Hyundai is making its 9.9-inch Digital Supervision instrument cluster optional on the base versions of the new Ioniq 3 and Korean-market Elantra, giving buyers a choice between paying extra for a driver-facing screen or moving to a higher trim where it is standard.
Hyundai Removes the Standard Digital Cluster
The Ioniq 3 and Elantra, known as the Avante in Korea and other markets, can be ordered without Hyundai’s 9.9-inch digital instrument cluster in their entry-level configurations. Buyers who want a screen behind the steering wheel must either select the option for an additional cost or choose a higher trim level.
For customers who skip the upgrade, the base configuration is designed to provide essential driving information through the central infotainment display instead. That approach allows Hyundai to remove the conventional driver-facing screen without making the vehicle undrivable.
Still, making the instrument cluster optional is an unusual cost-saving decision, particularly because digital displays have become common equipment even in affordable cars.
The Upgrade Goes Beyond Screen Size
Hyundai’s decision is also tied to how the entry-level versions of the Ioniq 3 and Elantra are positioned. Removing equipment from the base configuration allows the automaker to advertise a lower starting price while encouraging buyers to select additional options or move into more expensive trims.
The approach is familiar in other areas of vehicle equipment, including wheels, upholstery and convenience features. Applying the same strategy to the instrument cluster, however, makes the effort to reduce the base vehicle’s equipment particularly noticeable.
More Choice for Hyundai Buyers
There is another side to making the digital cluster optional. Buyers who do not consider a large screen directly in front of the driver essential can choose a lower-priced configuration while still receiving the information needed to operate the vehicle.
Not every buyer wants every available feature, and Hyundai’s setup gives customers another way to configure the less expensive versions of the Ioniq 3 and Elantra.
Hyundai is not the first automaker to remove equipment from entry-level vehicles. But making the instrument cluster a paid upgrade highlights the growing separation between a car’s advertised starting price and the cost of a more fully equipped version.
