In 2018, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tested factory headlights across dozens of vehicles. The results were shocking. Nearly 80% of vehicles earned a rating below “Good.” Only 20% delivered headlight performance drivers would call comfortable.
That means most new vehicles leave the factory with mediocre lighting.
Factory Headlights Aren’t Always “Premium”
Automakers often reserve better headlights for higher trim levels. As a result, base models frequently receive weak halogen setups.
For example, the Honda Ridgeline required a significant trim jump to get headlights rated “Good.” If buyers skipped that upgrade, they drove home with headlights rated “Poor.”
Similarly, the Kia Soul offered better headlights only on expensive trims. Choose the base model, and you get subpar lighting.
Manufacturers use lighting as a selling tool. However, that forces buyers to pay thousands more just to see better at night.
Why This Matters
Headlights directly affect:
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Nighttime visibility
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Driver fatigue
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Reaction time
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Overall road safety
When headlights produce weak output or poor beam control, you lose down-road distance. Consequently, you strain your eyes and reduce your reaction window.
What Are Your Options?
You really have two choices:
Buy the Expensive Trim
If budget doesn’t matter, upgrade to the top trim. You’ll get better lighting along with leather seats, premium audio, and other extras.
Upgrade the Bulbs
Alternatively, upgrade your headlight bulbs. Many high-quality LED upgrades cost under $200 and dramatically improve usable light output.
A properly engineered LED bulb can increase lux output while maintaining beam control. Therefore, you gain safer visibility without replacing the entire vehicle.
The Smart Approach
Before you buy any LED upgrade, research beam pattern performance. Don’t chase lumen numbers alone. Instead, look for real-world testing and lux measurements.
If you want to understand what actually works, watch a detailed comparison review before making a decision.
Better headlights don’t require a $20,000 trim jump. You just need the right upgrade.
If you’re into high-performance lighting upgrades, make sure to follow our Facebook page for the latest installs, comparisons, and product releases. For in-depth guides, expert insights, and real-world testing, check out the Better Automotive Lighting Blog— your go-to source for serious illumination upgrades. Up Next:How To Install HID or LED Headlight Bulbs in the 2014–2016 Toyota Tundra
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Meet the people behind Better Automotive Lighting
John Tobias, Headlight Junkie and Industry Veteran
Before managing pricing and product categories for the DLG brands, John worked directly with customers in customer service and tech support, then spent several years in marketing creating content like this and the videos published online. Today he takes more than ten years of aftermarket automotive lighting experience to events all over the USA, meeting customers and talking to real people about what they care about. He is focused on understanding the market, the trends, the big players, and what matters to lighting enthusiasts. John has tested thousands of lights, works directly with lighting engineers to evaluate the technical performance behind every recommendation, and is one of the foremost experts on everything happening in the world of aftermarket automotive lighting. LinkedIn
