Hyundai Pleos Connect: The New Infotainment Coming First on the 2027 Tucson

By Happy Hyundai Team · Published October 31, 2026

Hyundai Pleos Connect is the new infotainment system that Hyundai says will debut in the United States on the all-new 2027 Hyundai Tucson. The Tucson will be the first Hyundai vehicle in the U.S. to get the platform, which runs on Android Automotive OS and adds a voice assistant called Gleo AI. For drivers in Libertyville and across Lake County, the real question is how it will feel on an ordinary commute. This guide explains what Hyundai announced, what Pleos Connect changes inside the cabin, and what you can do today while the rest of the details are still on the way.

What Hyundai Announced About Pleos Connect

Hyundai Motor America announced that the all-new 2027 Hyundai Tucson will be the first Hyundai vehicle in the United States to feature Pleos Connect. Hyundai describes it as Hyundai Motor Group’s new infotainment platform, built to give drivers a more intuitive, safe and personalized experience. It combines a driver-friendly interface, advanced navigation, voice interaction powered by artificial intelligence and an open app ecosystem.

The platform was developed by the group’s global software center and uses Android Automotive OS. Hyundai says the change moves its infotainment to an operating system designed to support native apps, software updates and connected services. In plain terms, apps can run on the car itself, not only on your phone.

Hyundai also frames Pleos Connect as a step toward software-defined vehicles. A Hyundai executive said the company no longer sees a vehicle as a product that is complete at delivery. Instead, Hyundai sees it as a platform that can adapt, improve and become more personalized over time.

What this announcement does not say

This is news about a model that is not on sale yet. Hyundai did not publish a U.S. on-sale date for the 2027 Tucson in this announcement. Its global announcement of the new Tucson says North America is to follow in 2027, and Hyundai says it will share more on availability, specifications, connectivity requirements and model-specific features closer to launch. Until then, be careful with any trim or feature claim you read elsewhere.

Hyundai Pleos Connect Screens and the Slim Information Display

Pleos Connect is available with a 17-inch or a 12.9-inch center screen. Hyundai calls both QHD displays. Both use Android Automotive OS, share a common design language and are meant to help drivers move between Pleos-equipped Hyundai vehicles without learning a new interface. Hyundai has not said which Tucson trims get which screen, so do not assume either size until it publishes trim details.

The display behind the steering wheel

Above the steering wheel sits a 9.9-inch Slim Information Display, which is standard with both screen sizes on the Tucson. Hyundai says it keeps useful information close to the driver’s direct line of sight. The center area can show vehicle speed, the posted speed limit, driver assistance status, media information, estimated arrival time, remaining distance and trip data. The side areas can show estimated driving range, fuel level, efficiency, turn-by-turn directions, system notifications and feedback for controls such as the headlamps and windshield wipers.

Layouts that follow how you use apps

Pleos Connect supports landscape and portrait layouts when an app allows it. Depending on app support, you can show an app in a wide layout or use a portrait layout for multitasking. The interface also separates Driving View, which puts vehicle information and controls first, from App View, which is built for navigation, media and compatible native apps.

The screen shape will feel familiar. Hyundai says the proportions reflect formats commonly used on televisions, smartphones and tablets, while portrait mode gives a layout similar to a mobile app.

Gleo AI: Talking to Your Tucson Instead of Tapping

Gleo AI is the assistant at the center of Pleos Connect. Hyundai describes it as an in-vehicle AI agent powered by large language model technology. Instead of relying only on fixed commands, it is designed to understand conversation and vehicle context, work out what you mean and handle natural-language requests, including requests that bundle several commands together.

In the U.S., you can start it by saying "Hey Gleo" or "Hey Hyundai." Hyundai says it can help with navigation, compatible vehicle controls and information requests. It is also designed to follow the thread of a conversation, so you can ask a follow-up question without starting over. Hyundai adds that Gleo AI availability may vary by model and trim level.

Picture a cold January morning in Lake County. Your hands are full or you are wearing gloves, and the last thing you want is to dig through menus. An assistant that understands normal speech is meant to make that moment easier. What it can control depends on the vehicle and its equipment, and Hyundai has not listed the full set of functions for the Tucson. Try it yourself before you count on a specific feature.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Stay

If you love the apps on your phone, here is the reassuring part. Pleos Connect supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. That lets you connect a compatible smartphone without a cable and use supported phone-based apps and services on the car’s display. The system also includes Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. For drivers in Mundelein or Vernon Hills who step into the car with gloves on and a phone in a pocket, skipping the cable is a small but real convenience.

Hyundai says phone projection complements the native Pleos App Market and does not replace it. Projection brings compatible services from your connected phone. Pleos App Market apps run directly on the vehicle’s own Android Automotive OS-based platform. Streaming music and video-sharing platforms are among the apps in the market, and Hyundai says apps can update on their own schedule, apart from the vehicle’s broader multimedia software updates.

That last row matters. Hyundai says use of connected applications requires an applicable connectivity data package. The announcement does not describe the package, so ask what it includes when Hyundai shares more.

Navigation, Updates and Physical Buttons

Navigation with and without a signal

Pleos Connect uses hybrid online navigation that blends connected map data with an onboard map database. In the U.S., current map information can be downloaded based on where the vehicle is, while preinstalled map data helps navigation keep working in areas without a data connection. That backup is useful on a drive that takes you past Wauconda or beyond Lake County, where coverage can change along the way.

Search is based on Google Places and can return photos, operating hours and other location details. You can also ask Gleo AI to search for a destination and start route guidance in a normal sentence.

Over-the-air updates

Hyundai says the platform is designed to receive ongoing enhancements through over-the-air software updates. The words "designed to" are not a promise of a specific update schedule, and Hyundai has not published a timeline. The takeaway is that the system is meant to keep improving after delivery. Hyundai also says every app goes through cybersecurity and verification review before it is distributed through the Pleos ecosystem.

Real buttons stay

Not everything moves to the screen. Hyundai says physical buttons remain available for key vehicle functions to support convenient and safe operation. If you prefer to adjust key functions by feel instead of looking at a display, that detail is worth checking when you sit in the car.

How Pleos Connect Compares With the Tucson You Can Test Drive Today

Pleos Connect is not on the current Tucson. It arrives with the all-new Tucson, so today’s model is the baseline to compare against.

The fair way to compare is to start with a baseline. Sit in a current Tucson, connect your phone, ask for directions the way you normally would and notice what frustrates you. You can see the current lineup on our new Hyundai vehicles page. When the 2027 Tucson is available to see, run the same test and judge whether the new system solves what bothered you.

If you are thinking about timing a trade-in around the new Tucson, it helps to know your options early. The finance page explains how to get started, and the team can answer questions about your current vehicle. Shoppers who do not want to wait can also browse used vehicles in Libertyville while Hyundai finishes its rollout.

A checklist for your first demo

When you get your first chance to try Pleos Connect, use a short routine. It keeps the demo focused on daily use instead of the screen’s first impression.

1. Pair your phone wirelessly and notice how it connects each time you start the car.
2. Say "Hey Gleo" and "Hey Hyundai" and see how both wake phrases respond.
3. Ask for directions to a store in Gurnee, then ask a follow-up question without repeating the address.
4. Check the Slim Information Display from your normal seating position, with your seat and wheel set the way you drive.
5. Find the physical buttons and try a few key functions by feel.
6. Ask which trim has which screen and what the connectivity data package includes.

Write down what you notice. A system that feels fine in a short demo can feel different after a week of school drop-offs, errands on Milwaukee Avenue and trips on the interstate, so ask whether you can spend extra time with it.

What to Do Now: Visit Libertyville Happy Hyundai

The 2027 Tucson is not here yet, but the current Tucson is a good place to start. Visit Libertyville Happy Hyundai on Milwaukee Avenue, browse the new Hyundai lineup and ask our team to share news as Hyundai releases more about the 2027 Tucson and Pleos Connect. You can also read about the people behind the store on our about us page before you stop in.

What Hyundai Has Not Said Yet About Pleos Connect

This page reflects what Hyundai has announced so far. Several answers are still missing, and it is better to say so than to guess:

• A U.S. on-sale date for the 2027 Tucson with Pleos Connect.
• Which Tucson trims get the 12.9-inch screen and which get the 17-inch screen.
• The connectivity requirements and data package details for connected apps.
• Where Gleo AI is available by model and trim level.
• Which later Hyundai models in the U.S. will add Pleos Connect.

Hyundai says it will announce more on availability, specifications, connectivity requirements and model-specific features closer to launch. When it does, this is the checklist to hold it against.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Hyundai Pleos Connect?

Pleos Connect is Hyundai Motor Group’s new infotainment platform. It runs on Android Automotive OS and combines large center screens, a conversational assistant called Gleo AI, built-in navigation, an app marketplace and over-the-air updates. Hyundai says the 2027 Tucson will be the first Hyundai vehicle in the U.S. to have it.

Will the 2027 Tucson still work with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?

Yes. Hyundai says Pleos Connect supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so you can connect a compatible phone without a cable. Hyundai describes phone projection as a complement to the Pleos App Market, not a replacement.

When can I buy a Tucson with Pleos Connect?

Hyundai has not announced a U.S. on-sale date for the 2027 Tucson. Its global announcement of the new Tucson says North America is to follow in 2027, and Hyundai says more details will come closer to launch. Ask our team at Libertyville Happy Hyundai to keep you posted.

Do I need a data plan to use Pleos Connect apps?

Hyundai says use of connected applications requires an applicable connectivity data package. It has not yet published the details of that package or the connectivity requirements. Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto use your own compatible phone.

Does the current Tucson have Pleos Connect?

No. Hyundai says the all-new 2027 Tucson will be the first Hyundai vehicle in the U.S. with Pleos Connect. You can still test drive the current Tucson at Libertyville Happy Hyundai to see how today’s system fits your routine.

Sources (as of October 31, 2026)

• Hyundai Motor Unveils The all-new TUCSON (as of October 30, 2026)
• Hyundai Introduces Pleos Connect in the U.S. on the All-New 2027 TUCSON (as of October 31, 2026)

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