Toyota - Solara

The 2006 Toyota Camry sedan comes in four trim levels: base, LE, SE, and XLE.

A 154-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine comes standard on Camry, LE and SE models. A five-speed manual transmission comes standard; a five-speed automatic transmission is optional ($830).

LE is available with a 190-horsepower 3.0-liter V6 ($2,405); it comes with the automatic transmission, included in the option price. XLE is available with the 2.4-liter four-cylinder or the 3.0-liter V6, both with automatic transmission only. SE is available with a bigger 3.3-liter V6 rated at 210 horsepower ($2,820), which comes with the five-speed automatic. Note that horsepower ratings for all three engines is lower than last year; this is due to a change in the Society of Automotive Engineers testing procedure used to rate horsepower. The engines themselves are unchanged and just as strong as last year's models.

The base sedan ($18,445) comes with air conditioning; cruise control; power windows, mirrors and locks; six-speaker AM/FM/CD stereo; a 60/40 split rear seat; ABS with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD); and P205/65R15 all-season tires on 15-inch steel wheels.

Upgrading to the LE ($19,545) adds interior brightwork, upgraded cloth upholstery, power driver's seat, remote keyless entry, engine immobilizer, driver-information center and a full-size spare tire. The LE V6 ($22,780) also gets 15-inch aluminum wheels.

Camry SE ($20,375) is a sportier model, with higher-rate springs, shocks, and anti-roll bars, along with higher-effort steering and bigger (16-inch) steel wheels and P215/60 summer-only tires. A three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel and lots of bright trim add zing to the interior. The SE V6 ($24,025) adds the engine immobilizer, 17-inch aluminum wheels, and power sunroof.

The XLE ($22,795) is the most luxurious Camry, featuring wood-grain interior trim, power driver and passenger seats, automatic climate control, side-curtain airbags, JBL premium stereo with in-dash six-CD changer, a more advanced driver information center, an alarm system with engine immobilizer, a cargo net, a rear-window sunshade, and P215/60 all-season tires on 16-inch steel rims. The XLE V6 ($25,805) comes with leather seats and fancier gauges and 16-inch aluminum wheels.

The Camry Solara coupe comes in SE, SE Sport, and SLE trim levels. All coupes are available with the 2.4-liter four-cylinder or the 3.3-liter V6. Automatic transmission is standard on all except the four-cylinder SE and SE Sport, which are available with a five-speed manual. Four-cylinder Solaras now use the same five-speed automatic as the Camry.

The Solara convertible comes only in SE and SLE trim, and only with a V6 and automatic transmission.

The Solara SE coupe ($19,530) is the base level in the two-door lineup and comes standard with ABS; side-impact airbags; P215/60 all-season tires on 16-inch aluminum wheels; air conditioning; cruise control; power windows, mirrors and locks with remote keyless entry; and AM/FM/CD audio. The SE V6 coupe ($21,860) is similarly equipped. Side curtain airbags are optional.

The Solara SE Sport coupe ($21,025) comes with sport-tuned suspension and P215/55R17 all-season tires on 17-inch aluminum wheels; it also gets aggressive exterior appliques; and substitutes Graphite and Charcoal trim for a lot of the SE's interior brightwork. Solara SE Sport V6 ($23,355) is similarly equipped.

The Solara SLE ($23,405) is the most luxurious model with automatic climate control, power moonroof, JBL stereo with six-disc CD changer, power seats and woodgrain interior trim. Choose the SLE V6 ($26,405) and you also get leather seats and the same sport suspension and performance tires as the SE Sport.

Solara SE V6 convertible ($26,940) comes with the SE Sport's dark interior trim and 17-inch wheels, but is otherwise equipped much like the SE V6 coupe. The SLE V6 convertible ($30,210) is equipped the same as the SLE V6 coupe.

Leather upholstery is optional for the Camry SE and XLE sedans and Solara SLE coupe ($1,365-$1,630). A DVD-based Navigation Package, which includes leather upholstery, is optional on the Camry SE V6 sedan ($3,205) and XLE V6 sedan ($1,450). Navigation is also available on Solara SLE V6 coupe and convertible ($1,350), but only in combination with other options.

For all models, we highly recommend side-impact and/or side-curtain airbags ($400-$650) or, better still, a package for the sedan that includes side-impact and side-curtain airbags, electronic stability control (VSC), traction control and brake assist ($1,300). VSC is a stand-alone option on Solara ($650) but requires side-curtain airbags on the coupe ($400) and navigation on the convertible ($1,350).