Since we created our product, we’ve learned about many different digital gauge systems on the market. Our goal is to get you a setup that works best for you- and that’s not necessarily one of our products. Here’s a rundown of a few!
Race-style Dashes
Non-stock, universal style screens that offer great options for customization. Like OneGauge’s LCDs, these usually require some ingenuity or modification to fit in a stock vehicle.
Racepak IQ3: this is one of Holley’s digital dash products and is very popular. The Racepack IQ3 currently retails from around $750 for the base model to nearly $2,000 for their higher-tiered model. It supports OBDII input, as well as standalone sensor inputs. One big upside to this system is it’s compatibility with various Holley and non-Holley products, including FAST, MSD, Megasquirt, and many others. This setup does support standalone sensors for non-OBD vehicles, though sensors typically cost $100-$200 each, and sensors can be configured through their DataLink software. One downside to the Racepak display is it’s limited graphic capabilities- you get a basic digital numeric readout of each sensor but doesn’t support images or more advanced design.
AEM CD-7 or CD-5: AEM offers a very slick setup starting at $1,500 for the base 7″ model. It boasts support of over 250 non-AEM CAN-based ECUs as well as standard OBDII. You can add non-CAN based sensors to the setup with the purchase of a CAN sensor module that’s a $350+ upgrade, which can be configured to work with the sensors of your choice. The overall look of the CD-7 is, in our opinion, far better than the Racepak display as it offers many more options for customizing the look of the display and using graphics including bar graphs, circular displays, etc using AEM’s software called Dash Design.
Holley EFI Dashes: Holley offers a few other digital dashes under their EFI brand. The EFI Digital Dash is a 7″ screen that offers a customizeable screen and starts at $700. Upgrade to their Pro Dash series ($1,000 for a widescreen 6.86″ display or $1,800 for the large 12.3″ wide screen) for even more customization options for the screen and the ability to create your own gauge faces. Like the CD-7, you can add configurations for custom sensors when you purchase the required harnesses, which start at about $200.
AutoMeter Pro-Comp Displays: AutoMeter’s contribution to the digital gauge space is a simple setup that includes basic sensors (temperature, pressure, and tach) and displays readings on a straightforward display. RPM is provided a large analog style gauge, while other inputs can be displayed on a small (and not very attractive) character display screen. Prices start at around $1,400 for this setup. Stack Gauges offers a nearly identical product to this one at around the same price.
Stack Pro LCD Motorsport Display or AutoMeter 6021 LCD dash: this product starts at $2,600 but offers many of the same features as the Holley Pro or AEM dashes. Stack seems to support more configurable sensor inputs, as well as a very clean and, again, customizeable display, but it’s hard to see how the higher price of this unit is justified. The AutoMeter version of this product seems to be more versatile and have additional CAN or Serial inputs, so we would recommend looking into that product.
Haltech IC-7: one of the newest products on the market, and starting at around $900, the Haltech setup offers a configurable display for newer OBDII vehicles or those with a Haltech ECU. You can only add custom sensors if you use the Haltech ECU and, though there are a few pre-set layouts, the ability to customize the layout and look of the screen isn’t as versatile as some of the higher-priced products. But for the price, this is a great option for newer vehicles.
Computech DataMaxx LCD: while we haven’t heard much about this one, it looks to be a good option for non-OBD vehicles. The look strongly resembles the Racepak IQ3. You get a digital readout for each sensor, but, like the Racepak, the design is limited to numerical gauges. The screen itself starts at $800 but requires a $650 computer and sensors, which are quite a bit more expensive that other systems (from $100 to well over $1,000 for a single sensor). Kits with all of these components range from $1,800 to $3,500.
AIM MX Series: 5″, 6″, or 7″ LCD options available from AIM offer many similar features to the products above. They claim support for 1000 different ECUs, CAN BUS systems, and up to 8 additional inputs that require the purchase of a connector. Screen design is limited to 8 different pre-programmed layouts. One unique feature of this screen is the ability to add a camera, such as a back-up camera, for display on the screen. These units seem to start at about $1,100.
Stock Style Instrument Clusters
These easy-to-install, often plug-and-play setups offer limited customization but they’ll give you your basic sensor readings and will fit in your stock cluster location.
Dakota Digital Dashes: these dashes are meant as a factory-style, direct-fit instrument cluster replacement. Rather than focusing on customization like the above products, Digital has focused on clean and easy installation with digital versions of the gauges you already have to keep a more stock look. Many use your existing sensors and plug into the vehicle’s wiring harness with little modification needed, and some models support additional Dakota Digital sensors. Prices vary widely, but many clusters start at $700-$1,200.
Intellitronix Digital Dashes: like Dakota Digital these are direct-fit style clusters that don’t offer customization but give you the readings from your sensors in a less-attractive and simpler digital format. However, most of these setups only start between $300-$400, so if you just want your essential gauges and don’t care how they look, this could be a good budget option. One interesting thing is that they offer, for about the same price, the gauges without the cluster housing so you could build your own and install it into whatever, wherever you like.
Autometer InVision Series: one of the newest systems, this is a hybrid of the universal race-style screens explained above and a direct-fit setup. These digital screens offer a few different pre-set themes for some customization but doesn’t offer the same degree of customization as many of the screens in the Race Style clusters. For now, these seem to only be offered for 70’s and 80’s models of various Chevy vehicles and the unit plugs directly into your stock cluster harness. Prices are currently around $800.
Single-Gauge Options
These compact displays fit into a single gauge pod or gauge location. While you can’t really customize them, and they readouts are small, they offer a compact digital gauge option if you only want to see a couple sensors at at time.
Banks iDash 1.8: A great option for a small, compact digital gauge setup, this product displays 2 to 8 gauge readings on a 2″ round screen. This product is limited to newer vehicles though, or vehicles with non-standard ECU’s, as it requires OBDII or CAN BUS data inputs. The iDash starts around $250.
Haltech Multi-Function CAN gauge: Haltech offers a similar version of the Banks iDash starting at around $300 and is able to display up to four gauges, but only from your OBDII or CAN BUS system. One cool feature is the ability to customize the display with a phone app.
Stack Dash Displays: Like the Banks system, Stack sells a single unit, round screen designed to fit in a standard gauge pod. This is a larger display, however, at 3-3/8″, though the majority of the gauge is taken up by the tachometer and only a small digital readout available for sensors. You can add a couple basic sensors (additional purchase required) for monitoring as well as features like lap timing and an odometer. You pay for these features those as the gauge starts at $800.
