Kia and Hyundai: Shared Navigation Technology
Kia and Hyundai are sister companies under the same parent group, and their vehicles often share navigation hardware and software. Understanding which generation of system your car has determines whether it needs an SD card update and which card to order.
Navigation Systems Overview
SD Card Navigation (2015–2021)
From around 2015, Kia and Hyundai moved to SD card-based navigation across most of their models. The SD card slot is typically in the glovebox or on the head unit itself. Models with SD card navigation include:
- Kia Sportage (from 2016), Sorento, Stinger, Niro, ProCeed, Ceed
- Hyundai Tucson (from 2015), Santa Fe, i30, i40, Ioniq
Connected Navigation (2021+)
Newer Kia and Hyundai models — including those on the E-GMP electric platform — use connected navigation with over-the-air map updates. These do not require SD card updates.
How to Check Your Current Map Version
On Kia: press Setup → Navigation Settings → Map Information or Map Version.
On Hyundai: press Menu → Settings → Navigation → Map Version or About.
Finding the SD Card Slot
On most Kia and Hyundai models with SD navigation, the card slot is in the glovebox. Some models have the slot on the front face of the head unit. Check your vehicle handbook if you’re unsure — it will show the exact location.
Installing the Update
- With ignition on, insert the navigation SD card
- The system will detect the new map data and prompt you to update
- Select to begin — the process takes 20–45 minutes
- Keep the ignition on throughout to avoid interrupting the update
- The system restarts when complete; leave the card inserted as it is read during use
If your current maps are from 2022 or earlier, an update is well worth doing — UK road changes and speed limit updates since then are significant.