in the driver’s line of sight to help reduce the amount of time they need to look away from the road. But considering it can cost thousands of dollars to add, drivers may need to consider how much they want the feature.

If you’re picking out a new Buick, get ready to wade through a wealth of optional features. We’re talking heated seats, hands-free power liftgates, and technology options—like a HUD, which is available as standard on certain trims or as part of an optional package on others.

While plenty of drivers might consider the HUD a useful feature, the vehicle models that offer it are also more expensive. Here is a rundown on what a Buick HUD does—and how much it could cost you to get it.

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Buick head up display: what is it and do you need it?

A head-up or heads-up display, or HUD for short, is a feature that projects information onto a glass pane in front of the vehicle's windshield—or onto the windshield itself, depending on the model—on the driver’s side. It’s intended to keep your head up and your attention on the road for safer driving—and it can make your ride feel a little more futuristic.

The Buick’s HUD display provides information across four main categories:

Speed

Performance

Navigation

Audio/phone

A typical HUD will have a projector built into the dash that will then display information to a specific portion of the windshield or a lens (also referred to as a combiner) placed on the dash in front of it.

While a HUD might not be an absolute necessity,

distracted driving

comes with real risks. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), it was a factor that accounted for 8.1% of fatal vehicle accidents in 2020—so any tool that helps reduce the need for you to look away from the road while you’re driving can be a welcome feature.

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Which Buick models have a head up display (HUD)?

On the most recent Buick models, HUD can either be offered as standard on certain

trim levels

or as an optional add-on via certain packages. The 2022 and 2023 models that offer it include:

2022 Encore GX

: Available option on the Essence ($30,195) and Select ($26,995) trims

2023 Encore GX: Available option on the Select ($28,495) and Essence ($30,195) trims

2022 Buick Envision

: Standard on the Avenir trim ($41,245)

2023 Buick Envision: Available option on the Essence trim ($38,895), standard on the Avenir trim ($47,055)

2022 Enclave

: Standard on the Premium ($51,195) and Avenir ($56,495) trims

2023 Enclave: Standard on the Premium ($53,430) Avenir ($58,865) trims

On Buick vehicle trim levels where HUD is optional, the feature is typically offered as one of several features in available technology packages, which can range from $1,900 on the Encore GX to nearly $4,500 for the top-tier tech package on the Envision.

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Can you add a head-up display to a Buick?

The availability of the Buick’s HUD feature might depend on your vehicle’s model year and trim level. You can always ask a Buick dealership whether an upgrade is optional and how much it would cost so you can decide whether it’s worth it for you.

If this is a must-have feature for you but it’s not available on your current Buick, there are also a number of aftermarket HUDs of varying quality you could consider. If that’s a route you choose to go, just make sure the one you pick won’t inhibit your visibility while you’re driving.

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How to use the Buick head up display

On new Buicks equipped with a HUD, the system is surprisingly simple to use. You’ll typically find the system controls to the left of your steering wheel:

You’ll see a power/info button you can press to lift up the display, turn the feature on, and toggle through information. To turn the feature off, press and hold the button—don’t try to push the display back into the dash with your hand!

To the right is a button to adjust the HUD display’s brightness.

To the left is a button that reads “HUD” that you can use to adjust the positioning of the information on the display.

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Is a Buick head up display worth it?

Some drivers find HUDs more appealing than others. And considering accidents can happen in a split second, a HUD system that helps you keep your eyes on the road more often can definitely be a valuable tool.

But cost is also an important factor to consider when you’re trying to determine whether a HUD is worth it. For example, the 2023 Enclave Essence, which doesn’t have a HUD and starts at $46,195, is $7,000 less than the Premium trim. Granted, you’ll get plenty more features in addition to that HUD, but if there aren’t enough that are actually appealing to you, it might not be worth it to go for that higher trim level.

The same goes for Buick’s technology packages—they come with a sampling of additional features, but you want to make sure they’re appealing to you to justify the cost. Or, you should really want that HUD.

And since those extra features give your vehicle a higher value, keep in mind that you’ll also end up paying more for your car insurance premium, too.

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