Why Don't You Really See the Toyota Convertible Anymore?
Isabel Armiento
· 3 min read
Have you noticed that, aside from the occasional Toyota Camry Solara, there aren’t really any
Toyota
convertibles on the roads these days? While many drivers still love the breezy feeling of cruising in a convertible
on a sunny summer day, convertibles have noticeably waned in popularity after hitting their peak in the 1980s. That being said, why don’t you really see a Toyota convertible on the road anymore? Even the popular Camry Solara was retired in 2008, leading convertible fans to wonder why their choices are so limited.
Turns out that plummeting Toyota convertible numbers can be attributed to several key design and safety factors.
What happened to the Toyota convertible?
According to
Toyota of Clermont
, convertibles have long been popular with Toyota drivers. In the late 1980s, the Mazda Miata sold over one million units, and more recently, the Camry Solara enjoyed a solid run. However, the popularity of Toyota’s convertible models has waned dramatically. In fact, now your best bet for purchasing a Toyota convertible is to buy it used—which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, considering that
you can find
a used 2008 Toyota Solara for a bit over $8,600, and the prices go down for older model years. Design considerations for the Toyota convertible
One issue with convertibles is their design. When adding a convertible to a model’s lineup, automakers need to completely rework the car’s design to accommodate for the foldable roof. That’s right: automakers can’t simply insert a new roof onto a premade car, but rather need to design the car’s body from scratch.
Moreover, taking the roof off opens the car up to a host of safety issues that auto designers need to account for, such as flying external debris. These factors make it more expensive and difficult—and less worth it—to produce convertibles than regular cars.
Another consideration is the fuel efficiency of a convertible. The car’s body needs to be specially designed to minimize drag, given that once the car’s roof is lowered, air will likely get trapped inside when driving at high speeds. These pockets of air lead to poor drag and weakened fuel efficiency, making it difficult to produce a convertible that’s efficient and economical.
The air drag isn’t the only thing lowering a Toyota convertible’s fuel efficiency. Convertibles are also heavier than non-convertibles, in order to stabilize the vehicle and account for its missing roof. A heavier body leads to lower fuel efficiency—making it more difficult for automakers to produce a lucrative convertible model.
Convertibles and teen driving
Another reason for the declining popularity of convertibles is their association with risky teen driving.
Teen drivers are at a significantly higher risk of getting into car accidents; in fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and as reported by the
Los Angeles Times
, teen drivers are three times as likely to be implicated in a fatal car accident than other drivers. Many convertible fans are young drivers, who are attracted to the novelty of the foldable roof and who associate the vehicle type with sprawling summer road trips and fun-filled
beach
vacations. However, young drivers are exactly those who need to be most careful when driving. Considering that convertibles like the Toyota convertible lack the advanced safety features that many other cars come equipped with, driving authorities recommend choosing a more heavy-duty—and less glamorous—vehicle for your teen.
