Skip advert
Advertisement

Headlamp bulbs

We name the brightest headlamp bulbs - which can be the difference between having an accident and avoiding one.

Seeing is believing when it comes to headlamp bulbs which can be the difference between having an accident and avoiding one. Every year makers claim ever more light on the road just where the driver wants it but which are the ones to lighten your darkeness. We powered up 30 in the light tunnel (here) to decide. Here are our winners.
 
Winner
Philips X-treme Power
Contact: 01293 776774 www.philips.com
Price: £27.95 a pair
Rivals may boast of putting more light on the road but in the light tunnel Philips plus 80 per cent bulb still ruled in out test of H7 bulbs. That extra light 75 metres up the road just where drivers need it is down to a super bright filament and clever engineering to ensure it is not achieved at the expense of lifetime. Simply brilliant.
 
Commended
Philips VisionPlus
Contact: 01293 776774 www.philips.com
Price: £24.95
Another win for the Dutch multi-national this time in the plus 50 per cent category proving that when it comes to producing H7 bulbs it shows rivals the way. Its beam rating put bulbs boasting considerably more light on the road in the shade. Top quality.
 
Ring Autobulbs
Contact: 0113 213 2000 www.ringautomotive.co.uk
Price: £13.98
There’s a hefty premium to pay for performance bulbs so if you can stretch to a pair of Philips finest these KX-made bulbs from Ring provide a good alternative among standard bulbs. Their beam rating puts them just shy of those promising plus 30 per cent more light and at a reasonable price.
 

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Long-term test: BYD Sealion 7
BYD Sealion 7 - front tracking

Long-term test: BYD Sealion 7

Second report: all is not rosy in the garden when it comes to driving our BYD
Long-term tests
13 Mar 2026
New Renault Bridger baby SUV could be coming to Europe, but as a Dacia
Renault Bridger - front

New Renault Bridger baby SUV could be coming to Europe, but as a Dacia

Work is underway to see if the chunky, Indian-built utility vehicle could build a bridge to Europe
News
12 Mar 2026
Kia PV5 Passenger vs Vauxhall Vivaro Life: can South Korea’s MPV beat a home-grown rival?
Kia PV5 Passenger vs Vauxhall Vivaro Life - front angled

Kia PV5 Passenger vs Vauxhall Vivaro Life: can South Korea’s MPV beat a home-grown rival?

Kia is entering new territory with its quirky van-based PV5 electric MPV. Vauxhall’s Vivaro Life is a benchmark rival, so can the South Korean newcome…
Car group tests
14 Mar 2026

Find a car with the experts