Hyundai Ioniq 5 Spied With New 18-Inch Screen Setup

A prototype Hyundai Ioniq 5 has been spotted testing in South Korea with an all-new interior layout. The photos were taken by Instagram user @jhs_car.x and shared by Korean Car Blog, showing a minimalist cabin built around one large vertical touchscreen, a significant departure from the current model's twin-screen setup. The exterior of the test car matches the current production Ioniq 5, so the changes appear to be confined to the cabin.

The sighting comes as Hyundai pushes its Pleos Connect software platform across the Hyundai, Kia and Genesis line-up. It is not yet confirmed whether the changes point to a routine mid-cycle update or a bigger shift to a software defined vehicle (SDV) architecture, which Hyundai has flagged for 2027.

What the Spy Shots Show

The prototype's interior does away with the current Ioniq 5's separate driver display and infotainment screen. In their place is a single vertical touchscreen, reported at 17 to 18 inches, mounted centrally in the dashboard.

The traditional instrument cluster behind the steering wheel is gone entirely. Driving information such as speed would likely move to a head-up display or the central screen instead, though Hyundai has not detailed the exact layout. Climate control also appears fully digitalised, with the physical HVAC knobs and buttons on the current Ioniq 5 replaced by on-screen controls.

The steering wheel has been redesigned, dropping most buttons for a single multi-function scroller alongside two toggles. The doors use electronic push-buttons in place of traditional handles, a styling cue that echoes the flagship Genesis G90.

Physical controls are scarce. Aside from two toggles on the steering wheel, the cabin appears to rely on the touchscreen for most functions. The change has already drawn criticism from some Ioniq 5 owners online, who argue smaller screens with physical buttons are safer and easier to use while driving.

Pleos Connect: Hyundai's Next-Gen Software Push

Pleos Connect is Hyundai Motor Group's new infotainment system, built on Android Automotive OS. It brings a smartphone-style interface with downloadable apps and customisable screens, a similar concept to what is found in Tesla models. The Grandeur sedan was first to get it in Korea earlier this year, while the Ioniq 3 is the first Hyundai model in Europe to run the system.

Hyundai plans to fit Pleos Connect to around 20 million Hyundai, Kia and Genesis vehicles by the end of the decade. The company describes the system as the first tangible step toward a software defined vehicle architecture, which is expected to enable new in-car features, autonomous driving functions and more personalised software over time.

Is This the Ioniq 5's Next Update?

Hyundai has not confirmed whether the Ioniq 5 will be its first SDV or whether this prototype is simply a mid-cycle refresh. As Hyundai's best-selling electric vehicle globally, the Ioniq 5 is a logical candidate for the update, but this remains unconfirmed. A similarly equipped Ioniq 6 prototype was spotted testing in Europe last month, suggesting the new interior layout may roll out across more than one Ioniq model.

Some industry observers have speculated the polished state of this prototype's cabin suggests it could be an internal SDV test platform, used to trial centralised computing hardware and buttonless interfaces ahead of a wider rollout.

Ioniq 5 in Australia: Launch and Updates So Far

The Ioniq 5 arrived in Australia in September 2021 as Hyundai's first model built on its dedicated E-GMP electric platform. It launched in a single, high-specification trim with a choice of two powertrains, a 160kW rear-wheel-drive single motor or a 225kW dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup, both paired with a 72.6kWh battery.

A 2022 model year change followed soon after, introducing the Dynamiq and Techniq names and a lower entry price. The core range stayed largely the same until Hyundai's mid-2024 update, the most recent significant change to the Ioniq 5 in Australia.

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That mid-2024 update replaced the outgoing 77.4kWh battery with an 84kWh unit for more range, added a new N Line variant, revised the front and rear bumpers, fitted new wheel designs, extended the rear spoiler and introduced Hyundai's connected car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also brought Hyundai's Intelligent Front-Lighting System to the range for the first time.

The Ioniq 5 competes in one of the most contested segments of the Australian EV market, going up against the Tesla Model Y and the BYD Sealion 7. Both rivals have consistently outsold the Ioniq 5, and the gap has widened since the Sealion 7 launched in early 2025.

Sources: VFACTS and Electric Vehicle Council

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