Hyundai’s Digital Key is a tech feature that uses Near Field Communication that enables users to lock/unlock and start the engine of their car via their smartphone or smartwatch. This eliminates the need for keeping a physical key with you at all times.
Hyundai has brought this feature to India for the first time as part of the updated Hyundai Alcazar facelift feature list. This is soon expected to make its way to other Hyundai cars as well.
You have to set up the Digital Key on your device through Hyundai’s Blue Link app. The next time you want to unlock your Alcazar, you just need to tap the device against the door handle and the car will unlock itself even if you don’t have the physical key anywhere near.
The Digital Key does not just let you lock or unlock the car but also start the engine. You are required to place your device on the wireless charging pad, press the engine start/stop button, and you’re good to go.
The Digital Key can be shared with three secondary users apart from the primary user, so that other members of the family or friends can also use this feature. A total of seven devices can be connected among these three users.
While the Alcazar debuts the Digital Key technology in India, the Ioniq 5 N comes with Digital Key 2 in European markets. This uses Ultra-wideband (UWB) technology in addition to NFC that allows the user to lock/unlock their car even from a distance of approximately 1.5 metres, which further enhances convenience by eliminating the need to even tap the device on the door handle.
Is the added convenience worth the money spent on developing and implementing this new tech feature? We’ll leave that on you to answer. Stay tuned to CARS24 New Cars for more such content.