A cool piece of electronic hardware that ties in with the heated seats allows the car to be started remotely, especially beneficial in extreme weather conditions. When it's cold outside, a click of the remote will start up the engine along with predetermined heating settings. The same can be done with the air-conditioning during hot days. While most will only need close-proximity capabilities, starting up their cars before heading off to work for instance, the Malibu's system allows up to a 61 m (200 ft) range.

A cool feature but safety is more on the mind of today's consumer. The Malibu MAXX offers standard dual-stage front and optional head-curtain side-impact airbags, 3-point shoulder belts at all seating positions, front seatbelt pretensioners, the LATCH child safety anchor and tethering system, 4-wheel ABS equipped discs and traction control. It's a pretty sophisticated setup.

Optimizing the driving position also adds to safety, allowing for the quick reflexes necessary for accident avoidance. The standard power seat includes height adjustment while a tilting and telescopic steering wheel joins adjustable brake and accelerator pedals.