ODB-II ports are found on almost all US production cars after 2004 and import cars after 2007. This evolution of the ODB standard provides a candidate list of vehicle parameters to monitor, along with how to encode the data for each. In short, this is the type of information that your car polls to provide dashboard information and your mechanic uses to help diagnose or maintain your vehicle. Of course, this port is user accessible, so you have access to that same type of data.

The Techstick 5.5 inch E300 HUD Multi-color Screen Car Heads Up Display provides an interesting way to access some of that data, and that’s, as the name suggest, as a heads-up display reflected onto your front windshield. It provides a laundry list of data display, including vehicle speed, engine speed (RPM), water temperature, battery voltage, fuel consumption, local time, single driving time, mileage measurement, shift reminder, fatigued driver reminder, low voltage alarm, high temerpature alarm, speed alarm, engine fault alarm, and fault code elimination. Naturally, you can also change between units of measurement.

In the box you get the main unit with 5.5″ screen, ODB-II cable (which also works in EUOBD-capable vehicles), dashboard mat (to keep the main unit in place), wipes, windshield reflectors (allowing you to see the multi-color heads-up display on your windshield if it’s dual layer construction, otherwise, it’s not necessarily needed), and a comprehensive user manual. The device automatically powers on and off with your vehicle, as well as automatically adjusts brightness for a variety of lighting conditions (this can still be adjusted manually if desired).

On my 2014 Toyota Prius, I installed this without issue. Since my front windshield is dual layer construction, I probably needed the reflector, but the slight double image didn’t bother me (and the photos, for obvious reasons, don’t do the display justice), so I didn’t stick one on. In any case, the colorful heads-up display worked great. Needless to say, it all feels kind of futuristic and is a nice way to display data that your dashboard may not otherwise provide, or even as a complement with an adjustable line-of-sight.

Thanks to Techstick for the discounted review unit.