Now You Don't Have To Yell At Your Kids Anymore

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

Toyota’s updated Sienna isn’t going to set any hearts ablaze -or convince TTAC readers of its supremacy vis a vis our beloved Chrysler minivans – but it does have one feature so compelling that I am going to get one from the press fleet just to sample it.

The available Driver Easy Speak feature uses the vehicle’s built-in microphone to amplify the driver’s voice through the rear speakers so parents don’t have to shout to passengers in the back.

I’m curious to see how this works. Will it amplify conversations or music as well? Is there some kind of push-to-talk feature available? Oh, the fun I could have with this on a road trip with 6 of my closest friends…

Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

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  • El duce El duce on Jul 17, 2014

    I was really getting excited when I read the headline. I somehow thought this was about a system that would somehow muffle all the yelling and screaming coming from the back of the van. For a moment, I thought about trading in my just paid off 2012 sienna...

  • Its me Dave Its me Dave on Jul 17, 2014

    I would treat my passengers to endless karaoke.

    • See 1 previous
    • Drzhivago138 Drzhivago138 on Jul 17, 2014

      Both of you. Both these guys right here.

  • LectroByte LectroByte on Jul 17, 2014

    Our children are grown and are out of the house, but it does seem like an interesting feature. Don't make me pull this car over! From an engineering point of view, likely almost free to implement, they probably had the built-in mic for bluetooth phone support already, so no new parts, just pay some programmers to add a few thousand lines of code and call it a day.

  • Cbrworm Cbrworm on Jul 18, 2014

    When we bought our current SUV, we purposely did not get the DVD player option. I was totally against the idea of my kid (at the time we only had one) watching movies while we drove (or much TV at home), this was despite my friends advice. We routinely do 12 hour trips in a single day. Now each kid has an iPad, books and bruises on the leg that I can reach from my seat (kidding!) We point out the mountains and the animals, they couldn't be less interested. On this last trip I told my daughter to look up at the clouds, that there were purple unicorns and sparkly rainbows in the sky. She didn't even look up from her book and said, "that's awesome!" Dora, Mickey mouse and Frozen are about the only things that can keep a two year old quiet for 12 hours strapped into an upright seat. If I have to listen to Frozen one more time I am going to do something bad. That being said, I would rather have a zapper built into their seats than a PA system. I think it is more effective when I point my rearview mirror at them and shout. I was also hoping for the inclusion of a noise cancelling front cabin. On our last trip a couple weeks ago, I seriously considered putting on my Bose noise cancelling headphones. Just the thought of it made me smile.

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