CarPlay Head Unit for Fiat Panda 3 (2013-2020): How to Install Android Auto and Apple CarPlay

The third-generation Fiat Panda is the city car par excellence: small on the outside, tall and clever on the inside, easy to park and cheap to run. Many are sold in simple trim levels, and that is where the problem lies: the standard radio in the Panda 3 does its job, but falls well short for anyone who lives on their phone. No decent navigation, no phone mirroring and, on the most basic versions, a tiny display or none at all.

There is a model-specific head unit for the Panda 3 (319 chassis) that solves all of that at once, and respects the dashboard design too: it comes with its own fascia kit and side rotary knobs, so you do not lose the habit of turning the volume up without looking.

Does the Fiat Panda 3 have CarPlay as standard?

Generally, no. The Panda 3 launched in 2011 and was sold with several infotainment systems over the years, but the vast majority of cars on the road have neither Apple CarPlay nor Android Auto:

• Basic CD radio with a small monochrome display on entry trims.
• Uconnect Radio with Bluetooth and USB, useful for calls and music, but with no phone mirroring.
• Blue&Me in the early years, a hands-free and voice command system that feels very dated today.
• Uconnect with touchscreen only on specific versions and years, and even then CarPlay is only available on the most recent cars.

If your Panda is a Pop, Easy or similar trim, it almost certainly does not have it. And even with basic Uconnect, there is no official update that adds CarPlay afterwards.

The solution: Android head unit for Fiat Panda 3

The model-specific head unit for the Panda 3 (319) replaces the original equipment and adds:

• 7-inch IPS touchscreen, exactly the right size for the Panda's dashboard without eating into the storage cubbies.
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto: Maps or Waze on a big screen, Spotify, calls and messages.
• Android system with GPS navigation, WiFi and Bluetooth, and installable apps.
• Side rotary knobs for volume and tuning, just as you are used to in a car you drive around town.
• Steering wheel control support (SWC) if your Panda has them.
• FM/AM radio with RDS, DSP and multimedia playback.
• Model-specific fascia kit included for a plug & play installation, with no improvising.
• Reversing camera input, the best possible help when parking in a tight space.

Fiat Panda 3 compatibility: supported versions

• Fiat Panda 3 / Panda III (319 chassis) — 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.
• Pop, Easy, Lounge, Cross and 4x4 trims, all with the same radio slot.
• 1.2 Fire, 0.9 TwinAir and 1.3 Multijet engines, plus the LPG and natural gas versions.
• Suitable whether your car has the basic radio or Uconnect without a touchscreen.

Watch the generation: this kit is for the Panda 3 (319). The Panda 2 (169, 2003-2012) has a different dashboard and needs a different fascia.

What is the installation like?

1. Disconnect the negative battery terminal before touching anything.
2. Remove the trim around the radio slot. On the Panda 3 it is clipped in place; a plastic tool avoids marks.
3. Take out the original radio and unplug power, speakers and aerial.
4. Connect the harness of the new head unit. It is plug & play on the car's own connector, with the CAN Bus module translating ignition, illumination and steering wheel signals.
5. Place the GPS aerial at the base of the windscreen and the microphone near the mirror or the A-pillar.
6. Fit the screen with its fascia and check that the rotary knobs line up.
7. Reconnect the battery and test everything: audio, radio, GPS, CarPlay and steering wheel controls.

As with any Italian small car of these years, if FM reception feels weak it is worth adding a powered aerial adapter; it is a small part that fixes the problem in five minutes.

How much does it cost to install CarPlay in a Fiat Panda 3?

On a Panda with the basic radio or Uconnect without a touchscreen, Fiat offers no way to add CarPlay: the unit has to be replaced. In a workshop, that means buying head unit, fascia, harness and steering wheel interface separately and paying labour to adapt them.

With the model-specific kit from PantallasPremium the parts are already designed for the 319 chassis, so fitting is straightforward and many customers do it themselves. On the product page you will find the current price and the three memory configurations: 1+16, 2+32 and 4+64 GB.

Frequently asked questions

Is my Panda a 3 or a 2?
The Panda 3 (319) is the one with square headlights with rounded corners and a dashboard full of "rounded square" shapes. It has been on sale since 2012. The Panda 2 (169) is the previous, more angular model.

Do the steering wheel controls still work?
Yes, if your trim has them. The head unit supports the original controls and they are set up from its menu.

Does it fit the Panda 4x4 and the Cross?
Yes. The radio slot and the console are the same as on the rest of the 319 range.

Can I fit a rear camera?
Yes, the screen has a video input and switches to the image automatically when you select reverse. On a city car it is probably the accessory you will appreciate most.

What if my Panda has Blue&Me?
Blue&Me is tied to the radio, so it is replaced. The functions you would lose (hands-free and old voice commands) are more than covered by the new screen through CarPlay or Android Auto.

See the CarPlay head unit for Fiat Panda 3

You can see photos, dimensions and options on the product page for the CarPlay and Android Auto head unit for the Fiat Panda 3 (2013-2020). If you are unsure about the year or trim of your car, write to us and we will confirm compatibility before you buy.