Latest news with #fridge
Motor Trend
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor Trend
2025 Toyota Sienna Platinum First Test Review: It Sucks and It's Freezing
Pros Very efficient Improved interior build quality Snappy infotainment and sharp cameras Cons Slower than competitors Ride quality Buzzy engine The season of road trips is upon us, and the 2025 Toyota Sienna Platinum minivan makes a strong case to haul your precious cargo. Its spaciousness, practicality, and efficiency make for a combination that's simply unmatched by the ubiquitous three-row crossover. Oh, and the 2025 Sienna's built-in fridge and vacuum cleaner are sure to make your neighbors with the Grand Highlander trip over their Shop-Vac with envy. 0:00 / 0:00 The vacuum and fridge are just some of the new additions to the refreshed 2025 Sienna. Available as options on the Limited trim, they're standard on the top-of-the-line Sienna Platinum tested here. Unfortunately, we can't tell you how well the vacuum tackles Cheerios or dog fur because the hose went missing before Toyota dropped off the vehicle, and a replacement didn't reach us in time. That said, the power unit, dustbin, and controls are all nicely integrated into the center console, just ahead of the second-row seats—a more useful location than the rear-mounted units in the Honda Odyssey and Chrysler Pacifica—though we wish Toyota could've figured out a way to store the hose near the power unit instead of separately way back in the cargo area. After all, messes don't wait for the cargo area to be unpacked—and a full load back there could hinder quick access to that critical tube. The fridge, however, is placed perfectly right atop the center console for easy access. It'll easily store six standard-sized cans of soda and offers two levels of cold. In our unofficial test of the fridge set to its low setting, it cooled room-temperature cans of Spindrift from 70 degrees Fahrenheit to a refreshing 55 degrees in about 2.5 hours. It's Built Better! Our 2025 Sienna Platinum was also fitted with Toyota's latest infotainment system, which is a huge improvement over the previous version. The screen is on the smaller side, but it's sharp, snappy, and easy to use. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across the board. Certain trims, including the Platinum, also get Toyota's new digital instrument cluster that we've seen roll out on other vehicles like the Tacoma, offering an impressive amount of customization and clear graphics. In addition to tech improvements, Toyota addressed some of the minivan's general fit and finish, which we've noted as one of the pre-2025 Sienna's weakest qualities. Important touch points like door grabs and HVAC vents feel much more buttoned down, while the dashboard and center console trim pieces appear better aligned. Still Super Efficient The Sienna's standard hybrid powertrain carries over unchanged, still pushing 245 horsepower to the front wheels like in our test vehicle. (All-wheel drive, via an extra electric motor powering the rear axle on demand, is optional on every Sienna and carries only a minor 1-mpg combined fuel economy penalty.) Our 2025 Sienna Platinum test van isn't exactly quick, with a 0–60-mph time of 8.4 seconds, though we should note that our straight-line testing of this generation Sienna has seen some wild swings in results. A front-drive 2024 Sienna XSE, for example, put down a 0–60 time of 7.8 seconds, while a 2022 Sienna XLE Woodland AWD needed 8.5 seconds. Your results may vary, literally. Bringing this 2025 Sienna Platinum to stop from 60 mph requires 134 feet, which is longer than some of its competitors. The 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid SX Prestige, for example, needs 7.9 seconds to reach 60 mph and just 118 feet to come to a stop, while a 2025 Honda Odyssey Elite is more athletic with a 6.8-second 0–60-mph time and a handy 123-foot stop from that speed. That said, neither the Kia nor Honda can match the Sienna's efficiency, with an EPA rating of 36 mpg across the board (city, highway, and combined; again, the AWD model dips those figures to 34/36/35 mpg). The Kia and Honda are rated at 34/31/33 mpg and 19/28/22 mpg, respectively. Although it doesn't wow at the racetrack, that's not where this Toyota will ever spend any time. The Sienna's powertrain is otherwise more than adequate for routine minivan duties. The electric motors help the gas engine provide a good amount of oomph from a stop, and the powertrain never feels underpowered on the highway, despite the buzzy engine note under wide-open throttle. The Sienna is also fairly nimble, with quick steering, a good turning radius (39.2 feet), and decent body control. Good visibility and top-notch backup and 360-view cameras come in clutch while piloting the Sienna through the chaotic parking lot at your local Trader Joe's. Ride quality and road noise aren't the greatest, no doubt exacerbated by the Platinum's fancy 20-inch wheels. Smaller 17- and 18-inch wheels with taller-sidewall tires might help, and the good news if you're looking to save some bucks is that the smaller rims are only fitted on lower-priced models. The Sienna Platinum's seven-seat configuration includes a pair of second-row captain's chairs that are easy to access from either side of the van. (An eight-seat setup is also available.) The seats are easy to adjust and super comfortable, though enjoying them in their fully reclined position makes the third-row seat unusable. And although the captain's chairs are hefty, moving them forward to access the back seats is as easy as pulling one latch on the backrest. Third-row egress and ingress are also good, and normal-sized adults should have no issues with legroom or headroom. Each row has no fewer than four cupholders (there are eight up front for some reason), though unfortunately none of them can accommodate girthier Hydro Flasks or Big Gulps. Out back, the Sienna provides a generous 33.5 cubic feet of cargo room. And with a simple, single-arm pull of a couple straps, the third-row seats fold neatly into the floor, boosting cargo volume to 75.2 cubic feet. Looking to move a friend using the Sienna? Those second-row captain's chairs can't be removed like the seats in an Odyssey (or folded flat like in a Pacifica), but they fold and tumble forward so that they stand vertically against the front seatbacks, arguably a nice compromise between lifting out the Honda's chairs and the Chrysler's clever Stow 'n Go arrangement that opens up a huge area for cargo. In this configuration, the Sienna Platinum can swallow 101.0 cubic feet of stuff behind the first row. Compare those numbers to the Grand Highlander (20.6, 57.9, and 97.5 cubic feet) just further solidifies the Sienna as the champ of practicality. With a price tag ringing in at $58,634, the range-topping Sienna Platinum is pricier than the nicest Chrysler, Kia, and Honda minivans. While it can claim efficiency supremacy over those vans (not counting the Pacifica plug-in hybrid variant, though the fanciest Pacifica Hybrid is pricier than the Sienna), it doesn't do any one thing much better than the Honda or Pacifica. On the other hand, the Sienna is nicely updated, and the 2025 changes address some key concerns—namely the old model's build quality—while adding in a few useful new minivan-specific features, even if it doesn't change the Sienna's position relative to our segment favorites. If you don't need the nifty fridge or vacuum, lesser Siennas are nicely equipped and cost far less while delivering the same high mpg and road-trip-ability.
Daily Mail
12-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Everyday household appliance could be an incubator for bacteria – here's how to prevent it
It is something that you almost certainly use every single day. But this common household appliance could become an 'incubator' for dangerous pathogens. Scientists have warned that this everyday item could be home to 1.8 million bacteria, including Listeria and Salmonella. And they say that homeowners failing to use it correctly could be making the situation much worse. According to Professor Judith Evans, of London South Bank University, and Oleskii Omelchenko, a PhD researcher at the Quadram Institute, your fridge could be a breeding ground for disease. Although it is meant to keep your food fresh and safe, fridges can help bacteria grow if the temperature isn't right. However, the experts warn that even a 'well-chilled' fridge could harbour invisible dangers if you don't take the right precautions. So, here's what you can do to stop your fridge from becoming a hotspot for bacteria. Professor Evans told MailOnline: 'A lot of fridges are not operating at the correct temperature. Fridge temperatures are often high enough to enable bacteria to grow. 'Generally, the higher the temperature, the higher the level of growth.' According to the Food Standards Agency (FSA), the UK's food safety watchdog, a fridge needs to be at least 5°C (41°F) or colder to prevent bacteria from developing. However, studies have shown that the average UK fridge temperature is just above this safe limit at 5.3°C (41.54°F). That might not seem like a big difference, but it becomes a problem because of how often fridge temperatures fluctuate. Some fridges spend as much as half their time above the safe limit, and studies have even found fridges running at temperatures as high as 15°C (59°F). At these temperatures, bacteria multiply rapidly on your food and quickly reach levels which could cause food poisoning. Writing in The Conversation, Professor Evans and Mr Omelchenko say: 'Part of the problem is that many fridges lack an accurate, accessible way to monitor their internal temperature. How to keep your fridge safe Keep raw foods – like meat and fish that need cooking – separate from ready-to-eat items such as fruits or sandwiches. Store raw meat and fish on the bottom shelf of the fridge. That way, if any juices leak, they won't drip onto other foods. Consume ready-to-eat products within four hours of removing them from the fridge. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water before, during and after meal preparation. Source: 'On top of that, every time you open the door, warm air rushes in. The longer the door stays open, especially if you're lingering while choosing a snack, the more the internal temperature climbs toward room temperature, creating a more suitable environment for bacteria to thrive.' To prevent the temperature from changing too much, Professor Evans and Mr Omelchenko suggest making a few simple changes. By limiting how often you open the door or using a rotating organiser to help find items quickly, you can prevent warm air from entering the fridge. Likewise, checking the fridge's seals every few months and ensuring they are clean will help to prevent leaks. Remembering that the temperature in your fridge isn't even can also help keep unwanted bacteria from developing. The scientists write: 'The coldest spot is usually at the back, while the warmest is on the door. That means items like milk or raw meat are best stored near the back - not in the door. The door is fine for butter or fizzy drinks.' Keeping the fridge about 75 per cent full rather than cramming everything in will also help cold air circulate and avoid any warm spots. However, the scientists warn that even ensuring your fridge is perfectly cold might not be enough to ensure bacteria don't develop. Studies have shown that fridges can contain pathogens that have been brought in by food or packaging that may have been contaminated. Professor Evans says that the biggest risks come from 'raw and cooked meats, ready prepared salads, food beyond its 'eat-by' date, and poor handling and cross contamination.' Likewise, although cold temperatures prevent most bacteria from growing, others, such as Listeria monocytogenes, can multiply in low temperatures. Listeria can trigger symptoms ranging from mild flu-like conditions to severe complications like meningitis or sepsis. This species of bacteria is particularly dangerous to pregnant people and older adults and can be found in soft cheeses, cured or smoked fish, sushi, deli meats, and pre-packaged fruits. Additionally, the trusty 'sniff test' for those leftovers won't be enough to ensure you're not eating anything dangerous, since Listeria and Salmonella don't always produce any odour. The FSA suggests that any foods left at room temperature must be thrown away if they have been left out for more than two hours, or more than one hour if the temperature is over 32°C (90°F). However, putting food in the fridge only slows the growth of bacteria rather than stopping it entirely, so the government watchdog advises that leftovers must be eaten within 48 hours.
