Transportation
Car Review: 2015 Toyota Sienna
By Frank S. Washington
NNPA Columnist
DETROIT (NNPA) – If ever there was a scourge of the auto industry, it is a minivan. Most people don’t want to be caught dead in one. They are thought to convey a boring lifestyle, subservience to kids and the driver is viewed as an all-around gofer for the family.
But even though sales have fallen, more than 1 million people a year purchase a minivan, most of them after they’ve had a second child. And the Toyota Sienna ranks among the best of the family haulers.
We had the 2015 Toyota Sienna SE. It had a 3.5-liter V6 engine that made 266 horsepower and 245 pound-feet of torque. Mated to a six-speed automatic transmission the Sienna had plenty of power to maneuver on the expressways here as well as on the surface streets. It had an EPA rating of 18 mpg in the city, 25 mpg on the highway and 21 mpg combined.
You should know that we weren’t carrying passengers, so our test vehicle was rather spry on the pavement. But if you’re hauling kids around, a reasonable argument is that you have no business whizzing in and out of traffic anyway.
We had captain’s chairs in the second row. That meant that our Sienna could carry seven passengers in a 2+2+3 configuration. A second row bench seat increases its capacity to eight passengers. We had the front-wheel-drive model, but there is an all-wheel-drive version. Toyota said the Sienna is the only minivan available with all-wheel-drive.
As we were preparing this review, we got notification that the Toyota Sienna had received the Best in Class Minivan Award in the fifth annual New England Motor Press Association Technology Conference. Indeed, with 150 cu. ft. of storage space, with the second and third row seats taken out, the Sienna can haul a bunch of stuff. But its main purpose is to haul kids, their friends and all their stuff.
The Sienna is equipped with a speaker that will project the driver’s voice through the audio system’s rear speakers. It uses the same microphone as the voice controls. Used with the Sienna’s standard conversation mirror in the overhead console, a driver can get up close and personal with the people in the back of the van, especially the munchkins in the third row who think they are beyond reach.
Toyota’s Entune App system was standard equipment on the Sienna. Of course, there was a rear seat entertainment system. And our Sienna had a backup camera with cross traffic alert and it was equipped with blind side alert.
The SE is, more or less, the sport model. It was lower, featured a sport tuned suspension and it had 19-inch wheels. The side skirts and at lower profile headlights with LED daytime running lamps gave it and even more muscular look.
The interior had what Toyota called exclusive instrumentation. Instruments had black numerals on white dials. The black interior featured white French stitching. The navigation/information screen was atop the center stack, climate controls were beneath it and the audio controls were beneath that. We had a CD player, a feature that is bordering on being obsolete, and a slot for an SD card. There was also a 110-volt outlet with easy second row access.
Our tester had climate controls for the rear and there was also a power off button for the sliding doors. We thought that was a nice touch to keep young explorers inside the Sienna.The vehicle had a smart key, a sunroof and the fit and finish was what you’d expect of a Toyota vehicle. It was flawless to the naked eye.
For $41,108, our 2015 Toyota Sienna SE wasn’t a bad deal.
Frank S. Washington is editor of AboutThatCar.com.
###
car reviews
DON’T Buy the 2027 Seltos X Line SX Until You Watch This
Considering the 2027 Kia Seltos X-Line SX AWD? Get a full breakdown of the window sticker and features before you buy.
Thinking about the 2027 Kia Seltos X-Line SX AWD? Before you walk onto the lot, watch this. In this video, I walk you through the full window sticker on a Terrain Brown over Smoky Black Seltos X-Line SX AWD, stickered at $37,205 with the X-Line SX Prestige Package installed, the same way I’d walk my own family through it.
This trim rides on a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with an 8-speed automatic and Torque Vectoring All-Wheel Drive with Terrain Mode. The driver-assistance list is long — Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping and Lane Following Assist, Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, and Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go standard, plus Highway Driving Assist, a Blind-Spot View Monitor, and a Surround View Monitor from the Prestige Package. Inside, you’ll find a 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation, a 12.3-inch digital instrument display, Harman Kardon premium audio, a driver’s relaxation seat, memory settings, and ventilated front seats, on top of the standard 12.3-inch wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay touchscreen, heated front seats, and 60/40 split-folding rear seats.
I walk you through what I actually liked — the mesh headrests, the camera-based blind spot system, easy entry and exit, the suspension soaking up bumps, and good second-row legroom — and I also cover two things nobody on the lot is going to volunteer: dashboard glare onto the windshield, and a steering wheel that partially blocks the climate control screen.
EPA estimates on this trim come in at 24 city, 30 highway, and 26 combined, backed by Kia’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
This isn’t a commercial. This isn’t a brochure. This is what I’d tell my own family before they signed anything.
I’m Roosevelt with AutoNetwork.com — subscribe for a new sticker breakdown every week.
__________________________________________________________________
AutoNetwork helps serious car shoppers inspect any new vehicle online before walking into a dealership. I’m Roosevelt — I’ve been reviewing cars and shaping digital car buying and credit union auto leasing since before YouTube car reviews existed.
You’ll find detailed walkaround reviews, POV test drives, and buyer-focused breakdowns covering comfort, space, features, and real-world value.
How to use the channel:
Watch the walkaround of the car you’re considering
Visit AutoNetwork.com for the full review
Check CouponsOffersAndDeals.com for current dealer specials
Walk in already knowing what you want — and what it should cost
🌐 AutoNetwork.com
💰 CouponsOffersAndDeals.com
Affiliate disclosure: some links earn a small commission at no cost to you and help support the channel. Insta360 is one of those partners.
car reviews
Small Cup Holders & Hidden Controls: Car Buying Pet Peeves #shorts
Small cup holders and hidden controls are daily annoyances car ads never mention. Test these before you buy!
Don’t get caught by small car details! Tiny cup holders and oddly placed mirror controls can be daily annoyances that sales pitches never mention. Test these before you buy.
🔗 Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/3ynHNM5iF0A
#AutoNetwork
car reviews
Don’t Get RIPPED OFF! Car Dealership Fees EXPLAINED #shorts
Don’t let car dealerships rip you off! Understand hidden fees like doc fees and add-ons so you know exactly what you’re paying.
Documentation fees, add-ons, taxes—ever wonder what you’re really paying for? Some states cap doc fees at $85, while others can charge up to $1000. Understand the national average ($350-$500) to avoid surprises.
🔗 Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/dgZnv0Bnu-0
#AutoNetwork
car reviews
The Complete Negotiation Framework — Every Stage, Every Tactic, Every Win
Master the complete vehicle-purchase negotiation framework with Roosevelt Gist and Roosevelt. Learn every stage, tactic, and win!
Roosevelt Gist and Roosevelt deliver the complete vehicle-purchase negotiation framework in Episode 8 of The Color of Our Money Is Green. This episode covers the three foundations of every effective negotiation, the full seven-stage negotiation sequence with exact language for every stage, and five of the most common dealership tactics with the specific response each one requires.
What You Learn in This Episode:
The three foundations that make every negotiation tactic work
The complete seven-stage car-buying negotiation sequence
Exact language for every stage of the dealership conversation
Five common dealership tactics — the turnover, the four-square, the packed payment, spot delivery, and forced add-ons — and how to counter each one
Why signing preliminary paperwork isn’t the same as signing the final contract
___________________________________________________________________
“The Color of Our Money Is Green: A Buyer’s Guide to What Cars Actually Cost” — stan.store/RGist
____________________________________________________________________
AutoNetwork helps serious car shoppers inspect any new vehicle online before walking into a dealership. I’m Roosevelt — I’ve been reviewing cars and shaping digital car buying and credit union auto leasing since before YouTube car reviews existed.
You’ll find detailed walkaround reviews, POV test drives, and buyer-focused breakdowns covering comfort, space, features, and real-world value.
How to use the channel:
Watch the walkaround of the car you’re considering
Visit AutoNetwork.com for the full review
Check CouponsOffersAndDeals.com for current dealer specials
Walk in already knowing what you want — and what it should cost
🌐 AutoNetwork.com
💰 CouponsOffersAndDeals.com
Affiliate disclosure: some links earn a small commission at no cost to you and help support the channel. Insta360 is one of those partners.
car reviews
Mazda CX-90 Luxury: Heated Seats & Premium Comfort! #shorts
Stay toasty in the CX-90! Plush Nappa leather, heated/ventilated seats, and a memory-equipped heated steering wheel deliver ultimate luxury.
Experience ultimate comfort in the CX-90. Nappa leather, heated/ventilated seats, 8-way power adjustments, and memory settings for both front passengers. The heated steering wheel with memory tilt/telescope adds premium convenience.
🔗 Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/EH5A4eQ4ipY
#AutoNetwork
car reviews
Car Dashboard Glare: Avoid This Distraction! #shorts
Tame dashboard glare and master those dual-function stalks before they become a dangerous distraction. Drive safer with these quick tips!
Distracting dashboard glare can appear in certain lighting conditions. The dual-function steering column stalks also require an adjustment period, with a risk of grabbing the wrong one initially.
🔗 Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/3ynHNM5iF0A
#AutoNetwork
DON’T Buy the 2027 Seltos X Line SX Until You Watch This
Headlines and Hotlines
Headlines and Hotlines 📱
Small Cup Holders & Hidden Controls: Car Buying Pet Peeves #shorts
Don’t Get RIPPED OFF! Car Dealership Fees EXPLAINED #shorts
DMV DOES on Being More Than a Book Club | Let’s Talk
Talking with TotallyRandie: The AsOneFoundation
NFL: Week Two Recap | Jalen Hurts did not fold; Caleb Williams exits game with injury
The Complete Negotiation Framework — Every Stage, Every Tactic, Every Win
Mazda CX-90 Luxury: Heated Seats & Premium Comfort! #shorts
You Had Me at Hello: the Love and Legacy of Grace Nail and James Weldon Johnson
Arnold Perkins: At 85, a Life of Service, Faith and Giving Back
Young Black Men Suffering in Silence A curse that can be Broken
Young Black Men Suffering in Silence A curse that can be Broken
Women Learned Their Jail Strip Searches Were Recorded. Their Outrage Changed the Law
🎷 Jazz is taking over D.C.!
BSPNTX Announces 2026-27 Scholarships Recipients
Black Americans Have Doubts About the U.S. Food System
Barbados – Julius Garvey, Son of Marcus Garvey, Joins PM Mottley in the Rededication of the Garvey Amphitheater
IN MEMORIAM: Dolly Parton Dead at 80 — How She Built a Legacy of Love and Earned Her Place in Black Culture
DON’T Buy the 2027 Seltos X Line SX Until You Watch This
Headlines and Hotlines
Headlines and Hotlines 📱
Small Cup Holders & Hidden Controls: Car Buying Pet Peeves #shorts
Don’t Get RIPPED OFF! Car Dealership Fees EXPLAINED #shorts
DMV DOES on Being More Than a Book Club | Let’s Talk
Talking with TotallyRandie: The AsOneFoundation
The Complete Negotiation Framework — Every Stage, Every Tactic, Every Win
Mazda CX-90 Luxury: Heated Seats & Premium Comfort! #shorts
Car Dashboard Glare: Avoid This Distraction! #shorts
-
Black History1 week agoLatest Massacre in Haiti Reveals Cruelty U.S. Deportations
-
Black History1 week agoHenry O. Flipper: A Trailblazer at West Point and Beyond
-
Black Press1 week agoAsm. Smallwood-Cuevas’s Bill Repealing ‘Racist’ CalWORKs ‘Man-in-the-House’ Rule Clears Legislature
-
Black History1 week agoOP-ED: If AI Is the New Language of Power, Then NAN Wants Black Communities Fluent
-
Black Press1 week agoCalifornia Legislature Sends Historic Native American Apology Bill to Gov. Newsom’s Desk
-
Black History1 week agoOPINION: Nolan Wells’ Death One of Several Signifying Racial Terror Lives on in U.S. South
