Did they stop making Toyota Solara?
The Toyota Solara, a mid-size coupe and convertible model, was discontinued by Toyota in 2020 after nearly two decades on the market. The Solara was known for its sleek design and comfortable ride, but declining sales and a shift in consumer preferences towards SUVs and crossovers ultimately led to the model's discontinuation.
The Rise and Fall of the Toyota Solara
The Toyota Solara was first introduced in 1998 as a replacement for the Toyota Camry Coupe. It was designed to offer a more stylish and sporty alternative to the Camry sedan, while still maintaining the brand's reputation for reliability and quality. The Solara was available as both a coupe and a convertible, and it quickly gained a loyal following among buyers who wanted a practical yet stylish vehicle.
However, the Solara's popularity began to wane in the late 2000s and early 2010s, as consumer preferences shifted towards larger, more versatile vehicles like SUVs and crossovers. Toyota attempted to revive the Solara's fortunes with a redesign in 2008, but the changes were not enough to stem the tide of declining sales.
Reasons for the Solara's Discontinuation
- Declining Sales: The Solara's sales had been steadily declining for several years, with only around 10,000 units sold in 2019. This made it difficult for Toyota to justify the continued production of the model.
- Shift in Consumer Preferences: As mentioned earlier, the rise in popularity of SUVs and crossovers has led to a decline in demand for traditional coupes and convertibles like the Solara.
- Overlap with Other Toyota Models: The Solara's position in Toyota's lineup was somewhat unclear, as it overlapped with other models like the Camry and the Avalon. This made it difficult for Toyota to position the Solara effectively in the market.
Ultimately, the combination of declining sales, shifting consumer preferences, and overlap with other Toyota models led the company to discontinue the Solara in 2020, marking the end of an era for this once-popular mid-size coupe.
