Business

Car Review: 2015 Toyota Sienna

Published

10 years ago

January 15, 2015

Oakland Post

AboutThatCar.com

2015 Toyota Sienna

By Frank S. Washington
NNPA Columnist

PONTE VEDRA, Fla. – Minivans are a tough sell. They might be the lone vehicle in the market that consumers buy because they have to, not because they want one. And usually, it takes a second child to force the purchase.

With the advent of crossover vehicles, minivan sales have been on the decline for years. They’ve dropped by almost two-thirds since 2000. A number of manufacturers, including Ford and General Motors, have left the segment. Still, it is sizable with sales hovering around 500,000 annually.

Toyota retuned its Sienna minivan for 2015 and the third generation of the van had a little more swagger. They updated the grille, redesigned the headlights and the taillights, and gave it LED daytime running lights.

One of the advantages that the Sienna held was that it was the only minivan that had all-wheel-drive. The feature returns for 2015, but it just wasn’t working correctly on our test vehicle. To be fair, these were pre-production models that we were test driving and there was a whir that sounded like it was coming from the transfer case.

But that is what pre-production vehicles are for, to discover what’s not right, where the problem is, what is causing it, and the fix for the problem.
Still, the Sienna was unimpeded in terms of driving dynamics on the short drive routes here. Powered by a 3.5-liter V6 that made 266 horsepower and 245 pound-feet of torque, the 2015 Toyota Sienna got around the streets very well. The six-speed automatic transmission was smooth and gear shifts were almost imperceptible.

The interior had been upgraded. There was a soft touch dash and it had a sweeping vertical flow. It was almost concaved. There was some French stitching. Chrome and satin (read silver plastic) trim have been added to the interior and the instrument layout was new.

Minivans are primarily for children. And two features to improve their riding experience and their behavior have been added to the 2015 Toyota Sienna. It now has a dual view Blu Ray rear seat entertainment system to enhance videos, cartoons, movies etc. And to make sure young riders maintain a reasonable decorum, the Sienna is now equipped with what Toyota called Drive Easy Speak. The automaker described it as “Using the microphone from the Sienna’s voice-command multi-media system, Driver Easy Speak conveys your voice through the audio system’s rear speakers.” In other words, it is an intercom system aimed at the kids.

Toyota employed a number of refinements to enhance the Sienna’s ride. There were 142 more spot welds to increase rigidity. The Sienna now has wide angle fog lamps as well as a standard backup camera. And the automaker retuned the shocks and shock absorbers for a better ride. Our test vehicle felt like it was gliding along the streets of this community.

Toyota said the 2015 Sienna starts at $28,600 for the L grade and tops out at $46,150 for the Limited Premium all-wheel-drive (AWD) trim line.

Frank S. Washington is editor of AboutThatCar.com.

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Oakland Post: Week of December 25 – 31, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of December 25 – 31, 2024

Published

12 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

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Bay Area

Glydways Breaking Ground on 14-Acre Demonstration Facility at Hilltop Mall

Glydways has been testing its technology at CCTA’s GoMentum Station in Concord for several years. The company plans to install an ambitious 28-mile Autonomous Transit Network in East Contra Costa County. The new Richmond facility will be strategically positioned near that project, according to Glydways.

Published

3 days ago

December 24, 2024

Oakland Post

Image of planned Richmond facility courtesy of Glydways.

The Richmond Standard

Glydways, developer of microtransit systems using autonomous, small-scale vehicles, is breaking ground on a 14-acre Development and Demonstration Facility at the former Hilltop Mall property in Richmond, the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) reported on social media.

Glydways, which released a statement announcing the project Monday, is using the site while the mall property undergoes a larger redevelopment.

“In the interim, Glydways will use a portion of the property to showcase its technology and conduct safety and reliability testing,” the company said.

The new Richmond development hub will include “over a mile of dedicated test track, enabling Glydways to refine its solutions in a controlled environment while simulating real-world conditions,” the company said.

Visitors to the facility will be able to experience on-demand travel, explore the control center and visit a showroom featuring virtual reality demonstrations of Glydways projects worldwide.

The hub will also house a 13,000-square-foot maintenance and storage facility to service the growing fleet of Glydcars.

“With this new facility [at the former Hilltop Mall property], we’re giving the public a glimpse of the future, where people can experience ultra-quiet, on-demand transit—just like hailing a rideshare, but with the reliability and affordability of public transit,” said Tim Haile, executive director of CCTA.

Janet Galvez, vice president and investment officer at Prologis, owner of the Hilltop Mall property, said her company is “thrilled” to provide space for Glydways and is continuing to work with the city on future redevelopment plans for the broader mall property.

Richmond City Manager Shasa Curl added that Glydways’ presence “will not only help test new transit solutions but also activate the former Mall site while preparation and finalization of the Hilltop Horizon Specific Plan is underway.

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2024 in Review: 7 Questions for Outgoing Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln

Lincoln’s decision to run for mayor stemmed from his love of people and his desire to serve his city. He prioritized resolving issues, including homelessness and public safety, among others. Lincoln, a Republican, will transition out of his role as mayor on Dec. 31, after an unsuccessful campaign to represent the 9th Congressional District.

Published

3 days ago

December 24, 2024

Oakland Post

Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln. Photo provided by California Black Media.

Kevin Lincoln, outgoing mayor of Stockton, CA, captured during his tenure as a leader dedicated to the city’s progress and community engagement.

By Edward Henderson
California Black Media

Born in Stockton, Mayor Kevin Lincoln says his Army upbringing inspired him to serve others.

Lincoln joined the United States Marine Corps in 2001 and was later assigned to Marine One, serving during President George W. Bush’s administration.

Following his military service, Lincoln worked for one of the nation’s top private security companies for eight years in Silicon Valley. In 2013, he resigned from his corporate position to give back to his community in Stockton through full-time ministry at a local church.

Lincoln’s decision to run for mayor stemmed from his love of people and his desire to serve his city. He prioritized resolving issues, including homelessness and public safety, among others.

Lincoln, a Republican, will transition out of his role as mayor on Dec. 31, after an unsuccessful campaign to represent the 9^th Congressional District.

Recently, California Black Media (CBM) spoke with Lincoln. He reflected on his accomplishments this year and his goals moving forward.

Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

Looking back at 2024, what stands out to you as your most important achievement and why? 

What I prioritize for our city council is our youth. They are the future — not only our city, but this region as a whole.

We were able to invest over $6 million in youth programming and workforce development, and partner with 14 different community-based organizations. We were able to employ over 600 young people through the city of Stockton. We launched even our first ever summer jobs program for the city of Stockton.

How did your leadership and investments contribute to improving the lives of Black Californians? 

It’s about giving people a seat at the table, and not necessarily waiting for people to come to me, but me going to the community, making myself accessible, meeting our community at the point of their need, where they’re at.

What frustrated you the most over the last year?

It’s politics. Because unfortunately, there’s politics in everything. And I say politics impedes progress. You can have a policy, a solution that may not necessarily be 100% perfect. But it’s a good solution for everybody. But because we allow politics to get in the way based off our personal ideologies, oftentimes we can miss opportunities to make an impact for the benefit of the whole.

What inspired you the most over the last year?

My biggest inspiration has been the community and our ability to work together. What’s unique about Stockton, one in 20 jobs are nonprofit jobs in the city of Stockton and even San Joaquin County.

What is one lesson you learned in 2024 that will inform your decision-making next year?

To stay focused. In politics, there’s a lot of opportunity for distractions. There are a lot of influences from the outside — good, bad and indifferent. It’s important to stay focused, have a clear vision, and be committed to that vision.

In one word, what is the biggest challenge Black Californians face?

Economics. When the economy is not healthy, when we’re not thriving, we’re limited. Opportunities are limited.

What is the goal you want to achieve most in 2025?

I just want to continue to be a servant leader and serve our community in whatever capacity I am in.