CarPlay Screen Radio for Hyundai Kona (2017-2023): how to install Android Auto and Apple CarPlay

The Hyundai Kona quickly became one of the best-selling urban SUVs in Spain: striking design, good ground clearance and petrol, hybrid and electric versions for every taste. But the infotainment equipment is exactly where the difference between trim levels shows the most, and where many owners are left wanting more.

If your Kona has the small radio without a touchscreen, if you are tired of plugging in a cable every time you get in, or if you simply want a big screen where Google Maps is properly readable, there is a solution. A dedicated Android screen replaces the original unit and adds wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto without touching the rest of the dashboard.

Does the Hyundai Kona have CarPlay as standard?

It depends on the trim level, and it is worth being precise here because there are three different situations:

• Entry-level trims: a radio with a small display, Bluetooth and USB, without CarPlay or Android Auto. It is the most frustrating case and the most common one on the used market.
• Mid trims with Display Audio: a touchscreen with wired CarPlay and Android Auto. It works, but it forces you to plug in your phone on every trip and the screen falls short.
• Top trims with navigation: a larger screen and Hyundai's own navigation, also with wired CarPlay and with maps that are only updated through the official service.

In none of the three cases does the Kona of this generation offer wireless CarPlay from the factory, or the possibility of installing your own apps. That is why many people move to an Android screen.

The solution: Android radio for the Hyundai Kona

It is a dedicated unit that takes the place of the original radio and plugs into the car's factory connector. No cutting, no home-made adaptations, no visible wiring.

• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto: your phone connects on its own as soon as you start the car.
• Large HD touchscreen, with far better brightness and viewing angle than the original.
• Google Maps and Waze with live traffic, speed camera alerts and maps that are always up to date and free.
• Spotify, YouTube Music, podcasts, FM radio and the rest of the apps you already use on your phone.
• Hands-free calling with an included external microphone, far better than a built-in one.
• Input for a reversing camera and compatibility with parking sensors.
• Steering wheel controls retained through the included CAN Bus module.
• Open Android system: install whatever you want from the Play Store.

Hyundai Kona compatibility: supported versions

• Hyundai Kona first generation (OS), from 2017 to 2023, facelift included.
• Valid for petrol, diesel and hybrid versions of this generation.
• Also compatible with the Hyundai Tucson, which shares the same type of slot and connector on several of its versions.
• Essence, Klass, Maxx, Tecno, Style and equivalent trims.

The electric Kona and units with a Krell sound system or with large integrated screens may need additional wiring. Before buying, send us a photo of your console and we will confirm which version you need: it takes a minute and avoids returns.

What is the installation like?

The installation is plug & play and does not require cutting any of the car's original wiring.

1. Disconnect the negative battery terminal. Always, before you start.
2. Release the centre console trim with a plastic trim tool. It is held by clips; work up from the bottom carefully.
3. Remove the original radio by undoing the screws that hold it in the slot and unplugging its connectors.
4. Connect the ISO harness and the CAN Bus module of the new screen. They plug straight into the Kona's original connector: this is what lets you keep the steering wheel controls and the vehicle signals.
5. Connect the radio antenna, GPS, microphone and USB. Run the microphone along the side of the dashboard up to the mirror area.
6. Check before closing up: reconnect the battery, start the car and verify sound, controls, Bluetooth and CarPlay.
7. Fit the screen into the slot and put the trim back in place.

Between one hour and an hour and a half if you take your time; considerably less at a specialist workshop.

• At PantallasPremium: a dedicated screen from , with wiring, CAN Bus module and microphone included, worldwide shipping and a 3-year warranty.
• At the dealership: moving from a trim without a screen to one with navigation is not an option after the fact; when an official update does exist, the quote usually sits between and 0.
• Workshop labour: between and if you would rather not fit it yourself.

The difference speaks for itself: for less than a third of the price of an official solution you get a bigger screen, cable-free CarPlay and a system that updates itself.

Frequently asked questions

Do the Kona's steering wheel controls still work?
Yes. The included CAN Bus module keeps volume, track change, phone and voice working with no extra adapters.

Do I lose the factory reversing camera?
No. If your Kona already has one, it connects to the new screen and appears automatically when you select reverse. If you don't have one, you can add it.

What about the parking sensors and the driver assistance systems?
The car's safety systems are independent from the radio and keep working as before. The audible sensor warnings are retained.

Can I watch video or use apps that are not in CarPlay?
Yes. Because it is Android, you install whatever you want from the Play Store. Video plays with the vehicle stationary, as the regulations require.

My Kona already has wired CarPlay, is it worth changing?
If plugging in your phone every day bothers you and you want a bigger, smoother screen, yes. You gain a wireless connection, size and your own apps.

See the CarPlay radio for the Hyundai Kona

You have all the specifications, memory options and real photos on the product page for the CarPlay screen radio for Hyundai Kona and Tucson. If you are not sure about your trim, send us a photo of the dashboard and we will confirm compatibility before you buy.