Hyundai has raised plenty of eyebrows with its latest approach to in car technology. Following the launch of its new Pleos Connect infotainment system, based on Android Automotive, the company’s official configurator revealed that entry level versions of the Elantra, known as the Avante in some markets, and the electric Ioniq 3 do not come with a driver instrument display as standard.
Instead, buyers have to pay extra or move up to a higher trim to get the 9.9 inch digital cluster mounted high on the dashboard in the driver’s line of sight. For cars aimed at more affordable segments, that decision has quickly become one of the most controversial parts of Hyundai’s latest cabin strategy.
No Standard Instrument Cluster On Some Elantra And Ioniq 3 Trims
Hyundai is not applying the same policy in every market, but the overall idea is similar. The digital instrument display is either sold as an extra or reserved for higher trim levels.
In South Korea, the Elantra, or Avante, offers the 9.9 inch cluster as a standalone option priced at 350,000 won, which is roughly $255 or 956 Saudi riyals.
In the UK and Europe, the Ioniq 3 also misses out on the screen in its base trim, with the digital cluster becoming standard from the second trim level upward.
What makes the decision stand out even more is Hyundai’s continued focus on large central infotainment displays. Through Pleos Connect, the Elantra and Ioniq 3 get screens ranging from 12.9 to 14.6 inches, while the Grandeur goes even further with a display measuring up to 17.9 inches.
Pleos Connect Is A Bigger Part Of Hyundai’s Future
Hyundai is clearly putting more emphasis on software and digital interfaces, but it has not gone completely touch only. The company has kept some physical controls for important functions rather than moving everything onto the central screen.
The long term plan is much bigger than just a few models. Hyundai wants Pleos Connect to reach around 20 million vehicles by the end of the decade, and the system will also spread to Kia and Genesis models. The next Kia Sportage, expected in 2027, is likely to be the first Kia to adopt it.
ArabGT’s View
At ArabGT, we think making the driver instrument cluster optional on entry level versions of the Elantra and Ioniq 3 is hard to defend.
This is not simply another comfort or entertainment feature. The instrument display gives the driver quick access to essential information such as speed, driving range, warnings and other key vehicle data. That is why offering a huge center screen while asking buyers to pay extra for the screen directly in front of them feels like a strange set of priorities.
Would you accept a new car without a dedicated driver display and rely on the center screen instead, or would you pay extra to get the instrument cluster?
