Head-Up Displays: Keeping Your Eyes on the Road
Head-up displays, or HUDs, are designed to project essential information directly into a driver’s line of sight, above the dashboard. This allows drivers to keep their focus on the road, improving safety and convenience. Originally developed for aircraft in the mid-20th century, HUDs made their automotive debut in the U.S. with the 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. Today, they’ve become a sought-after feature, particularly in high-end vehicles, and are increasingly available as options or standard equipment across a wider range of models.
2024 Vehicles Offering Head-Up Displays
If a head-up display is a must-have feature for you, the following vehicles offer this technology for the 2024 model year. Note that availability may vary: some models offer HUDs as standard equipment, while others include it as an option or as part of a specific, more expensive trim level. The vehicles are listed alphabetically.
- Acura: Integra, MDX, RDX, TLX, ZDX
- Audi: A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, E-Tron GT, Q4 e-Tron, Q5, Q5 e, Q7, Q8, Q8 e-Tron, S3, RS 3
- Bentley: Bentayga, Bentayga Hybrid, Continental GT, Flying Spur, Flying Spur Hybrid
- BMW: 2 Series, 3 Series, 4 Series, 5 Series, 7 Series, 8 Series, i4, i5, i7, iX, X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, XM, Z4
- Buick: Enclave, Envision
- Cadillac: CT4, CT5, Escalade/Escalade ESV, XT4, XT5, XT6
- Chevrolet: Blazer EV, Camaro, Corvette, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe
- Ferrari: Purosangue, SF90 Spider/SF90 Stradale
- Ford: Escape, F-150, Super Duty F-250/F-350
- Genesis: G70, G80, Electrified G80, G90, GV60, GV70, Electrified GV70, GV80
- GMC: Acadia, Canyon, Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Terrain, Yukon/Yukon XL
- Honda: Accord Hybrid, Pilot
- Hyundai: Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, Palisade, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, Sonata Hybrid
- Infiniti: QX50, QX55, QX60
- Jaguar: E-Pace, F-Pace, I-Pace, XF
- Jeep: Grand Cherokee/Grand Cherokee L, Grand Cherokee 4xe, Grand Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer L, Wagoneer/Wagoneer L
- Kia: EV6, EV9, Niro EV, Telluride
- Lamborghini: Urus
- Land Rover: Defender, Discovery, Discovery Sport, Range Rover, Range Rover Evoque, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Velar
- Lexus: ES, GX 550, LC, LS, LX 600, NX, RX, RZ, TX, UX 250h
- Lincoln: Aviator, Corsair, Navigator/Navigator L
- Maserati: GranCabrio, GranTurismo, Grecale
- Mazda: CX-30, CX-5, CX-50, CX-90, Mazda3
- Mercedes-Benz: C-Class, CLA, CLE, E-Class, EQB, EQE Sedan, EQE SUV, EQS Sedan, EQS SUV, GLA, GLB, GLC, GLE, GLS, AMG GT, AMG SL
- Mini: Clubman, Convertible, Countryman, Hardtop, SE Hardtop
- Mitsubishi: Eclipse Cross, Outlander
- Nissan: Ariya, Pathfinder, Rogue
- Porsche: Cayenne, Panamera, Taycan
- Ram: 1500
- Rolls-Royce: Cullinan, Ghost, Phantom, Spectre
- Toyota: Camry, GR Supra, Highlander, Grand Highlander, Land Cruiser, Mirai, RAV4 Prime, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma, Tundra, Venza
- VinFast: VF 8, VF 9
- Volkswagen: Atlas/Atlas Cross Sport, Golf GTI, Golf R
- Volvo: S60, S60 Recharge, S90, S90 Recharge, V60 Cross Country, V60 Recharge, V90 Cross Country, XC60, XC60 Recharge, XC90, XC90 Recharge
The Pros and Cons of Head-Up Displays
While HUDs are designed as a safety enhancement, reducing the need to look down at gauges or the infotainment screen, their effectiveness is debated. Many drivers find them invaluable, while others are less enthusiastic.
Advantages
The primary benefit of a HUD is that it delivers information at eye level, allowing the driver to maintain focus on the road. Some advanced systems also provide alerts for potential hazards such as blind-spot warnings or lane departure. Furthermore, many HUD systems integrate navigation, eliminating the need to glance down for turn-by-turn directions and allowing the driver to focus on the road ahead.
Disadvantages
One of the main drawbacks is the added cost, whether as an optional feature or as a component of a higher trim level. The increasing complexity and size of HUDs can also create distraction. Moreover, excessive information displayed on the windshield can be just as disruptive as glancing at a phone. There are currently no specific regulations for HUDs, which means the type and quantity of data displayed isn’t standardized.
What to Consider When Choosing a Vehicle with a HUD
If you’re considering a vehicle with a head-up display, a test drive is essential to evaluate its suitability. Questions to ask:
- Positioning: Can the display be adjusted to your line of sight?
- Brightness: Is the display sufficiently bright in daylight conditions?
- Compatibility: Does the HUD work effectively with polarized sunglasses?
- Configuration: Are the available configuration options suitable for your needs?
Technology, Size, and Price of Head-Up Displays
Factory-installed HUDs vary in complexity and cost. Basic systems project information such as speed and basic driving data onto a small, clear plastic panel that pops up from the dashboard. More advanced systems utilize the windshield itself, creating the impression that information is “floating” in front of the driver. These systems often employ lasers, mirrors, and specialized windshield glass.
HUDs also vary in size. Some vehicles, such as the Lotus Eletre R with its 29-inch display, offer large displays. Capabilities often include adjustable positioning and brightness, and configurable data options. Common data points include turn-by-turn navigation, speed, speed limits, cruise control information, vehicle and fuel (or battery) data, and media system data.
Beyond factory-installed systems, aftermarket devices and HUD phone apps are available for vehicles without built-in equipment. These options can provide a more affordable way to experience the benefits of a head-up display, although may not integrate as seamlessly.
Augmented Reality HUDs
Increasingly, luxury brands are incorporating augmented reality into their head-up displays. These systems overlay data from cameras and GPS onto the windshield, creating virtual elements that appear to be superimposed on the real world. For example, navigation directions can display floating arrows that highlight the correct lane for an upcoming turn. The system in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and EQS vehicles can even display the same augmented image on the center dashboard display.
Some augmented reality HUD systems also highlight safety hazards like vehicles or cyclists, and they may eventually indicate optimal routes to avoid these hazards, as demonstrated in an Audi video showcasing their current augmented reality capabilities.
