Business

Car Review: 2015 Toyota Sienna

Published

11 years ago

January 12, 2015

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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The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

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Financial Wellness and Mental Health: Managing Money Stress in College 

While everyone’s financial situation is unique, several common sources of stress have the potential to strain your financial health. These include financial and economic uncertainty, existing debts, unexpected expenses, and mental or physical health changes. Financial stress may differ from situation to situation, but understanding the factors contributing to yours may help you begin to craft a plan for your unique circumstances.

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2 weeks ago

March 17, 2026

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Sponsored by JPMorganChase

As a college student, managing financial responsibilities can be stressful.

If you’ve found yourself staying up late thinking about your finances or just feeling anxious overall about your financial future, you’re not alone. In one survey, 78% of college students who reported financial stress had negative impacts on their mental health, and 59% considered dropping out. While finances can impact overall stress, taking steps to manage your finances can support your mental, emotional and physical well-being.

When it comes to money, the sources of stress may look different for each student, but identifying the underlying causes and setting goals accordingly may help you feel more confident about your financial future.

Consider these strategies to help improve your financial wellness and reduce stress.

Understand what causes financial stress

2. Determine your financial priorities

Start by reflecting on your financial priorities. For students this often includes paying for school or paying off student loans, studying abroad, saving for spring break, building an emergency fund, paying down credit card debt or buying a car. Name the milestones that are most important to you, and plan accordingly.

3. Create a plan and stick to it

While setting actionable goals starts you on the journey to better financial health, it’s essential to craft a plan to follow through. Identifying and committing to a savings plan may give you a greater sense of control over your finances, which may help reduce your stress. Creating and sticking to a budget allows you to better track where your money is going so you may spend less and save more.

4. Pay down debt

Many students have some form of debt and want to make progress toward reducing their debt obligations. One option is the debt avalanche method, which focuses on paying off your debt with the highest interest rate first, then moving on to the debt with the next-highest interest rate. Another is the debt snowball method, which builds momentum by paying off your smallest debt balance, and then working your way up to the largest amounts.

5. Build your financial resilience

Some financial stress may be inevitable, but building financial resilience may allow you to overcome obstacles more easily. The more you learn about managing your money, for instance, the more prepared you’ll feel if the unexpected happens. Growing your emergency savings also may increase resilience since you’ll be more financially prepared to cover unexpected expenses or pay your living expenses.

6. Seek help and support

Many colleges have resources to help students experiencing financial stress, like financial literacy courses or funds that provide some assistance for students in need. Talk to your admissions counselor or advisor about your concerns, and they can direct you to sources of support. Your school’s counseling center can also be a great resource for mental health assistance if you’re struggling with financial stress.

The bottom line

Financial stress can affect college students’ health and wellbeing, but it doesn’t have to derail your dreams. Setting smart financial goals and developing simple plans to achieve them may help ease your stress. Revisit and adjust your plan as needed to ensure it continues to work for you, and seek additional support on campus as needed to help keep you on track.

 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC