Introduction
Hyundai has previewed a new in-car interface called Pleos Connect. It runs on Android Automotive and includes a conversational assistant that uses artificial intelligence. The layout leans into a clean, app-centric look that will feel familiar to anyone who has used a Tesla display. Hyundai says Pleos Connect will start appearing in select models next year, with a broader rollout after that. For shoppers who follow car tech or anyone curious about where dashboards are heading, Pleos Connect signals a clear direction for Hyundai: fewer physical buttons, more software-driven features, tighter integration with apps, and frequent over-the-air updates.
This article unpacks what Pleos Connect is, why it matters, how it compares to existing systems, and what you should check in the showroom before you buy. The goal is practical clarity: no hype, just what this means for daily driving.
What is Pleos Connect
At its core, Pleos Connect is Hyundai’s next-generation infotainment experience. It uses Android Automotive as the operating system. That means the software is embedded in the vehicle rather than projected from your phone. The interface organizes controls and apps on a large touch display with a minimalist, tile-based layout. A conversational assistant sits on top of that foundation and lets you speak to the car in normal language to change settings, search for places, or handle routine tasks.
Think of Pleos Connect as three layers working together:
- The operating system: Android Automotive runs natively in the car.
- The interface: Hyundai’s visual skin, menus, and widgets shape what you see and tap.
- The assistant: an AI voice layer that understands more than fixed commands and can handle follow-ups.
Hyundai’s preview highlights cleaner visuals, fewer nested menus, and a focus on quick actions. That is intentional. Modern car UX is moving toward simple surfaces that reduce decision time while still exposing depth when you need it.
Why this matters
Two shifts are reshaping the dashboard. First: vehicles are becoming software-defined. That means features are increasingly delivered by code that can be updated after purchase. Second: drivers now expect the fluidity of a smartphone inside the car. Pleos Connect sits at that intersection. If Hyundai gets it right, owners can expect faster feature rollouts, better navigation search, and fewer compromises when switching between media, calls, and vehicle settings.
For Hyundai specifically, Pleos Connect is strategic. It helps unify user experience across models, shortens the time from idea to feature release, and positions the brand to sell services or add features over time. For drivers, it could mean a car that feels fresh longer, with a user interface that improves rather than stagnates.
The Tesla comparison: inspiration versus imitation
The previewed Pleos layout takes clear cues from Tesla’s design language: a large, uncluttered canvas, prominent map view, and an emphasis on touch targets that look like app icons. That is not a bad thing. Tesla proved years ago that drivers will accept a touch-first cabin when the software is quick, the visuals are clean, and common actions stay within easy reach.
Where Hyundai needs to differentiate is in ergonomics and restraint. A good Tesla-like system does three things well:
- Pin the essentials: climate, defrost, volume, and rear camera should always be one tap away.
- Keep motion minimal: transitions and animations should feel responsive, not decorative.
- Respect muscle memory: if you move a core control, you do it for a good reason and then you keep it there.
If Pleos Connect maintains that discipline and layers on Hyundai’s strengths in driver aids, parking views, and customization, the system can feel inspired rather than imitative.
Android Automotive under the hood
It helps to clarify terms. Android Automotive is the operating system baked into the car. Android Auto is phone projection. They are different. With Android Automotive, the vehicle can run apps natively, manage system-level audio and microphone access, and coordinate between navigation, driver assistance, and energy management. That deeper integration enables things like smarter route planning, unified audio focus across apps, and a consistent look throughout the cabin.
For shoppers, this raises three practical questions:
- Which core apps are available out of the box: maps, music, podcasts, messaging.
- How updates are delivered: over the air, during service visits, or both.
- Whether phone projection remains supported: Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility can vary by market and trim.
Ask the salesperson to show you the exact app catalog on the car you are buying. Do not assume every app you use on your phone will exist in the car on day one.
The conversational assistant: benefits you will actually notice
A modern assistant improves more than just voice dial. Here are scenarios where it can change daily driving:
- Natural navigation queries: “Find a coffee place with a drive-through on my route” or “Take me to a charging station with at least two open stalls.”
- Cabin comfort: “I am cold” can translate into a small bump in temperature and a gentler fan.
- Media and messaging: “Play the latest episode of my news podcast” or “Text I am ten minutes late to Priya.”
- Multi-turn convenience: “Navigate to the museum” followed by “Actually avoid tolls” without repeating the destination.
For this to feel magical rather than frustrating, two ingredients matter: microphones that hear you clearly at highway speeds and on-device smarts that keep basic commands working even when your signal drops. When you test the car, try the assistant with windows cracked, music playing, and the fan at medium. If it understands you then, it will understand you most of the time.
Design and UX: what to check during a test drive
Screens can look gorgeous in photos yet disappoint in sunlight. Bring a short checklist to your demo drive:
- Glare and fingerprints: view the display in direct midday light and from the passenger seat.
- Latency: open apps, pinch-zoom the map, and scrub through a song.
- Reach and posture: can you hit the top corners without leaning forward.
- Persistent controls: are climate and camera one tap away at all times.
- Haptics and feedback: does the screen give gentle vibration or sound cues when you tap.
- Redundancy: are there physical knobs for volume and temperature. A single knob can save mental load.
- Split view: can you run navigation and media side by side without either shrinking to uselessness.
- Profiles: check driver profiles for seat, mirror, and app preferences. A good profile system saves relationships.
Take five minutes parked to customize the home screen, move tiles, and set favorites. The ease or friction you feel there will echo every day you own the car.
Privacy and data: questions worth asking
Voice assistants, cloud accounts, and app stores introduce data flows that did not exist in older cars.
- Review account ties: what lives in a Hyundai account versus an app provider account.
- Learn reset options: master reset, remove accounts, and clear personal data before selling or servicing the car.
- Guest and valet modes: check whether your home address, contacts, and recent searches can be hidden with one tap.
- Update windows: confirm whether updates install overnight and whether you can defer them if you need the car early the next morning.
Good privacy defaults build trust. Good controls keep it.
Updates, apps, and long-term support
Over-the-air updates are only as helpful as their cadence and clarity.
- App store hygiene: only vetted, car-safe apps should appear, and they should follow the vehicle’s visual rules.
Longevity matters. Ask how long major updates are planned after purchase and whether critical security patches continue beyond that period.
What this means for shoppers in 2025 and 2026
If you love technology and want your car to evolve, Pleos Connect is promising. You get a platform that can grow, a consistent visual language across models, and the convenience of a conversational assistant. If you value simplicity above all else, the key is redundancy: make sure critical tasks have physical backups and that the home screen can be customized to your routine.
Here is a quick profile-based guide:
- The commuter: prioritize quick climate access, reliable traffic rerouting, and voice dictation that works at 80 kmph.
- The family organizer: look for multi-user profiles, robust Bluetooth for multiple phones, and easy rear-camera access.
- The road-tripper: confirm offline maps, frequent charging or fuel stop information, and a stable media app that caches episodes.
- The set-it-and-forget-it driver: insist on physical knobs for the most used functions and a home screen with large, unchanging tiles.
Frequently asked questions
Will Pleos Connect support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone projection
Android Automotive inside the car is separate from phone projection. Compatibility for CarPlay and Android Auto can vary by model and market. Do not assume either is guaranteed. Ask the dealer to plug in your phone and show you the exact behavior on the specific trim you intend to buy.
Can older Hyundai models be upgraded to Pleos Connect
Infotainment platforms depend on dedicated processors, memory, and vehicle network interfaces. That usually means a full retrofit is not practical. Expect Pleos Connect to arrive in new production vehicles first rather than as a dealer software upgrade for older models.
When will Pleos Connect be available
Hyundai indicates that Pleos Connect will arrive next year in select models with a broader rollout after that. Exact timing will vary by region and vehicle line. If your purchase timing is flexible, ask your dealer which upcoming trims will ship with Pleos Connect and when orders open.
Is a large touch-first interface safe to use while driving
Safety is a function of design quality and driver behavior. A well designed system reduces taps for common tasks, keeps critical controls persistent, and pairs with a strong voice assistant. Your job is to set up favorites, learn a few spoken commands, and keep interaction brief while moving.
Buying checklist you can take to the showroom
- Show me climate controls with the car in Drive and the map open.
- Demonstrate a voice command for navigation, then a follow-up command that changes the route.
- Prove phone projection on my device if supported.
- Open release notes and show me how updates are installed.
- Create two driver profiles and switch between them.
- Park in direct sun. Let me test for glare and fingerprints.
- Drive at speed and have me try the assistant with the windows slightly open.
If a salesperson can do all of that quickly, you are looking at a system designed with real drivers in mind.
Conclusion
Pleos Connect represents a pivotal step for Hyundai. By adopting an Android Automotive foundation and layering on a conversational assistant with a clean, Tesla-style interface, Hyundai is signaling a future where its cars evolve through software, not just hardware refreshes. The promise is appealing: faster features, better search, simpler controls, and an interior that feels modern longer. The burden is equally clear: keep critical functions close at hand, defend driver focus, and respect owner privacy.
If you plan to buy a Hyundai in the next cycle, evaluate Pleos Connect with your daily life in mind. Test the assistant in noisy conditions. Check for physical redundancy on climate and volume. Confirm the app catalog and update process. Do those basics and you will know whether Pleos Connect is a genuine upgrade for your routine or simply a shiny new skin. Either way, the direction is set: car cabins are becoming software products, and Hyundai wants Pleos Connect to be the interface that makes that shift feel effortless.
