The 2023 line of Cadillacs all have an option for a head up display (HUD). However, most of them aren’t available with the base trim. Let’s talk about whether this feature is worth the upgrade.

If you’re in the market for a new Cadillac, you have plenty of options. As a luxury brand, Cadillacs tend to come with the most up-to-date gadgets and tech. All models have the option of a head up display, but it’s not always available on the base model of the vehicle.

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, the

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for insurance, is here to tell you all about the options for HUDs available to you on Cadillacs. We’ll go over what a head up display is, which Cadillacs have it, how to add it if they don’t, and how to use your Cadillac’s HUD. We’ll also give you information on how you can save big on your

Cadillac car insurance costs

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

The head up display (also called “heads up display” or HUD) is a feature that projects pertinent information onto your car’s windshield. While this information is already available on your dashboard instrument cluster, having a HUD means your eyes won’t have to travel as far so you can focus on the road while keeping track of your speed, mileage, etc.

Most head up displays have similar features. They work via projectors to display information onto a small screen on the windshield, which is easily visible to the driver without blocking the view of the road.

What can the HUD display? Here’s a list of some options:

Speedometer

Tachometer (RPM gauge)

Lane departure warnings

Status of the adaptive cruise control

Compass

Navigation system

Forward collision warning system

Audio system information

Speed dial and call history

You have the option to choose which of these features you see. You can also opt to turn off the head up display if you find it more distracting than helpful. (Distracted driving causes thousands of accidents a year, and this innovative feature may help you to avoid being in one of them.)

MORE:

Are Cadillacs good cars?

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

Cadillac entered the head up display game a while ago. The first model with a HUD option was the 2003 Cadillac XLR, and different iterations of the technology have been available on models ever since.

Within the 2023 lineup, all of the SUVs and sedans have the option for a head up display (but not on every trim).

The list below includes the 2023 models and trims that come with a HUD option:

CT4-V

CT4-V Blackwing

CT5 (Premium Luxury and Sport)

XT4 (Premium Luxury and Sport)

XT5 (Premium Luxury and Sport)

XT6 (Premium Luxury and Sport)

Escalade (Premium Luxury, Sport, Premium Luxury Platinum, Sport Platinum, Escalade-V)

Escalade ESV (Premium Luxury, Sport, Premium Luxury Platinum, Sport Platinum, Escalade-V ESV)

The only models listed above that come with the head up display standard are the Escalade and Escalade ESV. The others have the option available.

Can you add a head up display to a Cadillac?

The option for the head up display comes with the Technology Package. This package will add an extra $2,275 to the price of your vehicle. This means that if you want a base trim, you won’t be able to add an integrated head up display directly from Cadillac.

However, there are a few other options if you’re looking to add a head up display on a base trim of one of the 2023 models listed above. You can either buy and install a HUD system separately or you can use an app on your phone.

Buying and installing a head up display is usually the more expensive option. It can cost up to $1,000 or more. But the base trims are usually about $3,000 cheaper than the upper tiers and in most of those models the package with the HUD is $2,275 on top of that increased price.

In the long run, even if you spend $1,000 on the HUD and installation, it could still save you over $4,000 compared to buying the car with one pre-installed.

However, the price isn’t the only potential drawback. When installing a secondary part like this, the integration with the system will be less effective, meaning that the controls for the display might be less intuitive.

The other option is to use an app on your phone. This option is much simpler; just open the app and place the phone on your car’s dashboard. This form of HUD can usually only tell you the speed of your vehicle, but in some of the more advanced versions, they can also integrate navigation.

There are three other possible drawbacks of using a mobile app. The first is securing your phone on your dashboard so that it won’t move while the vehicle is in motion. Second, because it works solely on reflection, it may be difficult to see the display readout. Finally, some of the more advanced apps require you to pay a subscription fee.

MORE:

Cadillac car buying guide

How to use the Cadillac head up display

The Cadillac head up display is extremely user-friendly. In older Cadillac models, to the left of the steering wheel, there are three buttons that will help you to control the system with ease, even while driving.

From left to right, they control the location of the display on your windshield (left-most), the information that’s being displayed (center), and the brightness of the display (right-most).

In the 2023 models, the feature has become more advanced. Rather than three buttons, to the left of the steering wheel there’s a touchscreen display. This touchscreen also controls the display screen behind the steering wheel, so be sure that you’re on the HUD menu (it will be highlighted at the bottom).

Once you’re on the head up display menu, there will be three options displayed: height, brightness, and info. Using the touchscreen, you can press the arrows above or below height and brightness to increase or decrease those two options.

The info segment will let you choose what information is being displayed on your windshield, which you can change at any time.

Is a Cadillac head up display worth it?

Whether a heads up display is worth it depends on what you’re looking for in your vehicle. Opting for the technology package gets you a HUD and a variety of other great features, and in some cases the HUD will come standard with your vehicle (no options necessary).

The Technology Package also includes a rear camera with washer, 8” diagonal color Driver Information Center display, HD surround vision, rear pedestrian alert, and automatic parking assist with braking.

If safety is high on your list of concerns when choosing a vehicle, then the Technology Package is worth the cost. But if your top priority is a luxury vehicle at a low price, it might not be worth the upgrade in trim and package.

How to save on Cadillac insurance

A head up display can be an excellent feature in your Cadillac, but it comes at a cost. One way to make some extra room in your budget is to use

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to make sure you aren’t overpaying for your

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