So we'll only have two years (or less) of this refreshed design before we go to an all new design?

Where did you read that?

 

Looks like the Traverse is getting a freshening and will be unveiled in New York next week too.

 

Pictures of the new Traverse are already out.

2013 Chevy Traverse Unveiled: Photos and Details - autoevolution

It's an improvement inside, for sure, but I still don't love it. The nav system still looks very much like an afterthought... almost aftermarket, which is disappointing since they redesigned the entire center stack.

The back end almost looks like it was designed by Subaru.

 

The whole front end looks like an Impala. So bland it's almost offensive.

 

I do not mean to be rude, but I am curious. I know interior are a different breed, but it is a screen stuck in a dash. There are really only so many ways to skin a cat here. Just curious what your expectation is? Kinda of like truck and SUV styling. You can only compromise so much and still maintain the qualities that are required for praticality. A truck has to have a cab and a bed. You only really get to style the front, wheel arches, and taillights. SUV is similar. It is a box on wheels. You can only play so much without compromising the space that people want.

 

The nav systems in the Enclave/Traverse/Acadia, even with the 2013 interior updates, literally look like you could have taken out the factory non-nav radio and got Best Buy to install a generic aftermarket unit. It's stark black plastic box/trim ring inserted into a larger ring of plastic wood. All of the buttons for the nav are actually directly attached to the nav unit itself. It seems almost entirely independent of the rest of the car.



Here's some examples of nav systems in competing vehicles that are more naturally integrated into the center stack:
Infiniti JX:


Ford Explorer:


Even the long in the tooth about to be redesigned MDX does a much better job IMO:



Don't get me wrong... I don't think it's the end of the world. I could certainly live with it and expect most people wouldn't notice the difference. It's a minor detail, but it's one GM has consistently gotten wrong on their trucks and SUVs IMO. IIRC the system in the Caddy CTS and 2013 Malibu are much better integrated.

 

Here's the Enclave. Buick just posted it to their Facebook page.