To boost the appeal of the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu in the eyes of today’s tech-savvy customers, GM decided to add to highly coveted features to the latest version of the car. The new tech features include a hands-free texting service, and standard stop/start for the Ecotec 2.5L four-cylinder engine.

Not sure if these features are enough for the Malibu to gain even half the success of the its little brother, the Cruze, but they are very useful in day to day driving.

The hands-free texting is part of the 2014 Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system. It links up with the driver’s iPhone, and utilizes Siri services to enable Text-to-Voice feature. This service converts incoming messages to speech, reads them over the audio system speakers and allows the driver to reply with preset messages such as, “I’m driving and will contact you later.”

It sounds potentially disastrous, because you never know what’s inside a text until you open it. And if there’s someone in the car with you, it can prove not so appropriate a feature. We can already see relationships coming to a bitter end because of the Malibu!

As for the stop/start system, it allows the Ecotec 2.5L four-cylinder engine to achieve an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 25 mpg city and 36 mpg highway – a 14-percent improvement in city mileage and 6 percent greater highway efficiency. The engine makes 196 horsepower, which is good power for the fuel economy that it delivers.