Toyota Camry Solara: generations: what actually changed between 1 generation and 2 generation

Same names appear twice inside a generation. Distinguish them by the fields that differ, not by renaming: 2 generation has two 2.4 AT (159 hp) — kerb not measured versus 1440 kg; two 2.4 MT (159 hp) — 1525 kg versus 1410 kg; two 3.3 MT (218 hp) — kerb and top speed not measured versus 1410 kg and 180 km/h; two 3.3 AT (218 hp) — kerb not measured versus 1550 kg.

2 generation (2003–2009) is Cabrio with 8 versions. The four-cylinder is the 2.4 AT and 2.4 MT at 159 hp (117 kW) at 5600 rpm, 220 Nm at 4000 rpm, 2362 cm³, 4 Inline, compression 10.5, fuel 95. The six-cylinder is the 3.3 AT and 3.3 MT at 218 hp (160 kW) at 5600 rpm, 301 Nm at 3600 rpm, 3311 cm³, 6 V-shaped, compression 10.8, fuel 92. Automatic is 4 gears; Manual is 5 gears. Clearance on every 2 generation row is 150 mm. Rear brakes are Disc. 0–100 km/h is not measured on any 2 generation row. City / highway / mixed consumption is not measured. CO2 and eco class are not measured. Gross weight is not measured. Wheel size is not measured.

1 generation (1998–2003) is also Cabrio with 8 versions, but the engine ladder is different: 2.2 AT / 2.2 MT at 137 hp (101 kW), 2.4 AT / 2.4 MT at 157 hp (115 kW), 3.0 AT / 3.0 MT at 203 hp (149 kW). That is 22 hp less than the later 2.4 on the small four, 2 hp less than the later 2.4 on the 2362 cm³ four, and 15 hp less than the later 3.3 on the 6. Rear brakes on 1 generation 2.4 MT and 2.4 AT are Drum; every other Camry Solara row in both generations uses Disc front and Disc rear. Clearance is not uniform: 135 mm on the first 3.0 AT, first 3.0 MT, and 2.2 AT; 145 mm on 2.2 MT and the second 3.0 MT / 3.0 AT; 150 mm on 1 generation 2.4 MT and 2.4 AT. Engine location is Front, transverse on every row that lists it; it is not measured on 1 generation 2.4 MT and 2.4 AT.

Same names appear twice inside a generation. Distinguish them by the fields that differ, not by renaming: 2 generation has two 2.4 AT (159 hp) — kerb not measured versus 1440 kg; two 2.4 MT (159 hp) — 1525 kg versus 1410 kg; two 3.3 MT (218 hp) — kerb and top speed not measured versus 1410 kg and 180 km/h; two 3.3 AT (218 hp) — kerb not measured versus 1550 kg. 1 generation has two 3.0 AT (203 hp) — fuel 92, 0–100 9 s, top speed 180 km/h, kerb 1525 kg, gross 2015 kg, clearance 135 mm versus fuel 95, 0–100 not measured, top speed not measured, city 13.8 / highway 9.4 / mixed 11.5 L/100 km, kerb 1455 kg, gross not measured, clearance 145 mm. Two 3.0 MT (203 hp) split the same way: fuel 92, 9 s, 180 km/h, 1525 kg, 2015 kg, 135 mm versus fuel 95, consumption 12.4 / 8.7 / 10.2, 1455 kg, 145 mm.

Engines and specs (hp, torque, gearbox, drive)

VersionGenerationhpNmcm³FuelCylindersLayoutBoostGearboxDrive
2.4 AT2 generation1592202362954InlineNoAutomatic 4FWD
2.4 MT2 generation1592202362954InlineNoManual 5FWD
3.3 MT2 generation2183013311926V-shapedNoManual 5FWD
3.3 AT2 generation2183013311926V-shapedNoAutomatic 4FWD
3.0 AT1 generation203290299592 or 956V-shapedNoAutomatic 4FWD
3.0 MT1 generation203290299592 or 956V-shapedNoManual 5FWD
2.2 AT1 generation1372032164924InlineNoAutomatic 4FWD
2.2 MT1 generation1372032164954InlineNoManual 5FWD
2.4 MT1 generation1572202362954InlineNoManual 5FWD
2.4 AT1 generation1572202362954InlineNoAutomatic 4FWD

Power per litre (hp ÷ displacement in litres): 1 generation 3.0 AT / 3.0 MT 203 / 2.995 ≈ 67.8 hp/L; 2 generation 2.4 AT / 2.4 MT 159 / 2.362 ≈ 67.3 hp/L; 1 generation 2.4 AT / 2.4 MT 157 / 2.362 ≈ 66.5 hp/L; 2 generation 3.3 AT / 3.3 MT 218 / 3.311 ≈ 65.8 hp/L; 1 generation 2.2 AT / 2.2 MT 137 / 2.164 ≈ 63.3 hp/L. The later 3.3 is the strongest engine in the catalogue, not the densest. The 3.3 adds 316 cm³ over the 3.0 (3311 − 2995), 15 hp (218 − 203), and 11 Nm (301 − 290). Peak torque arrives 700 rpm earlier (3600 versus 4300). The 2.4 four is the same 2362 cm³ and the same 220 Nm at 4000 rpm in both generations; 2 generation only adds 2 hp (159 versus 157) and raises compression from 9.8 to 10.5. Injection on every version that lists it is Distributed injection (multi-point). Valves per cylinder: 4.

Performance, mpg, and what is not measured

0–100 km/h is measured on three 1 generation rows only: 3.0 AT (fuel 92) 9 s, 3.0 MT (fuel 92) 9 s, 2.2 AT 10.5 s. The Automatic and Manual 3.0 share the same 9 s in that pair, so the extra gear of the 5-speed Manual does not show up as a shorter sprint in this catalogue. 2.2 AT is 1.5 s slower than those 3.0 rows (10.5 − 9). Every 2 generation version, both 1 generation 2.4 rows, 2.2 MT, and the second 3.0 AT / 3.0 MT (fuel 95): 0–100 not measured.

Top speed 180 km/h is measured on 2 generation 2.4 MT (both rows), the second 3.3 MT, and 1 generation 3.0 AT (fuel 92), 3.0 MT (fuel 92), 2.2 AT. It is not measured on 2 generation 2.4 AT (both), first 3.3 MT, both 3.3 AT, 1 generation 2.2 MT, both 2.4 rows, and the second 3.0 pair. Where it is measured, the 137 hp 2.2 AT and the 203 hp 3.0 share 180 km/h, so top speed does not separate the four from the 6 in this data set.

Fuel consumption (L/100 km) exists only on three 1 generation rows. 2.2 MT: city 11.2, highway 8.1, mixed 9. 3.0 MT (fuel 95): 12.4 / 8.7 / 10.2. 3.0 AT (fuel 95): 13.8 / 9.4 / 11.5. Arithmetic: the 6-cylinder Manual costs +1.2 city, +0.6 highway, +1.2 mixed versus 2.2 MT. Switching that 3.0 from Manual to Automatic adds +1.4 city, +0.7 highway, +1.3 mixed (13.8 − 12.4, 9.4 − 8.7, 11.5 − 10.2). All other versions: city, highway, mixed not measured. CO2 not measured on every row.

Dimensions, weight, and kg per horsepower

Wheel size is not measured on any Camry Solara version. Tank is 70 L on every row. Suspension is Independent, spring front and rear on every row.

Kerb mass, where measured:

Gross weight is measured only on 1 generation 3.0 AT (fuel 92) 2015 kg, 3.0 MT (fuel 92) 2015 kg, and 2.2 AT 1920 kg. Payload on those rows: 2015 − 1525 = 490 kg on the 3.0 pair; 1920 − 1455 = 465 kg on 2.2 AT. Every other row: gross not measured.

Kg per hp (kerb ÷ hp), measured rows only: 2 generation 3.3 MT 1410 / 218 ≈ 6.5 kg/hp; 2 generation 3.3 AT 1550 / 218 ≈ 7.1 kg/hp; 1 generation second 3.0 AT / 3.0 MT 1455 / 203 ≈ 7.2 kg/hp; 1 generation first 3.0 AT / 3.0 MT 1525 / 203 ≈ 7.5 kg/hp; 1 generation 2.4 MT 1395 / 157 ≈ 8.9 kg/hp; 2 generation 2.4 MT 1410 / 159 ≈ 8.9 kg/hp; 2 generation 2.4 AT 1440 / 159 ≈ 9.1 kg/hp; 2 generation 2.4 MT 1525 / 159 ≈ 9.6 kg/hp; 1 generation 2.2 MT 1415 / 137 ≈ 10.3 kg/hp; 2.2 AT 1455 / 137 ≈ 10.6 kg/hp. The 6-cylinder rows carry less mass per horsepower than any four-cylinder row with a kerb figure.

Ground clearance: +15 mm from the 135 mm 1 generation 3.0 / 2.2 AT rows to every 2 generation row at 150 mm; +5 mm from the 145 mm 2.2 MT / second 3.0 rows to 150 mm.

Which version to choose

If you want the strongest Camry Solara in this catalogue: 2 generation 3.3 MT or 3.3 AT, 218 hp and 301 Nm. The second 3.3 MT is the better-documented of the two Manuals: 1410 kg, 180 km/h, ≈ 6.5 kg/hp. The second 3.3 AT is the heaviest measured Solara at 1550 kg — 140 kg more than that Manual (1550 − 1410) for the same 218 hp, which is why kg/hp rises from ≈ 6.5 to ≈ 7.1. 0–100, consumption, CO2, gross weight: not measured on both 3.3 names. Fuel is 92.

If you want a 6 with measured sprint: 1 generation 3.0 AT or 3.0 MT with fuel 92 — 203 hp, 290 Nm, 9 s to 100 km/h, 180 km/h, 1525 kg, 2015 kg gross, 135 mm clearance. You give up 15 hp and 11 Nm versus the 3.3, and 15 mm of clearance versus 2 generation. You gain the only 0–100 figure for a 6 in this set. The second 3.0 AT / 3.0 MT (fuel 95) are 70 kg lighter (1455 versus 1525) and sit 10 mm higher (145 versus 135), and they are the only 6-cylinder rows with mpg: mixed 11.5 on Automatic versus 10.2 on Manual. Their 0–100 and top speed are not measured.

If you want the four-cylinder with the least mass per litre of work: 2 generation 2.4 MT at 1410 kg and 159 hp (≈ 8.9 kg/hp) or 1 generation 2.4 MT at 1395 kg and 157 hp (also ≈ 8.9 kg/hp). The 2 generation car adds 2 hp and Disc rear brakes instead of Drum; compression is 10.5 versus 9.8. Top speed 180 km/h is measured on both 2 generation 2.4 MT rows; it is not measured on 1 generation 2.4 MT. Do not confuse the other 2 generation 2.4 MT at 1525 kg — that is 115 kg heavier than the 1410 kg row (1525 − 1410) at the same 159 hp.

If you want Automatic on a four: 2 generation 2.4 AT at 1440 kg (159 hp) is the only 2 generation Automatic four with a kerb figure. 1 generation 2.4 AT is 1420 kg and 157 hp with Drum rear. 2.2 AT is the slowest measured Solara (10.5 s) and the heaviest four Automatic at 1455 kg, but it is the only four with 0–100, top speed 180 km/h, and a gross weight (1920 kg). Fuel on 2.2 AT is 92; on both 2.4 AT names it is 95.

If you want the only four with mpg: 1 generation 2.2 MT — 137 hp, mixed 9 L/100 km, city 11.2, highway 8.1, kerb 1415 kg, clearance 145 mm. 0–100 and top speed not measured. Versus 3.0 MT (fuel 95) you save 1.2 L/100 km mixed and 40 kg (1455 − 1415) and give up 66 hp (203 − 137).

If you care about rear brakes: skip 1 generation 2.4 MT and 2.4 AT if you want Disc at both axles; those two are Drum at the rear. Every other version is Disc / Disc.

Reliability and typical problems are not measured in this catalogue. What is measured and repeats across the range: Gasoline, FWD, boost No, Independent spring suspension, 70 L tank. Body type for both generations: Cabrio.

Short map. Strongest: 2 generation 3.3 MT 218 hp / 1410 kg. Measured 6-cylinder sprint: 1 generation 3.0 AT or 3.0 MT (fuel 92) 9 s. Lightest four: 1 generation 2.4 MT 1395 kg. Only four with mpg: 2.2 MT mixed 9. Heaviest measured: 2 generation 3.3 AT 1550 kg. Same 180 km/h cap on every version that lists top speed. No prices in this data; choose on hp, kg, 0–100, and the consumption rows that actually exist.