A Guide to Heads Up Display (HUD) In Cars: All You Need to Know

Posted on: Sep 6, 2023 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

A Guide to Heads Up Display (HUD) In Cars: All You Need to Know

A few years ago the luxury high-end cars were the ones which had lots of fancy features which made driving them fun and pleasurable. Now times have changed and new technologies and features are also available in the mass segment cars. One of the latest ones is the heads up display car. Earlier this year, Maruti launched the Baleno with the hud and since then the feature has become a popular one. If you want to know what is hud, we have you covered. Let us not only understand this feature but also talk about all its features and other details.

What is a heads-up display?

Heads up display car is a technology used for displaying information. In this, a transparent screen is in the line of sight of the driver which directly displays all important information about the car. Some cars display this information on the windshield but this can only be seen by the driver. The main reason for this is that the driver does not need to look at the dashboard repeatedly. This technology was initially used for military aircraft but now is used in cars. Information such as fuel levels and speed can be easily seen by the driver without losing focus on the road.

Types of heads up display

Now that you have understood what is hud let us talk about the kinds of displays. Depending on the car, there are different kinds of HUDs available. While some are basic and some are advanced. Essentially there are 3 types of HUD available.

1. Smartphone HUD

These are HUD systems that use applications on your smartphones to show information on an additional screen or the windscreen. This uses the sensor data and GPS of the phone to get information.

2. Transparent Screen HUD

This uses a combiner which is a transparent screen to show the information in the line of sight of the driver. This is an add-on feature available in cars today and the information here is only visible to the driver.

3. Windshield HUD

This is a type of heads up display car that shows the information on the windshield to the driver. Here the information kind of appears floating to the driver. This today is one of the most common kinds of HUD available in the market today across all segments of cars.

Advantages of heads-up display

Like every coin has two sides, the HUD has its own advantages and disadvantages. Let us talk about the pros first:

1. Convenience to the driver

This makes seeing the information easy for the diver. Driving becomes more convenient as the driver does not need to take their eyes off the road and can still see all alerts and information.

2. Safe

The display of information in the line of sight of the driver makes driving very safe. The driver can get all the information in front of his eyes and keep their eyes on the road. As distractions reduce, the driver is more alert and the chances of accidents reduce.

3. Better navigation

The heads-up display car shows detailed directions to the driver which makes it easy for them to navigate while driving and not lose focus.

4. Improves the look

The car with a HUD undoubtedly gives the car a classy look. With features like this, the car looks modern and it becomes easier to get a higher price when selling the car.

Disadvantages of heads-up display

Though a HUD makes the car look classy, it has some disadvantages also. Some of these are:

1. Issues in visibility

As the information is displayed on the windshield or a transparent screen, the visibility can be affected due to several factors like sunlight and glare. Due to this, the purpose of HUD fails and it becomes more of a distraction for the driver.

2. Makes the car costly

HUD is still a new concept and is an expensive feature to have. This increases the cost of the car and also makes car insurance more expensive. You need adequate coverage to get the display covered and for add-on features like return to invoice in car insurance increase the premium.

3. Distraction

Though many find the accessibility to information in front of you convenient, this seems to be more of a distraction to many. There can be a tendency to focus more on the information than on driving and this can lead to accidents.

Features of heads-up display

Some of the main features of HUD are:

1. Navigation

2. Speedometer

3. Level of fuel

4. Media

5. Safety warnings

These can vary from car to car and in many cars, there is an option to customise the same. This means that the driver can choose which information he can see and which ones he does not.

Difference between HUD and HMD

HMD is head head-mounted display and HUD is a heads-up display. We have understood what is hud and essentially HMD is a different technology. HMD is used more in AR and VR apps and needs the wearing of glasses or goggles to look at information. The HMD is a portable device unlike HUD and thus, can be used in different settings.

Heads up display cars in India

Some of the cars in India which have the heads-up display in India today are:

1. Mercedes S

2. BMW X1, 3 Series, X4, 5 series, X5, X7, 7 and 8 series and some other models too

3. Toyota Camry

4. Jaguar F Pace

5. Audi 6, 7, 8 and Q8

6. Range Rover Velar

7. Kia Seltos

8. Volvo XC40

9. Maruti Suzuki Baleno

10. Lexus NX300

Frequently asked questions

1. Is HUD only available in luxury cars?

The feature initially only came in the high-end luxury segment but not is available across all segments.

2. Can HUD be added to an existing car?

This is possible but one should check the compatibility and compliance issues.

Conclusion

The heads-up display car is a premium feature in the industry and is gradually coming in different cars across all segments. As we have seen it has its pros and cons, one must carefully see and understand it before paying for the same. As the feature is new it is expensive, while buying a car with HUD ensure that your comprehensive insurance policy covers the unit so that in case of an accident or malfunction, the repair or replacement is covered. Understanding the feature and its practicality and affordability for the driver is always advisable.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.