Head-up displays are gaining popularity and have begun to make it into many cars, but they’re currently reserved for higher-end and more luxurious models. But this doesn’t mean that the rest of us can’t pretend to be fighter pilots behind the wheel.
There are many aftermarket tech toys that will project a transparent image or map onto your windshield to help you stay connected and keep your eyes on the road and they’re available at many different price ranges. Here are three pretty affordable and slick-looking HUD systems that caught our eye:
Navdy – $499 (currently pre-ordering for $299)
This San Francisco start-up has one of the most impressive examples of an HUD we’ve seen so far. Although it hasn’t been released yet, you can pre-order one for a discounted price. It will ship in early 2015.
What makes Navdy’s system so different from others is that it uses touchless gesture control, so drivers can just use their hands to swipe in the air to do tasks like change the song, dismiss a notification or answer a phone call — if you like sci-fi and don’t mind looking crazy to other drivers, this should really excite you. It also has voice recognition, so you can do things like send out a new tweet without ever having to take your hands off the steering wheel.
The Navdy system (which will work with your existing car) connects to your iPhone or Android phone via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth and sits on top of the dashboard behind the steering wheel. It projects a 5.1-inch wide transparent image that looks like it’s six feet away from you, which helps drivers stay focused on the road. It can display turn-by-turn navigation instructions, read your text messages and allow you to reply, and users can even tailor which notifications they want to receive while driving. For example, if you don’t want to get Candy Crush notifications while on the road, you can disable them.
Navdy can also connect to your car’s computer so you can monitor things like fuel economy, tire pressure or a number different diagnostics. Navdy promises that it will feel like you’re “driving in the future.”
Hudway – free app
This navigation system is different from the Navdy because it doesn’t require any additional equipment other than your smartphone — and it’s a free app. It uses the smartphone’s screen to project (reflect is a more accurate description) information into your field of vision while you’re driving. All you have to do is put the smartphone on the dashboard under where you want the transparent image to appear. Hudway is exclusively a navigation app and doesn’t have any of the connectivity or social media functionality as the Navdy, but you really can’t compare the two because they’re two totally different products. And this one’s free.
Hudway will display your speed, turn-by-turn navigation directions, when you should slow down, and how far you are from your next action. It will also alert you if there’s a dangerous turn coming up, which can be useful in low-visibility driving conditions. You need an Internet connection to load the maps, but you can pre-load all the routes you need and turn off the data on your phone so you can use it offline.
Garmin HUD – US$150 (plus cost for compatible app)
Who wants to play Top Gun? I do! Garmin’s HUD system is a popular pick.
Handout, Garmin
Garmin’s HUD system works in conjunction with its StreetPilot iPhone app or Navigon apps (available on most smartphones) and connects wirelessly via Bluetooth. The portable system sits atop the dashboard and will display turn-by-turn directions, your current speed, distance to your next action, estimated time of arrival, lane assist and other safety alerts like speed warnings.
To project the display properly, you can either apply a special transparent film to your windshield or use an included reflector lens that attaches to the unit. It also automatically adjusts how bright it is depending on the conditions outside.
