The 5 best head-up displays in any car right now
Heads-Up Displays (HUDs) have been around in the automotive world for a long time. The functionality of these gadgets may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but the main purpose is to provide valuable information to the driver while keeping the eyes off the road.
That’s why the head-up displays relevant project information on the windshield in an easily accessible area within the driver’s immediate field of vision. Today, head-up displays provide tons of useful information, and some automakers are moving forward with their respective applications.
1. BMW i7
The BMW i7 is a technological marvel on all fronts, so it’s no surprise that it has amazing head-up display technology. Unfortunately, many head-up screens are simple and limited to showing basic information such as miles per hour with a basic Ul.
But not so with BMW’s HUD. The i7 projects a wealth of useful information onto your windshield. Displays the MPH number and speed limit on the windshield.
BMW knows its customer base very well, and a friendly little reminder on the head-up display to drive like a reasonable person is something BMW drivers can use. The BMW’s head-up display is also quite impressive, with one of its animations projected onto the windshield like a bird watching your steering movements.
It’s one of the coolest head-up displays on the market, and as cars become equipped with greater autonomous capabilities, this technology will only become more important.
2. Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class features what can only be described as an S-Class of head-up displays. If there’s too much of a good thing, the S-Class’s head-up display might be it.
Most manufacturers include basic functionality in their head-up displays, as one of the main purposes of a head-up display is to help the driver keep their eyes on the road.
But the augmented reality unit of the S-Class is actually a full-fledged digital screen projected onto the windshield. The plethora of features is absurd and can even be a little dangerous as it brings a lot of eye candy into the driver’s field of vision.
This focused display shows the obvious things like vehicle speed, but it also adds the extra realism of “marking” vehicles in front of you, like a fighter jet locking on to a target.
The active lane keeping assist graphic is very active or intrusive (depending on how you look at it). It even traces the outer edges of the lanes in red to make sure you don’t stray. The weirdest part is the augmented reality navigation system; it’s just too distracting.
The navigation directional arrow floats with the movements of the steering wheel, then flies when it’s time to turn.
It’s very messy, but with a few tweaks, this system could be revolutionary. The best navigation feature is an augmented reality marker that lets you know you’ve arrived; floats quietly in front of your destination. Very nice, really.
3. C8 Chevrolet Corvette
The Corvette has a simpler head-up display than the Mercedes-Benz, though that doesn’t mean much. In fact, every car ever made has a simpler head-up display than Mercedes-Benz’s over-the-top system.
The Corvette is a true sports car that can give the fastest EVs a hard time. That’s why it’s so important that you get the information you need as a driver without unnecessary distractions. Also, the Corvette has preset controls for adjusting the location of the HUD on the windshield, which is very useful for getting the right view for you.
Although the display is very basic, it has some nice features. For example, in sport mode, the HUD displays MPH and G-meter. It’s beautiful, isn’t it?
Keeping it simple often produces the best results, and the Corvette HUD is proof of that. In a super-fast mid-engine sports car like the C8 Corvette, you don’t want to be distracted by gimmicks.
Fortunately, the Corvette’s head-up display gives you all the right information you need without going overboard.
4. Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron
Audi’s HUD is customizable, and you can go into its menu section and change everything from the orientation of the windshield image to the brightness. You can also turn off the HUD’s augmented reality functionality, which some may prefer.
Fortunately, Audi’s head-up display packs a lot of functionality into a simplified user interface that doesn’t distract too much. The navigation arrow still distracts the driver when centered and then jumps to the horizon, but the overall UI design is less intrusive than the Mercedes.
The system displays the vehicle’s speed with a small arrow next to the MPH number in addition to the main augmented reality arrow when using the navigation system. It’s a good system and could be great with further updates.
The Q4 Sportback e-tron is one of the best EV SUVs on sale, and Audi’s HUD fits perfectly with the car’s futuristic vibe. The most important thing for automakers to remember with these systems is to keep it simple, as a HUD that distracts the driver is counterproductive.
5. Hyundai IONIQ 5
Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 features a head-up display that allows the driver to choose between augmented reality and a simpler projection.
The augmented reality display is pretty standard, as it shows a nice graph that includes the car’s current speed and speed limit information (if applicable).
Of course, this view also shows navigation arrows that point you in the direction you should follow. In addition, the system can be configured in various ways, such as adjusting the height of the head-up display projection in the settings menu.
You can also control HUD rotation and overall image brightness. Another great feature is that you can choose what content is shown on the screen, with the option to turn off traffic signs, blind spot safety information or turn-by-turn functionality.
The IONIQ 5 is a car with a strong focus on style, so its more minimalistic approach to the design of the head-up display is refreshing.
Title screens will become the norm
A head-up display seems like the perfect way to interact with a car without a steering wheel. In the future, when most vehicles will be fully autonomous, images projected onto the windows seem to be the best way to collect information about your car.
The steering wheels will wear out and the view ahead will not be obstructed by the steering gear, allowing tons of information to be displayed on the windshield.
