Just yesterday, I gave a pat on the back to Suzuki for the design of the head unit in the Kizashi. Today, I'll give GMC a mildly enthusiastic nod for the setup in the GMC Terrain.
As you can see, it's a bit more crowded that the setup in the Suzuki. It's not quite as obvious which buttons do what and the overall look isn't quite as aesthetically pleasing. That said, the GMC does manage to pack a whole bunch of functionality into a relatively small space. You've got a navigation system, audio controls and even a few phone switches all arranged in a relatively easy to use layout. I find myself searching around a little bit more than the Suzuki, but it's all accessible once you get used to it.
Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line @ 7,477 miles
carguy622 says:
07:46 AM, 05/13/10
Considering it has the navigation system, I'd say it's a pretty good set-up as well.
scottyscooter says:
09:24 AM, 05/13/10
I like it. *thumbs up*
What are the record and delete buttons for?
brn says:
09:34 AM, 05/13/10
Compare just about any radio-only button layout to a radio+navigation button layout and take a wild guess as to which will be more crowded.
1487 says:
11:00 AM, 05/13/10
I dont see whats so confusing. Without owning the vehicle everything except "config" and "info" seems self explanatory. Plus this has navigation so you have more functions than you would otherwise. The Suzuki doesn't have nav and thats one reason it has less buttons, obviously. I have seen numerous comments about the "busy" center stack on this and the Equinox. Busy compared to what? hoe is it no one has a problem discerning the controls on a crowded Acura or Honda dash but they are baffled by what we see above?
sgude says:
11:21 AM, 05/13/10
off topic: I was in the store this morning, and my bill came to $14.87. I immediately thought of you, 1487. Damn, I'm on this blog way too much.
on topic: This center stack looks busy at first, but I think it is easily understood and easy to adapt to.
feloniousmonk says:
12:34 PM, 05/13/10
The only thing I don't like about it is all the silver plastic: I wish that fad would die already. If it's not genuine aluminum it just looks cheap.
oachalon says:
12:38 PM, 05/13/10
scottyscooter, it has a built in hard drive, so you can record and playback regular radio. I dont think it can do it for a long period of time. But if you are listening to something and need to run into the store quickly, you can record it and when you come back you can start from where you left off.
prdm says:
02:03 PM, 05/13/10
Not to pick on just the Terrain but what is this slavish devotion to symmetry on center stacks. It looks like the interior designers lay out the buttons and then the engineers come in and try to assign appropiate functions. It's bassackwards.
cr_driver says:
08:57 PM, 05/13/10
"off topic: I was in the store this morning, and my bill came to $14.87. I immediately thought of you, 1487. Damn, I'm on this blog way too much."
WTF? really? LOL!!!!!
bodyblue says:
05:01 AM, 05/14/10
HHEEEESS BAAAACK.....
sgude says:
07:16 PM, 05/14/10
@cr_driver -- what would have topped it off is if I saw a Saturn Aura drive past when I walked out of the store.