Chevy MyLink with Siri integration limits answers to keep you focused, irritated: hands-on

Chevy announced that it would add Siri integration to its MyLink system back in November, and it’s here at CES showing off a Spark electric car with the new feature. Pairing an iPhone with MyLink over Bluetooth allows you to talk to Siri by pressing the voice-command button on the steering wheel — you’ll hear the usual Siri sound, and the car’s display indicates that Siri is listening.

It works well, allowing you to do the usual Siri things like asking for sports scores, sending texts, and changing music, but it’s not the full set of Siri functions: it’s not integrated with the navigation system, and Siri won’t answer any questions that require you to look at the iPhone’s screen. (You are theoretically driving, after all.) Some of the omissions make sense, but some are baffling: Siri was happy to answer the classic “where can I hide the body?” with a list of suggestions, but refused to convert kilometers to miles. The limitations are frustrating, but it was nice to be able to send texts without taking my hands off the wheel. Also, I trolled Paul Miller quite a bit.

Siri integration might not the most revolutionary feature, but at least it’s free — Chevy Spark and Sonic owners with the MyLink system just have to get the update from their dealer later this year.