CarPlay Head Unit for Toyota C-HR (2016-2020): how to install Android Auto and Apple CarPlay

The Toyota C-HR was one of the compact SUVs that landed best in Europe: striking design, reliable hybrid drivetrain and remarkably low urban fuel consumption. But there is one detail its owners know all too well: the infotainment system. While the car ages beautifully, the dashboard screen stayed anchored in an era before Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. If you drive a C-HR and still listen to Spotify over Bluetooth with your phone clipped to the windscreen, this article is for you.

The good news is that you do not need to change cars or visit an official dealer: there is a model-specific Android head unit for the Toyota C-HR that replaces the original unit, fits the factory opening and brings back CarPlay and Android Auto — wirelessly, at that.

Does the Toyota C-HR have CarPlay as standard?

On the vast majority of units sold in Europe, no. The first-generation C-HR arrived with the Toyota Touch 2 system (and its Touch 2 with Go version, with navigation). It is a decent head unit for its time: radio, Bluetooth, USB input, reversing camera and, on trims with navigation, Toyota's own maps. What it does not include is phone integration beyond MirrorLink, a standard virtually no phone supports today.

Toyota was one of the brands that took longest to adopt Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in Europe. Only the latest units of this generation, already running the updated head unit, left the factory with the integration. The result: if your C-HR is from the early years, you have three options — stick with Bluetooth, use a phone mount, or replace the head unit. And the third is by far the one that works best.

It is also worth clarifying that Toyota does not offer a software update that adds CarPlay to a Touch 2 that did not come with it. It is not a feature you can switch on: the hardware in that unit is simply not built for it.

The solution: Android head unit for the Toyota C-HR

A model-specific Android head unit for the C-HR is not a universal device forced into place: it comes with the frame and connector of the C-HR dashboard, so it replaces the original unit without cutting a single wire or leaving visible gaps.

• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto: wired or wireless, connecting on its own as you get into the car.
• Full Android with the Play Store: Spotify, YouTube, Waze, Google Maps, online radio or whatever apps you use daily.
• Built-in GPS with maps of Spain and Europe that work even without mobile data.
• Original steering wheel controls retained thanks to the Toyota-specific CAN bus.
• HD touchscreen, far larger and smoother than the original.
• Hands-free Bluetooth, dual USB and DSP to fine-tune the system's sound.
• Reversing camera included, switching on automatically when you select reverse.
• OTA updates: the unit keeps itself up to date.

Toyota C-HR compatibility: supported versions

This unit is designed for the first-generation Toyota C-HR, model years 2016 to 2020, and covers:

• Toyota C-HR 1.8 Hybrid (the most common version in Spain).
• Toyota C-HR 2.0 Hybrid.
• Toyota C-HR 1.2 Turbo petrol, in front-wheel and all-wheel drive.
• All trims sold in Spain: Active, Advance, Dynamic Plus and equivalents.
• Units with Toyota Touch 2 and with Touch 2 with Go (navigation).

If your car has the JBL system or came with a factory camera, that is no problem: the wiring preserves the original speakers and camera. If you have any doubt about your specific trim, the quickest route is to send us a photo of your current head unit on WhatsApp: we will confirm compatibility free of charge within minutes.

What is the installation like?

It is a plug & play installation that most owners handle in their own garage. A car audio shop does it in 30-60 minutes.

1. Disconnect the negative battery terminal before you start. On a hybrid this matters even more: always work with the car switched off and the key out.
2. Remove the dashboard trim by prying gently with a plastic tool. It is held by clips, not by visible screws.
3. Undo the screws holding the original unit and pull it carefully towards you.
4. Unplug the rear connectors: power, speakers, aerial and, if fitted, the camera cable.
5. Connect the supplied harness. Each connector only fits one way, so there is no room for error. The CAN bus box is the part that keeps the steering wheel controls and the car's data alive.
6. Fit the new screen into its frame, screw it in and refit the trim.
7. Reconnect the battery and start the car. The unit boots, pairs your phone over Bluetooth and CarPlay launches on its own.

The one step not to skip is the first: disconnecting the battery prevents ECU errors and false warnings on the instrument cluster.

At PantallasPremium the price depends only on the power you choose:

• 1 GB RAM + 16 GB: — enough for CarPlay, Android Auto, radio and navigation.
• 2 GB RAM + 32 GB: — the best-balanced option and our best seller.
• 4 GB RAM + 64 GB: — maximum smoothness if you plan to run many apps at once.

All three include a free reversing camera, free shipping and a 3-year warranty. Against that, the official dealer route is rarely viable: Toyota does not sell an update that adds CarPlay to the Touch 2, and swapping the head unit for another original part means paying for the part plus labour, a far higher quote than a complete Android screen. If you want to compare, ask your dealer for a quote and put it next to these figures.

Frequently asked questions

Do I lose the Toyota Touch 2 with Go navigation?
You replace the original navigation with Google Maps and Waze, with offline maps and real-time traffic. In practice, you gain.

Does it work the same on the hybrid C-HR?
Yes. The hybrid system and the infotainment are independent: the head unit does not interfere with engine management or the traction battery.

Do I keep the reversing camera and parking sensors?
Yes, both keep working through the CAN bus. And if your car had no camera, one is included.

Are the car's warnings shown on the new screen?
The steering wheel controls, audio and CAN bus alerts stay operational. Hybrid system information continues to be shown on the instrument cluster, as always.

Can I refit the original head unit?
Yes. Since no wire is cut, the process is reversible: keep the original unit and you can put it back whenever you like.

See the CarPlay head unit for Toyota C-HR

You can see every option, real installation photos and reviews from other owners on the product page for the CarPlay head unit for the Toyota C-HR (2016-2020). And if you would rather confirm compatibility before buying, message us on WhatsApp with a photo of your dashboard and we will reply within minutes.