camry Solara Styling

STYLING | 6 out of 10

In both coupe and convertible form, the 2008 Toyota Camry Solara has a droopy, dated exterior design. Inside, it shines.

The Camry Solara comes in coupe and convertible (with cloth top) styles, and convertibles are two inches taller than the coupe with the top up. In reviews read by TheCarConnection.com, reviewers were not impressed by the Solara's aged design, but most found the interior timeless. Edmunds comments that the Toyota Camry Solara is "beginning to show its age" as "the rear deck appears to droop on both the coupe and the convertible." They sum up the exterior by writing, "Solara's diminishing appeal is due at least in part to its exterior styling, which although curvy and sophisticated, has never come across as trendy or youthful." Further, they add, "the current Camry Solara convertible's traditional fabric top can be seen as a bit dowdy given that many competing models now offer retractable hardtop designs." Cars.com notes that Sport models have "a six-piece body kit, a unique rear spoiler and 17-inch alloy wheels," and all 2008 Toyota Camry Solaras feature "front-end styling that imparts a squared-off stance that follows elements of the Lexus' 2007 ES350 sedan." For the Toyota Camry Solara, 2008 adds LED taillamps to all trims. Kelley Blue Book writes that the Solara's side windows are "narrow, set off by a wavy beltline." Typical of large coupes and convertibles, the Toyota Camry Solara's doors are long and heavy--something to keep in mind when parking. The criticisms are not lost on Toyota; 2008 may be the last year for the Solara, according to AutoWeek, which writes, "Underachieving sales mean Toyota will kill the coupe and convertible after the 2008 model year."

For 2008, Toyota had the good sense not to change the instrument panel. Kelley Blue Book describes it as being "logically arranged with clearly marked gauges and intuitive functions for the audio and ventilation controls." Edmunds says of the interior: "the mix of metallic and satin finishes interspersed with high-quality plastics provides a distinctive, upscale appearance." Cars.com notes each model "has a separate interior surface treatment. The SLE features woodgrain, the SE has silver-metallic trim, and Sport trims have black graphite-looking trim."

Conclusion