The fourth-generation Toyota RAV4 (XA40, 2012-2018) is one of those SUVs people buy and keep for ten years. Reliable to the point of boredom, roomy, with hybrid running gear that is still a benchmark and sensible servicing costs. That is why so many are still on the road with 150,000 or 200,000 km on the clock and plenty more left in them.
The weak point, as in almost every car of that era, is the infotainment. The Toyota Touch 2 system fitted as standard was fine when it launched, but today it falls well short: slow menus, paid maps nobody updates any more and, above all, no Apple CarPlay and no Android Auto. Toyota only added those features with the following generation.
Does the Toyota RAV4 have CarPlay as standard?
No, no RAV4 XA40 left the factory with CarPlay or Android Auto. Depending on the trim and the year, your car will have one of these systems:
- Basic radio with monochrome display: on entry trims, with CD, USB and Bluetooth for calls.
- Toyota Touch 2: 6.1" touchscreen, Bluetooth, USB and basic apps, without navigation.
- Toyota Touch 2 & Go / Go Plus: the above plus built-in navigation and connected services, with maps that are now out of date.
None of them can be updated to CarPlay: it is not a software issue but a hardware one. Toyota did run a retrofit programme for later models, but the XA40 was left out. The only real route is to replace the original unit with a dedicated Android screen.
The solution: Android radio for the Toyota RAV4
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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 WhatsAppOur screen for the 2012-2018 RAV4 is a large-format Android unit made to measure for this car's dashboard: it replaces the original radio slot and the upper trim, with a finish that looks factory-fitted. What you gain:
- Wireless Apple CarPlay: the iPhone connects on its own when you start the car.
- Wireless Android Auto: Google Maps, Waze, Spotify, YouTube Music or podcasts on a big screen.
- High-resolution IPS touchscreen, far better than the original Touch 2 in sharpness and brightness.
- Multi-core processor and Android: you can install apps from Google Play just like on a tablet.
- Bluetooth 5.0 with an external microphone for clear hands-free calls.
- Built-in GPS with offline navigation, with no reliance on mobile coverage.
- Front and rear camera inputs, switching automatically when you select reverse.
- Keeps the steering wheel controls thanks to the CAN Bus decoder included.
- WiFi, USB, FM/RDS radio and video playback with the car parked.
Available in three configurations: 1 GB + 16 GB, 2 GB + 32 GB (the most balanced and the one we recommend to most people) and 4 GB + 64 GB for maximum performance.
Compatibility with the Toyota RAV4: supported versions
This unit is designed for the fourth-generation RAV4 (XA40), both in the original series and in the 2016 facelift:
- RAV4 2012-2015 (pre-facelift).
- RAV4 2016-2018 (facelift).
- RAV4 Hybrid (2016-2018), the hybrid version that sold so well in Europe.
- 2.0 Valvematic, 2.2 D-4D and 2.5 hybrid engines, with manual, automatic or e-CVT transmission.
- Trims with the basic radio, with Touch 2 and with Touch 2 & Go.
If your RAV4 has the original reversing camera or parking sensors, they are kept: the camera plugs into the video input of the new screen and the sensors keep warning you as before. On cars with the JBL sound system it is worth mentioning it when ordering so we can add the amplifier adapter.
What is the installation like?
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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 installation: it uses the car's original connectors, with no cutting or splicing.
- Disconnect the negative battery terminal.
- Remove the centre dashboard trim, which is held by push clips.
- Undo the four screws on the original unit and pull it out carefully.
- Unplug the factory connectors, the aerial and, if fitted, the rear camera.
- Connect the harness with CAN Bus decoder included: this is the part that keeps the steering wheel controls and switching on with the ignition.
- Run the external microphone to the A-pillar and the GPS aerial to the base of the windscreen.
- Fit the new screen with its fascia, screw it in and reconnect the battery.
- Switch on, pair your phone over Bluetooth and CarPlay or Android Auto set themselves up.
At PantallasPremium the price is transparent:
- 2 GB + 32 GB version, the one we recommend for everyday use.
- Up to for the 4 GB + 64 GB version, the fastest one.
The price includes the screen, the RAV4-specific fascia, the wiring with CAN Bus decoder, the external microphone and the GPS aerial, plus 3 years of warranty and shipping. In other words, less than a map update plus a set of tyres, and the result is a dashboard worthy of a brand-new car.
Frequently asked questions
Will I lose my RAV4's original reversing camera?
No. The factory camera plugs into the video input of the new screen and still comes on by itself when you select reverse, with better image quality than on the Touch 2.
Does it work in the RAV4 Hybrid?
Yes. The installation is the same on the hybrid as on the petrol or diesel versions; the hybrid system is not affected in any way.
Will I still see the consumption and hybrid system data?
The main information in the instrument cluster and the trip computer stays intact. The new screen replaces the infotainment unit, not the cluster.
Do I keep the steering wheel controls?
Yes. The CAN Bus decoder included keeps volume, track change, phone and voice control.
Does CarPlay work without a cable?
Yes, both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto work wirelessly. You can also connect the phone by USB if you prefer it to charge during the trip.
See the CarPlay radio for the Toyota RAV4 (2012-2018)
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 WhatsApp
You can see all the photos, memory options and customer reviews on the product page for the CarPlay screen radio for Toyota RAV4 (2012-2018). If you have any doubts about your specific trim, message us on WhatsApp with a photo of the dashboard and we will confirm compatibility before you buy.