I've been making maps with the new graphics, and wanted to make some comments.
The new units look very nice, big improvement here. I think the archon (I like his magical bluebird look) and spider (hairy menacing legs) are more characterful (but, less technically impressive) in the current version. Otherwise the new versions are absolutely superior.
The cities are more of a mixed bag. Some are quite nice, others are not at all to my taste.
Here is my rating (In order of best to worst)
1)White - nice, sturdy looking castle
2)Black - smoky tower
3)Blue - crazy mass of towers (strange perspective issues)
4)Green - thin white towers and wall (kinda busy)
5)Teal - Really nice looking picture of some halls on a hill (not fortified looking)
6)Orange - Middle eastern palace (where is my dwarven rockpile?)
7)Red - Flying castle dripping lava (nice looking, some will love it...way over the top for me though)
8)Yellow - ziggurat (really flat, both physically and interest-wise)
Taken as a whole, a nice upgrade.