When you purchase a new Volvo, you’re looking at a lot of great smart features and tech that enhance safety including Google built-in, cross-traffic alert, and an optional head-up display that helps drivers stay focused on the road.

If you’re thinking about upgrading your Volvo equipment level to include a head-up display but aren’t sure if it’s worth the extra thousands, you’ve come to the right place.

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

A head-up display, also known as HUD, projects information onto your windshield in the driver’s line of sight allowing you to keep your head up and eyes on the road while you check your speed, navigation, and more.

The Volvo HUD uses a display unit located in the instrument panel to project information onto the windshield that is only visible from the driver's position. You can customize your HUD information to meet your personal preferences and in general, you’ll be able to display information such as:

Road speed

Speed limits

Step-by-step navigation instructions

Incoming phone calls

Road sign information

Cruise control

Vehicle warning symbols

The brightness of the HUD automatically adjusts to the light conditions and can be set to meet your personal vision preferences for your comfort and convenience. While you may not need the Volvo head up display, it is a great way to curtail

distracted driving

, which causes thousands of fatal accidents annually.

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

Most Volvos models have a head up display available but it does not come standard. The head up display is available as part of the Ultimate Package on the following 2022 Volvo models:

Volvo XC60

Available with the Ultimate Package for $10,050 (including front seat ventilation, Harman Kardon Premium Sound, crystal gear selector knob, tailored dashboard, and more)

Volvo XC90

Available with the Ultimate Package for $13,200 (including front seat ventilation, Harman Kardon Premium Sound, Gray Ash decor, crystal gear selector knob, tailored dashboard and door top panels, rear door sun curtains, and more)

Volvo S90: Available with the Ultimate Package for $5,550 (including front seat ventilation, Harman Kardon Premium Sound, crystal gear selector knob, and more)

Volvo V60 Cross Country: Available with the Ultimate Package for $5,300 (including front seat ventilation, Harman Kardon Premium Sound, crystal gear selector knob, driftwood decor, and more)

Volvo V90 Cross Country: Available with the Ultimate Package for $5,600 (including front seat ventilation, Harman Kardon Premium Sound, backrest massage front seats and more)

The cost of a Volvo head up display depends on the model and the other equipment included in the package. The Ultimate Package for the S90, V60 Cross Country, and V90 Cross Country combines the HUD with just a few add-ons, and will add less than $6,000 to your overall price tag. However, adding a HUD to the XC60 and XC90 will be significantly more expensive with an Ultimate Package that includes premium equipment and materials.

Keep in mind the S60, XC40 and C40 are the only Volvo models you won’t be able to get a head up display on.

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

Let’s say you already own a Volvo that doesn’t have a HUD or looking to purchase an older used model. You can have a head up display installed in a Volvo that doesn’t already have one, but depending on what you want, it will cost you.

If you want an OEM Volvo head up display, you’ll need to replace the entire windshield with a specialized windshield that meets the requirements for displaying the projected image. The windshield replacement itself could cost well over $2,000 on top of the Ultimate Package price.

Retrofitted aftermarket head-up displays can be added to your Volvo and are available for as little as $45, but they won’t be built into the actual windshield. It may not be as sleek of a design but it will serve the same purpose—keeping key information in your line of sight.

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How to use the Volvo head up display

If you opted for the Ultimate Package equipment level but aren’t sure how to use your Volvo’s head-up display, it’s fairly straightforward. Here’s how to use your Volvo HUD:

Start your Volvo

Locate and press the Head Up Display button in the center display function view

Tap the Head Up Display Adjustment tile

Use the arrow buttons on the left steering wheel keypad to position the display

Select the center OK button on the steering wheel keypad to set the display

You can also customize the information you see on your HUD by tapping the tab on the upper edge of the infotainment system and selecting Settings > My Car > Displays > Head-Up Display and checking the boxes of the information features you want to be shown.

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Is a Volvo head up display worth it?

The Volvo head up display isn’t absolutely essential, but having a HUD reduces distracted driving and can improve your reaction time in potentially dangerous situations.

Unfortunately, the Volvo head up display is only available as an option on the Ultimate Package and is bundled with luxurious features, like ventilated seats, a crystal control knob, and chrome wheel hub caps, that not only increase your overall purchase price significantly but also your insurance costs.

If that safety technology is worth spending an additional $5,300 to $13,200, then you should go for it! But if you’re trying to stay relatively budget conscious, the Volvo head up display may not be worth it for you.

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