Hyundai Moves Driver Displays Behind An Extra Cost
Hyundai is taking a surprising approach with the new Elantra generation and Ioniq 3 by making the driver’s instrument display an optional feature on lower trims. The move means buyers in some markets may need to pay extra or choose a higher trim simply to get a dedicated screen showing essential driving information. Both models use Hyundai’s new Pleos Connect infotainment system.
New Pleos Connect System Changes The Dashboard
The new Pleos Connect system combines a central infotainment touchscreen with a slim 9.9-inch driver display positioned above the dashboard. However, Hyundai does not include the smaller screen as standard on every version. The setup first appeared on the more premium Grandeur sedan, where Hyundai equips the additional display across the range. The new Elantra generation and Ioniq 3 take a different approach.
Elantra Buyers Pay Extra For The Cluster
In South Korea, the new Elantra, known locally as the Avante, offers the 9.9-inch instrument cluster as a 350,000 won option. That works out to roughly $255. While the additional cost is relatively small compared with the price of a new car, charging separately for a dedicated driver’s display represents a notable change from the traditional approach to vehicle equipment.
Base Ioniq 3 Goes Without A Driver Display
The Ioniq 3 takes the idea further. The entry-level version does not appear to offer the instrument cluster as a standalone option. Buyers instead need to move to a higher trim, which requires an additional $5000, to gain the dedicated driver’s display. As a result, customers choosing the base version must rely primarily on the central touchscreen for information normally shown directly ahead of the driver.
Central Screen Handles Essential Information
Without the dedicated instrument display, the central touchscreen becomes responsible for displaying key information. Hyundai’s configurator indicates that functions such as vehicle speed and warning messages can appear through the central screen. This creates a layout similar to vehicles that place almost all driving information on a large centre display rather than providing a conventional instrument cluster.
Hyundai Is Expanding Screen-Based Interiors
The decision forms part of Hyundai’s broader shift towards software-focused vehicle interiors. Pleos Connect combines infotainment, digital interfaces and connected functions into a central system. Hyundai plans to expand the technology significantly, with the company targeting installation across 20 million vehicles globally by the end of the decade. That means more Hyundai models could eventually adopt similar dashboard layouts.
Middle East Could See Pleos Connect Models
Hyundai has not confirmed which Middle Eastern models will receive Pleos Connect or whether the instrument display will become an optional feature in regional markets. However, the system’s planned global expansion means it could eventually reach vehicles sold across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman. Regional specifications may differ from those offered in South Korea.
Prices In The Middle East
Hyundai has not announced pricing for the Pleos Connect instrument display as a standalone option in Middle Eastern markets. If Hyundai introduces the system with similar equipment strategies, the availability of the dedicated display could depend on the selected trim. Pricing will vary across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman based on local specifications, taxes and equipment packages.
Physical Controls Remain An Important Question
The move also highlights a wider debate about how much information should be placed on central screens. A dedicated instrument cluster keeps speed, warnings and other driving information within the driver’s natural line of sight. Relying on a central display can create a different interaction experience. Hyundai’s approach shows how digital dashboards are changing what buyers can expect as standard equipment.
Hyundai’s Screen Strategy Could Grow
For now, the unusual equipment strategy applies to specific versions of the Elantra generation and Ioniq 3 in their domestic market. However, Hyundai’s plans for Pleos Connect suggest that screen-heavy interiors will become increasingly common across its global lineup. As the technology reaches more vehicles, the question of which digital features come standard and which require an upgrade could become increasingly important for buyers in the Middle East.
