CarPlay Head Unit for Hyundai i20 (2020-2023): how to install Android Auto and Apple CarPlay

The third-generation Hyundai i20 (BC3) is one of the best-selling superminis in Spain, and for good reason: plenty of room for its size, efficient 1.0 T-GDi engines, N Line versions that look genuinely sharp and a dashboard far more modern than the previous generation's. But when it comes to connectivity, the experience depends enormously on the trim level you happened to buy: some i20s leave the dealership with a decent screen, while others are stuck with a basic radio and a phone holder glued to the windscreen.

In this article we explain what each i20 version actually comes with and why, even with factory CarPlay, more and more owners end up fitting a model-specific 9-inch Android screen with wireless CarPlay and Android Auto.

Does the Hyundai i20 have CarPlay as standard?

It depends on the trim, and it is worth being precise because there is a lot of confusion here:

• Entry-level trims come with a simple radio or a small basic information display: no CarPlay, no Android Auto and no navigation.
• Mid trims with Display Audio do include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but with a cable only: you have to plug the phone into the USB port every time you get in.
• Higher versions with navigation add their own maps and a larger screen, still with wired phone projection.

In other words: if your i20 is an entry-level trim, you simply do not have CarPlay. And if you do have it, chances are you are tired of the cable routine, of the USB port that works loose over time and of a system that will not let you install any new apps.

The solution: Android head unit for the Hyundai i20

The model-specific screen replaces the original unit and stays integrated in the factory slot, with no universal adapters or improvised frames. What it brings:

• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto: you start the car and the phone connects on its own, without taking it out of your pocket.
• 9-inch HD touchscreen, larger than the mid-trim display and with a better viewing angle.
• Android with the Play Store: Spotify, YouTube, Waze, podcasts or your home charging app if you run a plug-in hybrid.
• Built-in GPS with offline Google Maps or Waze maps, so navigation does not depend on coverage.
• Steering wheel controls and vehicle information kept thanks to the Hyundai-specific CAN bus.
• Reversing camera input, compatible with the original camera if your i20 already has one.
• WiFi, Bluetooth, two USB ports and DSP to fine-tune the standard sound system.

Hyundai i20 compatibility: supported versions

The frame and harness are made for the third generation of the model:

• Hyundai i20 III (BC3) 5-door, across the whole 2020-2023 run.
• Hyundai i20 N Line, with its specific sporty trim.
• Hyundai i20 N, the high-performance version.
• All the engines common in Spain: 1.2 MPi, 1.0 T-GDi and MHEV mild-hybrid variants.

It replaces both the basic radio of the entry trim and the Display Audio system of the mid trim. If you are not sure which one you have, the quickest way to find out is to send us a photo of your dashboard on WhatsApp: we confirm compatibility free of charge within minutes.

What is the installation like?

It is a plug & play swap, with no cable cutting or splicing:

1. Disconnect the negative battery terminal before touching anything on the dashboard.
2. Release the centre trim with a plastic tool, starting from the lower clips so you do not mark the finish.
3. Take out the original unit by undoing its screws and unplug the power, speaker, aerial and USB connectors.
4. Connect the specific harness of the new screen: it uses the car's own connectors and only fits one way.
5. Plug in the Hyundai CAN bus module, which keeps the steering wheel controls, parking sensors and original camera working.
6. Position the external microphone near the rear-view mirror or the A-pillar so hands-free calls sound clean.
7. Test before closing up: sound, wireless CarPlay, GPS, camera and steering wheel controls. If everything responds, slot the screen in and refit the trim.

Taken calmly, fitting usually takes 30 to 60 minutes. A fitting guide is included and you have WhatsApp support throughout.

How much does it cost to add CarPlay to a Hyundai i20?

If your i20 is a basic trim and you ask at the dealership, the usual answer is that the Display Audio screen cannot be added afterwards as a standalone option: it would mean ordering the unit, the wiring and the labour, with a quote that rarely makes sense on a supermini. And even then you would still have wired CarPlay and no way to install apps.

The model-specific screen goes in the opposite direction: it comes with frame, harness and CAN bus included, it is larger than the standard one, it works without cables and you save the labour if you fit it yourself. You can check the current price and the different memory versions directly on the product page.

Frequently asked questions

My i20 already has wired CarPlay. Is it worth changing?
If plugging the phone in every day annoys you, you want a bigger screen or you miss being able to install apps, then yes. If you are happy with the factory system, there is no need.

Do I keep the reversing camera and the parking sensors?
Yes. The CAN bus module keeps the original camera and the parking sensors exactly as they were.

Does it work on the i20 N and the N Line?
Yes, both share the same radio slot and the same connector as the rest of the range.

Do I lose the information on the digital cluster?
No. The instrument cluster is independent of the radio and keeps showing all its data.

Can it cause problems at the roadworthiness test?
No. It is integrated into the original slot and does not modify any safety component, so it needs no approval.

See the CarPlay head unit for the Hyundai i20

➡️ See the product: CarPlay and Android Auto Head Unit for Hyundai i20 (2020-2023) · or browse all our Hyundai screens.