Hyundai is one of the fastest-growing brands in Spain, and the car park shows it: i20, i30, i40, ix35, Tucson and Santa Fe everywhere, many of them with a few years behind them and in great shape. The weak point is almost always the same: a radio stuck on CD, USB and basic Bluetooth, with no decent navigation and no phone mirroring.
The question we get every day is straightforward: can I add Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to my Hyundai? On almost every model you can, by fitting a model-specific head unit in the original slot. Here is the compatibility, model by model.
Which Hyundai models have CarPlay as standard?
Hyundai started offering CarPlay and Android Auto fairly early, but only on higher trims and the most recent generations. In practice:
- Factory radios without a touchscreen (early i20 and i30, ix35, older Tucson, Santa Fe 2, Grand i10...): no CarPlay and no way to enable it.
- Small touchscreens with built-in navigation (some ix35, i40 and Santa Fe): paid maps you have to buy at the dealer and no phone mirroring at all.
- Recent Bluelink / Hyundai systems: CarPlay is there, almost always wired, and only if the car left the factory with that specific unit.
In short: most Hyundai cars on the road today do not have CarPlay and will not get it through a software update. The only real solution is to replace the unit.
The solution: a model-specific Android head unit for Hyundai
Still have questions? Talk to an expert
Message us on WhatsApp with your make, model and year and we will tell you exactly which screen fits your car. We reply in minutes.
Talk to an expert on WhatsAppThe original radio comes out and an Android screen with a model-specific trim frame takes its place, so the dashboard keeps its factory look. What you gain:
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with Google Maps or Waze on a big screen and always up to date.
- Full Android: Spotify, YouTube Music, online radio and voice messaging.
- Steering wheel controls kept through the CAN Bus decoder.
- Front and rear camera inputs, even if the car never had them.
- RCA outputs and an equaliser to add an amplifier or improve the sound.
- Hands-free with an external microphone, far better than the original Bluetooth.
Hyundai compatibility, model by model
City cars and compacts
- i20 (2008-2012)
- i20 (2014-2018)
- i20 (2020-2023)
- Grand i10 (2013-2016)
- i30 (2006-2011)
- i30 (2011-2017) and i30 with factory screen (2013-2016)
- i30 (2016-2021)
- Elantra MD (2011-2013)
SUVs and crossovers
- Tucson (first generation)
- ix35 and Tucson LM (2009-2015)
- ix35 and Tucson (2014-2018)
- ix35 with factory navigation
- Tucson TL, ix35 and Kona (2010-2022)
- Kona (2017-2023)
- Santa Fe 2
- Santa Fe / ix45 (2013-2016)
Saloons, MPVs and vans
If your model is not listed, browse the full Hyundai collection or write to us with your VIN and trim and we will confirm which unit fits.
What is the installation like on a Hyundai?
Still have questions? Talk to an expert
Message us on WhatsApp with your make, model and year and we will tell you exactly which screen fits your car. We reply in minutes.
Talk to an expert on WhatsAppIt is a plug & play and reversible job: the original connectors are reused and no wire in the car is cut.
- Disconnect the negative battery terminal.
- Release the centre console trim with plastic pry tools. On many Hyundai models it is clipped in, with a couple of hidden screws.
- Undo the screws holding the original radio and pull it carefully off the rear connector.
- Connect the model-specific harness and the CAN Bus decoder, which keeps the steering wheel controls, the warnings and the parking sensors.
- Check whether your car has a factory reversing camera, built-in navigation or an amplifier: those cases need the matching adapter.
- Place the microphone next to the rear-view mirror and route the GPS aerial along the windscreen pillar.
- Fit the screen, reconnect the battery and check sound, controls, camera and CarPlay.
On most models it takes one to two hours with basic tools.
How much does it cost to add CarPlay to a Hyundai?
Officially there is virtually no route: on Hyundai models without a touchscreen the dealer cannot add CarPlay, and on those with factory navigation the only thing you can buy is a paid map update, which adds neither CarPlay nor Android Auto. Swapping the multimedia unit for a higher-spec one is expensive and not always possible on older models.
A model-specific head unit is a one-off payment, with no subscriptions and no maps to renew: navigation comes from your phone. Our units for Hyundai come with a 3-year warranty, shipping from Spain and technical support throughout the installation.
Frequently asked questions
Still have questions? Talk to an expert
Message us on WhatsApp with your make, model and year and we will tell you exactly which screen fits your car. We reply in minutes.
Talk to an expert on WhatsAppDo I lose the steering wheel controls?
No. The CAN Bus decoder keeps them, along with the trip computer information and the parking sensors.
My ix35 has factory navigation. Can I still replace it?
Yes. There are specific versions for Hyundai models with factory navigation; you just have to pick the right variant for your slot and connector.
Can I keep the original reversing camera?
In most cases yes, with the right adapter. Tell us the model and trim before you buy.
Does CarPlay work wirelessly?
It depends on the unit: many support wireless CarPlay and Android Auto and the rest work over USB. It is stated on each product page.
Is it reversible?
Yes. As no wires are cut, you can refit the original radio whenever you want, for example when selling the car.
See CarPlay head units for Hyundai
You will find every unit available for Hyundai, with its screen sizes and configurations, in the full collection of CarPlay head units for Hyundai. If you do not know which unit your car has, write to us before buying and we will confirm it.