The first-generation Kia Soul (AM chassis) was a different kind of car from day one: boxy body, plenty of headroom and a dashboard with character, including those front speakers that lit up in time with the music. Which is exactly why it stings that the infotainment has been left behind.
Anyone driving a Soul AM today ends up with a CD radio that plays memory sticks and little else: no maps, no apps and no decent way of using your phone while driving. The good news is that the opening left by that radio takes a model-specific screen for the Soul with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, one that respects the lines of the dashboard rather than breaking them.
Does the Kia Soul Mk1 have CarPlay as standard?
No. The Soul AM was built between 2008 and 2013 and reached Europe in 2009, well before Apple CarPlay and Android Auto existed. No version of this generation included them from the factory.
What the Soul Mk1 did offer, depending on trim and year, was:
- CD radio with a monochrome display built into the centre console.
- Aux input and USB for playing music from a memory stick or an external player.
- Bluetooth for calls on the better-equipped trims.
- Front speakers with LED lighting synced to the music, one of the model's signatures.
- Steering wheel audio controls on most versions sold in Europe.
It was a decent system for its time, but it cannot show a map on screen or read a message out loud. That is why the most worthwhile upgrade in a Soul AM is changing the head unit.
The solution: Android head unit for the Kia Soul Mk1
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Talk to an expert on WhatsAppThe model-specific head unit for the Soul AM replaces the original and adds everything the car never had:
- HD touchscreen fitted into the radio opening, integrated into the original dashboard.
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, connecting automatically at start-up.
- Built-in GPS navigation, compatible with Google Maps and Waze.
- Bluetooth with hands-free calling and audio streaming.
- FM radio and playback over USB, Bluetooth and Spotify, with two USB ports.
- Steering wheel controls kept thanks to the CAN Bus module.
- Reversing camera included, very handy given the Soul's small, upright rear window.
- Plug & play fitting, without cutting the factory wiring.
Kia Soul Mk1 compatibility: supported versions
The kit covers the whole first generation, facelift included:
- Kia Soul Mk1 (AM) — from 2008 to 2013, in every trim sold in Europe.
- Pre-facelift and post-facelift versions, with the same radio opening.
- 1.6 petrol and 1.6 CRDi diesel engines.
- Cars with the original radio and cars already fitted with an aftermarket unit.
As with any model-specific install, the definitive check is visual: compare the outline of your centre console with the photos on the product page before buying.
What is the installation like?
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Talk to an expert on WhatsAppIt needs no specialist workshop and no changes to the dashboard. These are the steps:
- Disconnect the negative battery terminal before touching anything.
- Release the centre console trim with a plastic pry tool; it is held by clips.
- Undo the screws on the original radio and pull it out.
- Unplug the ISO connectors for power and speakers, plus the aerial cable.
- Plug the new head unit's harness into those same connectors: it is plug & play, and the CAN Bus module translates the car's signals so the steering wheel controls keep working.
- Place the GPS aerial at the base of the windscreen and the microphone next to the mirror.
- Slide the screen into the opening and refit the trim.
- Reconnect the battery and check sound, controls, CarPlay, GPS and camera before closing everything up.
If your Soul has the LED-lit speakers, that feature depends on the speaker itself and its power supply rather than on the original radio, so changing the head unit should not affect it.
How much does it cost to install CarPlay in a Kia Soul Mk1?
Kia does not offer any official CarPlay update for the first-generation Soul, so the alternative to a model-specific kit is having an installer fit a generic head unit with a fascia, harness and steering wheel module bought separately, plus labour.
The model-specific kit arrives with those parts already designed for this chassis, which is precisely the part that makes workshop work expensive. If you fit it yourself, the saving is complete. You can see the available memory options and the current price of each on the product page.
Frequently asked questions
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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 WhatsAppDo I lose the steering wheel controls?
No. The included CAN Bus module keeps the original controls; you just assign them once from the head unit menu.
What about the Soul's lighted speakers?
They keep working: the lighting is part of the speaker and its power supply, not of the radio unit.
Does it fit pre-facelift and post-facelift Souls?
Yes, as long as the console outline matches the product photos. That is the most reliable way to confirm it.
Does CarPlay work without a cable?
Yes. CarPlay and Android Auto are wireless; you pair the phone once and then it connects on its own. You can also use USB if you prefer to charge while you drive.
Is the reversing camera included?
Yes, it comes free with the kit and the screen switches to the rear image by itself when you select reverse.
See the CarPlay head unit for the Kia Soul Mk1
You will find the photos, full specifications and memory options on the product page for the CarPlay and Android Auto head unit for the Kia Soul Mk1 AM (2008-2013). If you are not sure about your version, write to us with the year and trim and we will confirm compatibility.