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2008 Toyota Camry Solara Safety Review

June 22, 2008

SAFETY | 9 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

All 2008 Toyota Camry Solaras come standard with front-seat side airbags, a tire-pressure monitor, and antilock disc brakes
Edmunds

Coupe: five stars, front and side impacts; four stars, rollover; Convertible, not tested
NHTSA

Convertible: Good, frontal offset; Acceptable, side impact
IIHS

TheCarConnection.com finds that 2008 Toyota Camry Solara coupes tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) fared very well in front and side impacts, with five perfect stars on each count. The NHTSA did not test Toyota Camry Solara convertibles. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) did and finds convertibles are "good" in frontal offset impacts but only "acceptable" in side impacts tests. Both coupe and convertible receive four stars for rollover safety from the NHTSA. Edmunds notes, "The IIHS used a Toyota Camry Solara convertible rather than a coupe in both crash tests, so the car did not have the benefit of side curtain airbags."

Included as standard by Toyota, 2008 Solaras have "dual front airbags, seat-mounted side airbags, side curtain airbags (coupe only), and anti-lock brakes," according to J.D. Power. The side curtain airbags cover both front and rear rows, says the NHTSA. Edmunds claims, "Stability and traction control are optional on all V6 models," while J.D. Power and Cars.com state they're only available on the top-of-the-line Toyota Camry Solara SLE V-6 model. Edmunds likes that the radio can be controlled via buttons on the steering wheel so that drivers can keep their eyes on the road.

Unfortunately for Toyota, 2008 Solara Convertibles' top has a somewhat small rear window, and the high tail design impedes visibility to the rear. Edmunds thought visibility was "hampered" when the top was up, and ConsumerGuide reports tail styling "limits visibility astern and over-the-shoulder, especially top-up in convertibles." On the other hand, the convertible's rear window is glass, which should not scratch and haze over time like a plastic one.

Conclusion

2008 Toyota Camry Solara coupes are very safe; the convertibles, relatively less so. You'll have to pay more money to get stability and traction control.

SAFETY | 9 out of 10Expert Quotes:All 2008 Toyota Camry Solaras come standard with front-seat side airbags, a tire-pressure monitor, and antilock disc brakesEdmundsCoupe: five stars, front and side impacts; four stars, rollover; Convertible, not testedNHTSAConvertible: Good, frontal offset; Acceptable, side impactIIHS TheCarConnection.com finds that 2008 Toyota Camry Solara coupes tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) fared very well in front and side impacts, with five perfect stars on each count. The NHTSA did not test Toyota Camry Solara convertibles. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) did and finds convertibles are "good" in frontal offset impacts but only "acceptable" in side impacts tests. Both coupe and convertible receive four stars for rollover safety from the NHTSA. Edmunds notes, "The IIHS used a Toyota Camry Solara convertible rather than a coupe in both crash tests, so the car did not have the benefit of side curtain airbags." Included as standard by Toyota, 2008 Solaras have "dual front airbags, seat-mounted side airbags, side curtain airbags (coupe only), and anti-lock brakes," according to J.D. Power. The side curtain airbags cover both front and rear rows, says the NHTSA. Edmunds claims, "Stability and traction control are optional on all V6 models," while J.D. Power and Cars.com state they're only available on the top-of-the-line Toyota Camry Solara SLE V-6 model. Edmunds likes that the radio can be controlled via buttons on the steering wheel so that drivers can keep their eyes on the road. Unfortunately for Toyota, 2008 Solara Convertibles' top has a somewhat small rear window, and the high tail design impedes visibility to the rear. Edmunds thought visibility was "hampered" when the top was up, and ConsumerGuide reports tail styling "limits visibility astern and over-the-shoulder, especially top-up in convertibles." On the other hand, the convertible's rear window is glass, which should not scratch and haze over time like a plastic one. Conclusion2008 Toyota Camry Solara coupes are very safe; the convertibles, relatively less so. You'll have to pay more money to get stability and traction control.  2008 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA STYLING | [6 out of 10] Edmunds: "beginning to show its age" Cars.com: "front-end styling imparts a squared-off stance" ConsumerGuide: "Solaras are spinoffs of Toyota's 2003-2006 Camry sedan designs" Kelley Blue Book: "side windows are narrow, set off by a ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The Nissan Altima Coupe has a look reminiscent of the last Chevrolet Monte Carlo, along with four- and six-cylinder engines. Similar powertrains are available in the Honda Accord Coupe, which also comes with a six-speed manual transmission and a smart, new exterior shape. The Chrysler Sebring Convertible and Pontiac G6 Convertible offer top-down seating for four, but both have average handling, and the Chrysler is styled poorly.

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See the Toyota Camry Solara in Other Years:

2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999

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