Lincoln’s heads-up display (HUD) is a driver aid tool that projects information on your windshield, just inside your field of view above the steering wheel. Although it’s available on three of the four

Lincoln SUVs

currently in production, it does not come standard on every trim level.

There’s no shortage of technological improvements in today’s vehicles, and Lincoln models are no different. From a user-friendly infotainment screen to handy driver aids like lane keeping, Lincoln goes a long way to ensure that its vehicles are convenient, comfortable, and safe.

Lincoln has a feature called a Heads Up Display, or HUD, that makes it easier for drivers to

operate safely

; however, models with this display typically cost a pretty penny more than the base MSRP.

This guide will walk you through the benefits of the HUD and highlight the Lincoln models in which this feature is available.

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Lincoln heads-up display: what is it and do you need it?

A heads-up display (HUD), or head-up display, is a technology that projects images onto a vehicle’s windshield or panel under the windshield, just in the driver’s line of sight. The idea is to use the “images” to convey important information while letting you keep your head up and not forcing you to take your eyes off the road to check on things like your speed or gas level.

Believe it or not, this has actually been around for some time—appearing in U.S. military aircraft for the first time in the 1960s before General Motors produced a model with this feature in 1988. Currently, over 30 car manufacturers offer some models with a HUD.

Lincoln had an HUD available in certain models for a while as well, but this mostly consisted of a series of red lines that would project on your screen if it sensed an imminent collision. Lincoln debuted a more comprehensive version with the release of the 2017 Continental, after which it has been a feature on most of its models.

You can use it to see information like

Vehicle speed

Current speed limit

Navigation directions

Driver assistance systems

Adaptive cruise control

Lane keeping information

Signaling and traffic indication

Lincoln is actually the first manufacturer to use Digital Light Projection Technology (which is used in digital movie theaters) for the HUD—which could explain why it took until 2017 to implement a comprehensive version.

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Which Lincoln models have a heads-up display (HUD)?

Heads-up displays have technically been a feature on Lincoln models before 2017, but these didn’t really display any driver information. They usually just alerted you if a collision was imminent, and its usefulness ended there. Here’s a list of the 2022 models with the heads-up display as an available option:

Lincoln Aviator

Lincoln Corsair

Lincoln Navigator

This might seem like a small amount, especially when considering competitors like BMW, but Lincoln’s line-up has only included four models in recent years—the Nautilus is the only 2022 Lincoln model without a heads-up display.

Below is a breakdown of which Lincoln models have included a heads-up display since 2017.

Model Year	Comprehensive Heads Up Display	Old, collision-warning-only Heads Up Display
2023	Aviator, Corsair, Navigator
2022	Aviator, Corsair, Navigator
2021	Aviator, Corsair, Navigator
2020	Aviator, Continental, Corsair, Navigator	MKZ, MKZ Hybrid
2019	Continental, Navigator,	MKC, MKT, MKZ, MKZ Hybrid
2018	Continental, Navigator	MKC, MKT, MKX, MKZ, MKZ Hybrid
2017	Continental	MKC, MKT, MKX, MKZ, MKZ Hybri

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Keep in mind that some models from before 2017 had a version of Lincoln’s HUD, though this was not as comprehensive as the ones in more recent models.

The HUD also does not come standard on every trim level, so you may have to

purchase the right package or opt for a higher trim level

in order to get it.

Can you add a heads-up display to a Lincoln?

If you already own a Lincoln, but it is not equipped with a heads-up display, you may be able to add it, but you’re going to have to ask yourself whether the cost will justify the results.

If you want an integrated, factory-issued HUD, chances are you’ll need to go to Lincoln for an upgrade, or depending on how recent your purchase was,

trade in your model

for a trim level or package that includes an equipped Lincoln HUD. Lincolns are already on the more expensive side of the market, so you will have to make a determination after asking a Lincoln-authorized dealer about what kind of costs you can expect.

You could also outfit your vehicle with an after-market heads-up display. This will be a lot cheaper as it won’t involve replacing components of the car—these are usually mountable somewhere in the vehicle so that it projects images to the screen. Prices vary, ranging from the low $100 range to over $1,000. You’ll have to sacrifice a degree of authenticity, however. These devices will literally mount somewhere on your dashboard, which may look out of place.

Whatever choice you go with, it is possible to add a heads-up display to a Lincoln. It will require some technical knowledge if you choose to do it yourself, too.

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How to use the Lincoln heads up display

Lincoln makes it fairly easy for its drivers to use its HUD features. Specific instructions may vary depending on which model year you have, but you can always double-check using your owner’s manual.

You can turn on your HUD by using the four-way toggle on the right-hand side of your steering wheel to navigate your information display. In the settings menu, you should see a checkbox marked “Hud ON.” Simply check this box, and you’ll be able to use your HUD.

You can adjust the display according to your height to make it easier, change its brightness, and even decide exactly what content you want displayed. The image brightness will also automatically adjust according to the brightness of the environment.

If your model is a pre-2017 version, or is one of the models with a collision-only HUD, you don’t have to make any changes. The system should automatically turn on once you use adaptive cruise control or the collision warning system is triggered.

Is a Lincoln heads-up display worth it?

The answer to this question depends on your personal tastes. The heads-up display isn’t standard equipment for a reason—and that reason is that most people don’t really need it. An HUD can help keep your focus on the road, increase the safety of your driving, and help you avoid quickly-arising risky situations, but most drivers can make do with the traditional instrument cluster.

That being said, most reviewers have said that once you use a HUD for the first time, it’s very difficult to go back. In addition to keeping focus, the convenience shouldn’t be discounted either. Something as simple as seeing navigation directions on your windshield may make a wealth of a difference in your driving experience.

So it comes down to a matter of personal taste. If you’re already looking at a Lincoln, you may be less inclined to worry about cost or more cognizant of it considering you’re already paying a lot. If you decide that the convenience is worth the price, by all means go for it. If not, you can certainly make do without the HUD.

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