The xenon/halogen headlight debate

As with all areas of modern-day life, new technology is sweeping through our cars, changing things which have been in place since around the start of the motor vehicle era. Take, for example, headlights. Halogen lamps have been in use in cars for around a century and very well they have performed too.

Nobody had any real complaint with the halogen bulb, as it provides the necessary light to help motorists see and be seen by others whilst driving at night or in poor weather conditions. Its other benefits include being straightforward and cheap to replace. It really didn't occur to any of us that we needed anything else…until the xenon headlight came along.

For most of us, our first experience of xenon bulbs was probably being dazzled by them on a dark country road at night. Not a particularly nice encounter, you will no doubt agree, and one which probably put a lot of people off them. Given this, it is amazing how many motorists have been converted to using xenon bulbs and now say that wouldn't go back to using halogens under any circumstances.

However, there are still plenty of people who remain unconvinced by xenons and so Peugeot has released a guide to these high tech bulbs. The guide explains how they work, why so many drivers are raving about them, and on which Peugeot models the various types of xenon headlights are available.

Whilst a halogen bulb emits yellowish light via a hot filament, the light created by xenon lights is actually very different. Contained within a xenon headlight bulb is a bubble of xenon gas, which reacts with an electrical discharge to create a light from the blue end of the spectrum. This is the reason that these headlights look so distinctive and can so easily be differentiated from halogen lights.

According to the Peugeot guide, the benefits of using xenon bulbs in headlights are clear. They throw out close to three times the amount of light that halogen bulbs do, meaning that you can see further forwards and, sometimes more importantly, sideways at night. They mean that it is easier to spot animals or pedestrians in or next to the road at night, allowing the driver to respond well in advance of the hazard and avoid what could otherwise be a dangerous accident or a costly car insurance claim.

However, whilst the extra light being emitted is excellent for the driver's point of view, other road users find it less than beneficial. Although it does mean that there is no chance of the approaching car not being seen, motorists claim that some vehicles' xenon bulbs are dangerously dazzling. This appears to be a particular problem with taller vehicles, such as 4x4s. Legislation has been brought in to combat this issue, stating that all factory-fitted xenon headlights must have an auto-wash and auto-level feature. However, this does not apply to aftermarket lights.

According to Peugeot's guide, the extra light isn't the only benefit of xenon bulbs. They are also a lot more efficient, using two thirds less power and lasting up to four times longer than halogen bulbs. As well as being more environmentally friendly, this means that you don't have to pay for replacements as often (which is lucky, as xenons are a great deal more expensive). However, some motorists complain that when replaced, xenon bulbs give out a yellower light for quite a while before adjusting to the usual blue.

There are clearly lots of pros and cons to think about when choosing whether to get xenon or halogen bulbs in your next car, whether it is a Peugeot or something else altogether. It seems that xenons totally revolutionise driving at night and they are worth every penny to those who do a lot of driving in darkness. However, it is largely agreed that the benefits may not be so great to people who mainly drive in the day or in partly-lit urban areas.

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