Is HUD worth it?

[keited]

Some people argue that HUD alone is worth getting the Premium package. I think HUD is only worth it if you're actually using it with its navigation function, but I heard you're forced to use Kia's crappy OEM navigation, not Google Maps. So, the HUD will be basically used to display your speed and other useful information.

I understand it's considered as a safety feature as you won't be taking your eyes off from the road. However, you can also have your speed displayed on your instrument cluster. I don't know about the speed limit though...

I kind of want to go all the way and get the NXP (and have no regret later on), but I personally don't see any use of premium package (heated/ventilated 2nd row) as we'll be installing a booster seat and a car seat to our 2nd row for the next 10 years. Dune Brown looks real nice, but I don't know how this is compared to Butter Scotch.... so If I go with Prestige, it will be solely for HUD! The questions is... is it really worth extra $2K?

Any thought or recommendation?.

 

[byscott]

I think you answered your own question … “I think HUD is only worth it if you're actually using it with its navigation function, but I heard you're forced to use Kia's crappy OEM navigation, not Google Maps.”

You’re correct in that turn-by-turn nav directions only work with Kia nav. Google Maps navigation (through Android Auto) doesn’t work with the HUD.

I bought the SX Prestige specifically to get the HUD; I think it adds value even in everyday driving, so it’s worth it for me. If you think it only adds value when using navigation, and you consider the Kia nav inferior to what you would use otherwise, then clearly it would not be worth it for you.

 

[BubCam]

I love having the HUD. I do use Waze, Google or Apple maps using Apple Carplay. It would be nice if these maps did show on the HUD but still find it useful for speed, blindspot . . .

 

[PittPa]

I have an SXP. HUD? Is it absolutely needed, no. But there are dozens of features on this car the you can live without. Or just have. It's what you want. The SX was such an excellent bargain from every viewpoint I never looked at any other packages. The Prestige only made it better.

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[sprengBoard]

I don’t use Kia’s navigation but I still think the HUD is worth it. Being able to see things like, vehicle speed, speed limit, blind spot status, HDA /SCC information, etc. all in a central place right in front of you is great, not to mention safer.

 

[jreinig]

My answer is yes. I bought the SXP for the Napa leather and heated/ventilated second row. I find I use the HUD all the time and love it. I will never buy another car without it. By the way, my adult passengers love the heated/ventilated second row.

 

[arattle]

Some people argue that HUD alone is worth getting the Premium package. I think HUD is only worth it if you're actually using it with its navigation function, but I heard you're forced to use Kia's crappy OEM navigation, not Google Maps. So, the HUD will be basically used to display your speed and other useful information.

I understand it's considered as a safety feature as you won't be taking your eyes off from the road. However, you can also have your speed displayed on your instrument cluster. I don't know about the speed limit though...

I kind of want to go all the way and get the NXP (and have no regret later on), but I personally don't see any use of premium package (heated/ventilated 2nd row) as we'll be installing a booster seat and a car seat to our 2nd row for the next 10 years. Dune Brown looks real nice, but I don't know how this is compared to Butter Scotch.... so If I go with Prestige, it will be solely for HUD! The questions is... is it really worth extra $2K?

Any thought or recommendation?.

That was basically my reasoning for getting SX with butterscotch. I happened to like butterscotch color a bit better, too. But the Prestige extras weren't enticing enough to spend $2k on. I may be missing out on the HUD, and I know the Nappa leather stitching would look great...but other than that, I'm hard pressed to find other features that would be worth it for me. My biggies were the extra cameras/surround view monitor and the 7" digital screen in the cluster. The rest of SX features were just gravy.

 

[IndyBoiler]

HUD was one of those things I didn’t know I would like as much as I do - similar to the heated steering wheel.

While I agree it would be nice to have Waze or other turn-by-turn info in the HUD, the features I really like are the blind spot warning indicators and the posted speed limit (on most roads)

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[HairyMilkshakes]

The HUD is very helpful so you don't have to peer down at the instrument panel to check your speed. Otherwise if you are hooked up to your phone for AA/Carplay for navigation then it's not a big deal.

I use it to check speed and blind spot monitoring, and occasionally radio tuning.

 

[BasilFawlty]

Count me in the “not worth it” camp. Just my opinion. I have HUD in my Corvette and honestly could take it or leave it. That’s one reason I opted not to get the Prestige package (the other being that I wanted Butterscotch leather which wasn’t an option with that package. Might be worth it to some, but it wasn’t for me.

 

[blitt]

Some people argue that HUD alone is worth getting the Premium package. I think HUD is only worth it if you're actually using it with its navigation function, but I heard you're forced to use Kia's crappy OEM navigation, not Google Maps. So, the HUD will be basically used to display your speed and other useful information.

I understand it's considered as a safety feature as you won't be taking your eyes off from the road. However, you can also have your speed displayed on your instrument cluster. I don't know about the speed limit though...

I kind of want to go all the way and get the NXP (and have no regret later on), but I personally don't see any use of premium package (heated/ventilated 2nd row) as we'll be installing a booster seat and a car seat to our 2nd row for the next 10 years. Dune Brown looks real nice, but I don't know how this is compared to Butter Scotch.... so If I go with Prestige, it will be solely for HUD! The questions is... is it really worth extra $2K?

Any thought or recommendation?.

I have had HUD in all the most recent vehicles I have owned. That being the case, I am used to being able to see various info straight ahead on the windshield.....so it was worth it for me!

 

[sheldonpais]

We liked all of the features of the SXP, but couldn't get over the Alcantara headliner. We much prefer the headliner in the SX (and lower trims), so went with that.

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[GreenFluorite]

Clearly I'm in the minority, but I had never heard of this technology until a coworker purchased a used car last year (a Mazda) and was showing it off. Among the features she showed was this strange one where the speed (and maybe more) was projected onto the windshield, and both she and the few of us looking at it thought it was the most annoying thing ever. Like when you place an object on your dash until you realize you have to stare at its reflection in the windshield, and then resort to tossing the object on the floor instead just to get it our of your sight. Fast forward a few months and we were shopping for a Telluride for my wife and it became clear that this HUD feature was the one I had seen that day, and it amazed me that it was something that people pay a premium for when my experience with it had been a group of people staring at it in disbelief and speculating on whether the poor girl could possibly disable it.

 

[PittPa]

Clearly I'm in the minority, but I had never heard of this technology until a coworker purchased a used car last year (a Mazda) and was showing it off. Among the features she showed was this strange one where the speed (and maybe more) was projected onto the windshield, and both she and the few of us looking at it thought it was the most annoying thing ever. Like when you place an object on your dash until you realize you have to stare at its reflection in the windshield, and then resort to tossing the object on the floor instead just to get it our of your sight. Fast forward a few months and we were shopping for a Telluride for my wife and it became clear that this HUD feature was the one I had seen that day, and it amazed me that it was something that people pay a premium for when my experience with it had been a group of people staring at it in disbelief and speculating on whether the poor girl could possibly disable it.

Hud is hardly new, it's been around since the 90's. Everybody's experience differs but the option to gather information while keeping your vision directly on the road is welcomed by most. Clearly not for you and not important in your purchase, but it here to stay and most likely will become a standard feature eventually in all cars.

 

[blitt]

Hud is hardly new, it's been around since the 90's. Everybody's experience differs but the option to gather information while keeping your vision directly on the road is welcomed by most. Clearly not for you and not important in your purchase, but it here to stay and most likely will become a standard feature eventually in all cars.

Well said.....and, it is a technology that came from "space age" aircraft!

 

[vinylhaircut]

I am probably in a severe minority, but I find Kia's navigation to be absolutely fine, especially after the 2021 update. I use navigation all the time, mostly just to get an ETA with traffic even when I am extremely familiar with the route. I've often compared it with Google Maps, and I find it to be about 50/50 over which one has a slightly better route. On the other hand, I disagree with the premise that the most useful part of HUD is when linked with navigation. If I am really unfamiliar and have to concentrate on the turns, then having a quick glance at the map (with the upcoming streets, exit diagrams, etc) is way more helpful than what is displayed in HUD. I do love HUD, but really only for speed info. To each his own, I guess.

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[PittPa]

We liked all of the features of the SXP, but couldn't get over the Alcantara headliner. We much prefer the headliner in the SX (and lower trims), so went with that.

Having an SXP with a black interior and the grey headliner, I never thought twice that there was anything so disagreeable with it that I would forego the other features of the Prestige package to avoid it. Obviously it matters to you, but I welcomed it to an all black interior that would be downright cavelike with a black roof.

 

[ELCapiTRAN]

Like it for the blind spot even though yes I know there is one in the mirror and the camera in the gauge cluster but the HUD is so much quicker and I don't have to take my eyes off the road. I do like it with the navigation but I'll lose that as I use google maps, but if I'm heading home, I'll use the kia nav as I just have to say go home and yes to confirm. Is it worth the prestige package alone? No but the combined options are worth it to us BUT they definitely aren't needed.

 

[DaveAZ]

While I have not done a longer trip I found that I really like the HUD. No one particular thing about it yet everything adds up to worth the price for me. I wanted a loaded vehicle and this one fits that bill nicely.

 

[Javi]

Can't say, never had HUD, I know how fast I am going and I know where I am going 99% of the time.

I don't use the driving alerts, I find them annoying at best.