What is a Head Up Display and is it worth it?

A Head Up Display is a safety feature that has become increasingly common on the market. If you want to know what it is, what types there are and whether it is worth installing, keep reading.

The automotive sector is constantly evolving, offering more and more assistance systems to make driving easier and safer. However, until autonomous driving arrives, everything depends on the driver, who must manage their attention to focus on driving, the road and the traffic conditions. For this reason, it is essential that our car is designed to help make this possible, and the Head Up Display is one of the elements that has been introduced to fulfil this mission.

90% of the information the driver receives comes through sight, so it is very important that they do not have to take their eyes off the road to receive information or operate the vehicle’s various controls. Some elements, such as the first 3D instrument cluster fitted to the Genesis G70, make it clear that we are still in the midst of evolution.

The first advance in this area was the placement of the main instrumentation behind the steering wheel, which was first seen on the Chrysler Imperial of 1937. As a result, all the controls were gradually moved to the driver’s position.

Its use spread thanks to the BMW 5 Series

However, one of the key steps in keeping the driver’s attention focused on the road was the Head Up Display (HUD). This device was developed for combat aircraft in the 1950s, although it was not until 2003 that it became common, thanks to the fifth generation of the BMW 5 Series (E60).

The HUD displays driving-related information such as the speed at which we are travelling or the navigation system’s directions. This data can be projected directly onto the windscreen or onto a plastic film placed on the top of the instrument cluster hood.

It has already been proven that the Head Up Display reduces reaction time to an unexpected event and improves the driver’s concentration. This is because the information appears to float in front of the car, so there is no need to take your eyes off the road at any moment.

What types of Head Up Display exist?

There are two types of Head Up Display:

Head Medium Display:

In this type of device, a transparent film rises from the top of the instrument cluster hood. This is the earlier evolution and therefore the cheapest (around 350 euros depending on the brand).

The space in this device is smaller, so the amount of projected information is also smaller. Therefore, in this case, it usually shows elements such as speed, cruise control or navigation directions. This system can be found in cars such as the Ford Focus, which debuted the brand’s first system of this type.

Head Up Display

This is the most technologically advanced and evolved variant. It has better resolution and displays more information. This is projected directly onto the windscreen, so it appears to be floating in front of the car.

The position of the data can be adjusted by the driver, and it can project a huge variety of colours. However, this improved performance comes at a considerably higher price, as they usually have a price of around 1,300 euros and are generally reserved for luxury vehicles. This extra cost is due to the fact that a Head Up Display needs a powerful projector and a special windscreen.

Therefore, the Head Up Display has become a very widespread safety feature with proven usefulness when driving. It is a device to which we adapt very quickly and that we will end up appreciating, so if you are thinking of buying a car, check the list of optional extras, since installing a Head Up Display is highly recommended.