In their simplest form, LED headlights are brighter, more durable, and more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs. However, while some manufacturers are sticking to simple headlight bulbs, others are doing far more interesting things with their LED headlights.

The latest LED headlights are brighter and smarter than anything else on the road. Their compatibility with adaptive lighting systems is helping to address illumination challenges and the glare problem associated with bright headlights.

In this article, we highlight 7 cars with LED headlights that are pushing the boundaries of the technology. We’ll first examine what makes LED headlights different and why they are on every manufacturer’s radar before diving into why these cars’ LED headlights are a cut above the rest.

What are LED Headlights?

LED headlights are headlamps with light-emitting diodes as the source of light. Light-emitting diodes or LEDs are semiconductor devices that emit light when an electric current passes through them. Unlike HID and halogen bulbs, LEDs don’t need heat to produce light. 

LED headlights may use an LED bulb similar to halogen lights. However, some LED lights have the LEDs integrated with the headlight assembly. The result is a more complex system but this level of integration enables the high-tech features associated with intelligent lighting systems.

Advantages of LED Headlights Compared to Other Headlights

LEDs have a long list of advantages compared to halogen and HID(xenon) headlights. These include:

• Brightness: Standard LED headlights put out more light than halogen headlights. Some LEDs can even match the light outputs of xenon bulbs.
• Efficiency: LED headlights are more energy efficient than HID and halogen lights. 
• Heat: LEDs put out much less heat than other headlights. This contributes to their higher efficiency and also protects nearby components
• Light-up Time: LEDs light up instantaneously while HIDs require a few seconds to reach full brightness.
• Color temperature: LEDs can produce a whiter light than standard halogen bulbs. The bright white light improves visibility at night.
• Smart Features: LEDs are highly compatible with smart headlight features such as dynamically shading other drivers from glare.
• Durability: LEDs have the longest lifespan of the current headlight options. Some LED headlight bulbs are rated for tens of thousands of hours and can outlive the car.
• Aesthetics: Aesthetics are subjective but many car owners will argue that LED headlights add a modern, more appealing look to their cars.

Why Are More Manufacturers Choosing LED Headlights

It is less expensive for manufacturers to fit halogen headlights in cars, yet more manufacturers are adding LED headlights to their latest car models. The most obvious reason behind this change is market demand.

Consumers have been crying out for headlights with higher light output than stock halogens. As aftermarket LED bulbs became more accessible, there was a rush by drivers to fit these bulbs, sometimes with little regard for safety or legality. It was clear that consumers wanted brighter headlights and were willing to go the extra mile to get them.

LED headlights are also cheaper to manufacture today. This makes the venture more feasible for manufacturers. These lights also enable manufacturers to customize the lighting of their cars to a greater degree than halogens or HIDs leading to better brand recognition.

Evaluation Criteria

Before we get into which cars have the best LED headlights, it’s important to understand the qualities of a good headlight. When comparing headlights in cars, the features below are a key part of the criteria.

1. Brightness

A good LED headlight must be significantly brighter than standard halogen bulbs. If the light output is low, it won’t properly illuminate the road and surrounding areas at night. This will limit your ability to spot hazards early especially when driving at higher speeds.

2. Coverage

A good headlight also needs to have decent coverage. At low speeds, both the road ahead plus the sides must be properly illuminated. At higher speeds, the light beam should penetrate farther down the road so drivers can spot hazards early enough to avoid them.

3. Durability

LED headlights are less expensive today, but the best of the lot costs a fortune. Drivers with LED headlights, in particular those with smart features, will hope to never have to replace them. Therefore, it’s important to know how long you can realistically expect the LED lights to last.

4. Design Aesthetic

The aesthetics of a car make a statement. The best headlights should have eye-catching aesthetics that match the rest of the car during the day or night.

5. Smart Features

LED headlights can be used to implement smart features that improve illumination while limiting glare and making lighting control more convenient. The best-LED headlights today have plenty of smart features that improve the driving experience for the driver and others on the road.

Top Cars with the Best LED Headlights

With the above criteria in mind, here are our top 7 cars with the best-LED headlights.

1. Tesla Model S

The Model S has been in production since 2012 but in 2016, they shifted to adaptive LED headlights. In addition to LED front lights, these headlights had LED turning lights to help drivers maneuver around corners or winding mountain roads. 

Things got better in 2022 when the matrix lighting system was added to the car. The headlights featured a crystal lens that enhanced the already impressive front-end look. 

The matrix headlights have multiple LEDs that can be individually dimmed. This adaptive high beam feature allows selective dimming of LEDs to avoid blinding other drivers. The headlights can also be used to project text onto a wall or garage door creating interesting effects.

2. Audi A8

Audi A8’s HD Matrix LED Headlights use an onboard camera to detect light from other cars before selectively dimming the LEDs to keep the other cars shaded. Each headlight has 25 high-beam LEDs. 

This feature is activated at speeds above 30 km/h on highways and twice that in urban areas. The optics used for the headlights give them a distinct look even during the day. Dynamic light sequencing projects pre-programmed images when the car is unlocked.

Other models also come with laser-assisted lighting which uses laser modules in the headlights to double the high beam’s range. This feature only works at speeds above 70 km/h and is turned off when lights from other cars are detected.

3. BMW 7 Series

Some BMW 7 models have laser headlights. These headlights feature three laser modules that increase the range of the high beam to over 600 meters. The headlights still use LEDs for normal high-beam and low-beam functions with the laser feature kicking in at 60 km/h. 

Another feature available in the BMW 7 Series is the intelligent lighting system. This system detects the presence of other cars and changes the light distribution in the high beam to avoid blinding other drivers. One headlight can also be switched to a low beam pattern when passing.

The system creates a tunnel by angling the light beam to illuminate the sides of the car ahead while leaving the area behind it unlit.  

4. Mercedes Benz S-Class

The Mercedes Benz S-Class can come with MULTIBEAM LED headlights. These headlights have 84 LED chips that allow tight control of the light distribution. The LEDs can be individually deactivated to shade other cars when the adaptive high beam-assist feature is used.

The headlights are paired with a traffic sign recognition system which switches off LEDs to reduce glare from light reflecting off signs. Some LEDs can also be switched off to reduce glare from wet roads in adverse weather. 

When cornering, the light distribution can be dynamically changed to create a ‘bending’ effect that allows you to see hazards around bends faster. Camera data is used to identify bends so the headlights can preemptively change the light distribution as you turn.

5. Toyota RAV4

The Toyota RAV4 comes with LED Projector headlights. This represents what you’re likely to get in vehicles that aren’t in the luxury segment. These headlights still rely on separate high and low-beam modes but the RAV4 has automatic high-beam control.

When the headlights are on, the automatic high beams (AHB) switch from low to high beams if the vehicle is going above a set speed, there are no preceding or oncoming vehicles, and the road ahead of the car is poorly lit. 

The high beams switch back to low beams if another vehicle is detected, the car enters a well-lit area, or the speed drops below a certain speed. The light from other cars is detected by a camera inside the vehicle. Activation and deactivation speeds vary in different car models.

6. Porsche Panamera

The matrix LED headlights come standard on the Porsche Panamera. Like other matrix LED systems, cameras are used to detect other vehicles before LEDs are selectively dimmed to shade them.

The Panamera’s front lighting system has over 65,000 micro-LEDs, allowing a high degree of control over light distribution. The headlights also feature static cornering lights.

The distribution of light from these headlights can be controlled by different systems including a front-facing camera, chassis sensors, GPS, and existing navigation data. 

7. Polestar 2

The Polestar 2 uses Pixel LED headlight technology to enable drivers to use high beams without blinding oncoming traffic. Each Polestar headlight has 84 LEDs that can be individually turned on or off depending on traffic conditions.

The Polestar’s headlights adapt to weather conditions and dynamically shade up to five different cars, allowing better illumination even on crowded roads. These headlights use a front-mounted camera to detect the light from other cars. 

Your Partner in Wholesale LED Headlights

Getting headlights for the above car models can be hard due to the quality demands. Most of these cars are luxury models and the headlights are expected to look and perform a certain way. At the same time, many buyers are price-conscious and demand value for their money. This is where a partnership with Carlightvision will pay off.

Carlightvision has built a solid reputation in its 15 years of operation. This manufacturer has served as the go-to supplier for over 100 worldwide headlight brands and its product quality has been one of its main selling points.

1. Bulk Purchase Capability and Benefits

Carlightvision has a capacity exceeding 1 million pieces each month. If you need to make a bulk purchase, they can easily meet your needs.

You can also get a good discount depending on the size of your order.

2. Customization Options

Carlightvision also offers a wide range of customization options for headlights. Customers can choose different colors and materials and logos and other forms of branding can be added to bulk orders. Headlight bulbs can also be customized for size for a better fit.

3. Aftermarket Headlights

Carlightvision works with OEMs/ODMs, but we can also supply aftermarket headlight bulbs to interested distributors.

Our aftermarket products are subjected to high-quality standards and benefit from our extensive manufacturing and lighting research experience. 

Conclusion

LED headlights are the future and this can be seen at every level. On the low end, many drivers are replacing their halogen bulbs with brighter LED bulbs. On the high end, luxury car makers are adding smart features that are changing how we think of and use headlights.  

Matrix LED headlight systems and automatic high beams are making roads safer by reducing the glare problems associated with brighter headlights. These headlights also come with extra features and aesthetics that show LEDs bring both form and function to the table.

Get the Best LED Headlights from Carlightvision

Carlightvision’s LED headlight bulbs are the result of years of experience in auto lighting manufacturing. Our products include 1:1 Plug and Play and CANbus-compatible bulbs that meet the high demands of modern cars. Our faith in our manufacturing quality is demonstrated in our excellent 5-year warranties. Check out more of our LED bulb options on our product page.