From all-electric propulsion systems to semi-autonomous driver assists, General Motors is quickly evolving its technology offerings, and that includes its approach to design and user controls. The 2024 Chevy Traverse and 2024 GMC Acadia are no exception. Both models represent the third generation of their respective lineups, and both have adopted a modernized cabin interface that moves the headlight controls over to the infotainment system. This transition away from physical controls is part of a broader trend within GM, emphasizing the integration of vehicle functions into the digital infotainment screen.
The move to digital controls began with the 2023 Chevy Colorado and 2023 GMC Canyon, and has progressively included more and more models. Some of the latest to adopt the trend include the 2024 Chevy Equinox EV, Blazer EV, Silverado EV, and the GMC Hummer EV and Sierra EV. The 2025 Chevy Equinox is also on the list to embrace this change, with the 2025 GMC Terrain likely to follow.
This shift reflects GM’s strategy to streamline cabin design and reduce the reliance on physical buttons, providing a cleaner and more technologically advanced dashboard. However, the shift isn’t without controversy, with the decision to integrate more controls into the infotainment system met with mixed reactions among buyers. Critics argue that reliance on digital controls could lead to distractions while driving, as drivers may need to navigate through menus to perform what were once simple tasks. This concern is particularly significant considering the safety implications of adjusting essential features like headlights while on the move.
On the other hand, this approach has practical benefits, including reducing the number of microchips needed per vehicle. This is a significant advantage, especially in light of recent global shortages that have impacted production across the industry. Moreover, the sleek, button-less design aligns with contemporary aesthetic preferences and follows the example set by industry leaders like Tesla, which has famously maximized the functionality of central screens.
Whether this trend will enhance or complicate the driving experience is still up for discussion among consumers and industry analysts alike. However, in a recent poll, a whopping 88 percent of GM Authority readers preferred a dedicated light control panel to infotainment-based light controls.
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Comments
Pay a lot more, get a lot less. Absolutely disgusting. Folks are now talking recession. Boy do we ever need one.
You’re not getting anything less. The control and function still exists. Just in a different capacity. The mental gymnastics of this comment are incredible. I must commend you.
almost as bad as the gymnastics you’ll need to do to turn your lights off.
It’s a permanent hot key on the display. If you’re incapable of locating the control you should not be driving.
The problem is the same as with the rest of the stupid screen controls, I have to take my eyes off of the road to use them. Whereas with knobs and switches I can use the controls without looking! Pretty simple right?
We’ll one more reason to change my life long longevity from GM to someone with common sense. What do you do if your center console suddenly quits working in the middle of a night trip, pull over and wait for the sun rise?
Dumb idea.
I love physical controls but this is one change I don’t mind. Typically I just leave the headlights engaged in automatic mode, so moving them into the touchscreen (where they’ll be rarely changed) seems like a smart option. Unlike HVAC controls which need to be physical.
Actually makes it worse. If you need to set it, you could spend 10 minutes finding it in a menu somewhere because you don’t know where it is. I know I can spend way more time than I like setting some infrequent option in my cars.
There are no menus to sort through. The headlamp control is a permanent hot key on the infotainment display.
And today all cars have daytime running lights anyway so there’s always something telling other drivers you’re there
Too funny,, the same people who are complaining about using a technological digital touchscreen are the same ones who are driving and texting about this upgrade!! Its 2024 folks,,,, move forward or get out of the way!!
As long as it isn’t burying 20 presses deep. Some of us are required to turn our headlights off at night to approach security gates at our jobs. The knob makes that easy to do.
Pushing Home>Settings>Vehicle>Lighting>Headlights>Off would annoying. It doesn’t sound bad but when you need it to work, you know that software is going to be slow as hell or crash.
Or “flash to pass” or a quick on/off to remind an on coming vehicle theirs are off are just two examples I can think of. Sometimes saving a nickel to remove what some young stupid engineer thinks is not needed is dumb. Frankly, I could see requiring hard controls for HVAC, lights, gear position, parking brake as a federal safety requirement. I mean if auto emergency braking, rear backup camera, … is going to be a requirement, how can the above not be?
I would expect the bright lights to still be controlled by the turn signal, so flash to pass would still be easily possible using the turn signal. I generally don’t like removing physical controls and moving them to the infotainment screen, however I rarely (if ever) turn my headlights to any other position than automatic. So removing this one, as long as it’s a hot button on the main screen (simple to get to), is okay with me.
Wife drives 2020 Equinox, son 2017 Camaro RS and me a 2002 (soon to hit 200K with no major issues), all bought new. Don’t you have to look away from road to make changes on screen instead of just flicking a switch or knob? Seems like a safety issue. Guess you get used to it like a 7th grader able to send a message on snapchat at 500 mph. Think Equinox even sends message on screen to avoid looking away from road, weird. We now drive a mobile computer.
Bad Idea, in my opinion. More driver distractions are not needed. Hunting for a function on the system while you are driving at high speeds is a recipe for a head-on Collison. Also, what about those who want to switch to an aftermarket radio system ? Does GM expect the aftermarket to include this feature on all their product offerings ? Just another dumb idea from the folks at “General Mistake”.
I can see it now. You know those signs on the freeways and some highways that say “lights on for safety”? Driver of one of these is cruising down the road at 65 mph. Driver sees sign saying lights on for safety. Driver feels they should do what the sign says. Driver doesn’t have manual light switch on the dash where it should be. Driver looks at the massive screen and decides to find the light switch control. Driver is having trouble. While looking at the screen to turn on the lights, driver crashes.
Good job GM. Any more stupid ideas?
Current design requires a distraction to look for the switch behind and under the steering wheel, then decide which setting you what. How often does anyone change light setting from automatic.
“How often does anyone change light setting from automatic.”
Around weekly here. Fog/mist conditions where you need headlights, but it’s just light enough to keep them from coming on. A quick flick of a knob (which you can do without even looking at it) is no-comparison better than a menu.
Agreed
Daily. I cut the auto lights off everytime I start the car.
I drive a silver car so I want my headlights on all the time day or night so people can see me.
All cars today have daytime running lights
Only if I manually turn them on, ‘22 Toyota Camry
Today all cars have daytime running lights anyway. Just set the lights to automatic so they switch on when dusk occurs
Just curious about how the buttons are laid out, has anyone seen this real time in a vehicle? I drive a mountain canyon at sunrise and sunset each day when wildlife is on the move as well as overnight rock slides show their damage. Myself and often oncoming traffic uses ‘flash to pass’ on the headlight stalk to warn oncoming drivers of wildlife and rock dangers in their lane ahead. I hope there’s still an easily accessible option to warn of road hazards ahead to opposing traffic.
This is really a non-issue. The headlights should default to auto and almost no one will ever need to touch it. Especially if the car has auto high beams. Cars also have daytime running lights so people that take issue with it being hard to manually turn the lights on during the day need not worry. Lastly, the number of cars I see driving around with just the running lights at night because people don’t know to actually turn the headlights on is surprisingly high. This should solve that problem as well. No need to be afraid of technological advancements 🙂
They know how to turn the lights on they just forgot, you flash then lights come on, it’s an oh $hit those are the daytime lights.
Don’t do that. Don’t do the “it’s just progress” number. A lot of things considered “progress” should be left to rot in the minds that first imagined them because all they do is make things worse.
It makes total sense to be pissed about this change. Yet another unnecessary thing that does no good for anybody. Touchscreens break down. Tech hot keys fail. Life happens so that you can’t afford to fix it. Situations come up where you need to do things you don’t normally do. It should be an easy and traditional essential function that is unmessed with. Just like the transmission shifters should not be changed ever, and the HVAC controls should be required to be buttons. Stop it with the screens. This has nothing to do with “technological advancements.”
I always cut the auto lights off whenever I get in the car, 1st thing I do actually.
It seems to me that would be an OK feature to have. I personally can’t remember the last time I physically turned lights on or off. All three of my vehicles have automatic headlights, so it seems like a non-issue to me.
Do you have automatic taillights though? Some only have the DRL and not the taillights unless you select regular headlights with a switch.
This makes no sense. The taillights come on with the automatic headlights.
Not all cars, read some of the comments.
Only if it’s broken. The taillights have to come on with the headlights.
Daytime running lights they do not, but those aren’t related.
What happens when the infotainment system freezes or doesn’t work properly and you need to adjust your headlights? A physical knob would be much more convenient.
I do not see a problem with this. They are set to automatic if you don’t like it push one button on the side and brings the controls right up. My father had a problem with the old style of controls he was 90 at the time. I honestly think this would be better as he can see the control screen after pushing the headlight hot button that is always on.
As long as the car turns on the rear tail lights so people can stop driving at night with just the Daytime Running Lights on. Manufacturers should never have allowed people to drive around at night like that….why don’t you make the computer handle the lights period? Obviously people are already having problems with the technology, so don’t make it worse!
Manufacturers didn’t allow anything, it’s your responsibility to cut the lights on at night haha
I wonder the same for the Buick Enclave and Envision, etc.
Ask a Tesla owner about their touchscreens, even the fanboys will admit that it’s often harder to use then knobs. 5 steps are needed to adjust each outside mirror, all while looking at the touchscreen instead of the road. How is this safer then a 4 way touch button on top of the armrest you can adjust by feel?
Europe has figured out that moving regularly used controls to a touchscreen is dangerous and is taking steps to stop it. Soon any vehicle sold in Europe that relies on a touchscreen to control normal functions like headlights, wipers, radio volume, etc will be getting a reduced safety rating.
I recently saw an interview with the Ford CEO (or another Ford exec) where he admitted that the move to touchscreens isn’t a great idea. He said automakers tech people just aren’t that good at design and programming of these systems, when compared to Google, Apple, etc. Also because automakers take systems from multiple companies they don’t always work well together. Sound systems come from Bose, nav comes from HERE Technologies and they have to integrate with Ford’s system, but none of them want to share proprietary information with each other, often affecting the functionality of the touchscreen.
The switch to touchscreen controls has nothing to do with a shortage of chips as the writer claims, it’s all about saving money. If they can eliminate knobs, switches and all of the associated wiring that’s a lot of individual parts they can remove from the car and also reduced labor and assembly time building cars.
I have that in my current colorado and it’s a lame decision
Bad idea! My ’21 Camaro’s system crashed while receiving the first OTA update. I have the optional “Tech package” and Bose system. Nothing associated with the screen would work- sound system or OnStar. I tried the OnStar button several times and it wouldn’t work. They called me on my cell phone as they had the phone number associated with my account and they could see that my car was trying to connect with them. I could drive the car without stereo but it would be really difficult if the headlights were linked to the system. It was a few days before the Chevrolet dealer could even get my car in. The cost was $1900 for the replacement (which was under warranty). This incident really soured me on the technology saturation in new cars.
Headlights are automatic and have been in most vehicles for some time now. I don’t remember the last time I used the physical light switch. If you leave it on auto, the lights come on when using the wipers and when it becomes darker. So it doesn’t matter either way to me.
As long as it works.
I love driving a car / truck with a cockpit.
I don’t want to own an IPad on 4 wheels.
I like knobs and switches. They’re functional and can be set to be automated on those functions that need to be.
I don’t like looking at a sun glared Ipad screen and wondering / figuring out if I hit the right prompt or not.
Just last night I saw three cars driving around at night with their lights OFF. Because of their DRLs and lit instrument clusters they didn’t even realize it. Very dangerous.
Now Grandma and Grandpa have to hunt for and find a “hot key” on a massive screen to turn the lights on when they’re not in automatic mode? How many unnecessary accidents will that cause?
At least we know that gm does not stand for genius motors.
If grandma & grandpa can’t find a “hotkey” for their lights,,,, BEFORE they leave the driveway,,, perhaps they shouldn’t be driving anymore! DUH