Renault and Dacia CarPlay Head Unit: compatibility and installation guide, model by model

Renault and Dacia are, year after year, among the best-selling brands in Spain. That means a lot of Clio, Mégane, Captur, Kadjar, Scénic, Sandero and Duster on the road with a radio that has fallen behind: basic Bluetooth, navigation whose maps you have to pay to update, or simply a small screen that only handles the radio and the volume.

The usual question is clear: can I have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in my Renault without changing the car? Yes, and on virtually every model, by replacing the original unit with a model-specific head unit. This guide goes through the compatibility model by model.

Which Renault and Dacia models have CarPlay as standard?

Renault backed its own systems for years before accepting CarPlay, so the fleet is very uneven:

• Factory radios with no screen (Clio 3, Mégane 2, Laguna 2, early Kangoo, Trafic, Logan and Sandero): no CarPlay, no Android Auto and no way to add them through software.
• Media Nav (very common on Dacia and entry-level Renault): built-in navigation with maps updated by hand and, on most versions, no CarPlay.
• R-Link and R-Link 2 (Clio 4, Mégane, Captur, Kadjar, Scénic, Talisman): a proprietary system with its own app store and paid navigation. Only some late R-Link 2 versions support wired CarPlay and Android Auto.
• Easy Link, on the most recent models: CarPlay is available here, but it depends on the trim.

The practical consequence is that most Renault and Dacia cars that are a few years old do not have CarPlay and cannot get it by updating the system. The unit has to be replaced.

The solution: a model-specific Android head unit for Renault

The original unit comes out — whether it is a button radio, a Media Nav or an R-Link — and an Android screen with a model-specific trim frame goes in, respecting the dashboard lines. What you gain:

• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with Google Maps or Waze on a big screen.
• Full Android: Spotify, YouTube Music, online radio and voice messaging.
• Steering wheel and stalk controls kept: the stalk behind the wheel, so typical of Renault, keeps working thanks to the CAN Bus decoder.
• Rear camera input, very handy on Kangoo, Trafic and Master.
• RCA outputs and an equaliser to improve the sound.
• Hands-free with an external microphone, far better than the original Bluetooth.

Renault and Dacia compatibility, model by model

Clio and Mégane

• Clio 3 (2005-2014)
• Clio 4 (2012-2019) — versions for Clio 4 (2012-2016) and Clio 4 (2016-2019)
• Clio 5 (2019-2024)
• Mégane 2 (2002-2009)
• Mégane 3 (2008-2015)
• Mégane 4 and Talisman (2017-2019)

SUVs, crossovers and MPVs

• Captur (2013-2020)
• Kadjar
• Scénic 3 (2009-2016)
• Koleos (2008-2016) and Koleos (2017-2019)

Saloons

• Laguna 2 (2001-2007)
• Laguna 3 and Latitude (2008-2015)

Vans and commercial vehicles

• Kangoo (2008-2018)
• Kangoo and Trafic (2019-2025)
• Trafic and Fiat Talento (2014-2020)
• Master and Trafic (2018-2024)

Dacia

• Sandero 2 and Logan 2 (2012-2019)
• Sandero (2021-2023)
• Duster HM (2019-2023)
• Dokker and Lodgy (2012-2020)

If your model is not on the list, browse the full Renault and Dacia collection or write to us with your VIN and we will confirm which unit fits.

What is the installation like on a Renault?

It is a plug & play and reversible job: the original connectors are used, with no wires cut.

1. Disconnect the negative battery terminal.
2. Remove the console trim with plastic pry tools. On many Renault models the radio surround is clipped in and comes out in one piece.
3. Take out the original unit. On cars with Media Nav or R-Link it is held by screws; on older radios you may need extraction keys, included with the unit.
4. Connect the model-specific harness and the CAN Bus decoder: that is what keeps the steering wheel controls, the stalk control and the trip computer warnings.
5. If your car has an original reversing camera or climate control shown on the screen, check first that the kit includes the necessary adapter.
6. Fit the microphone and the GPS aerial, click the screen into the frame and reconnect the battery.
7. Check sound, steering wheel controls, camera and CarPlay before refitting the trims.

How much does it cost to add CarPlay to a Renault?

Officially there is almost never a solution: on cars with Media Nav or R-Link the dealer cannot add CarPlay because the system does not allow it, and the only thing sold is a paid map update that changes nothing. Swapping the unit for a later generation means an expensive part, different wiring and often incompatibility with the instrument cluster.

A model-specific head unit is a one-off payment, with no subscriptions or maps to renew, and navigation comes from your phone. Our units for Renault and Dacia come with a 3-year warranty, shipping from Spain and technical support throughout the installation.

Frequently asked questions

Does the stalk control behind the wheel still work?
Yes. It is one of the most repeated questions with Renault, and the answer is that the CAN Bus decoder keeps it, along with the steering wheel controls.

I have R-Link. Can I replace it with an Android screen?
Yes, there are specific units for cars with R-Link. You only have to pick the right variant for your slot and connector.

Do I lose the trip computer information or the climate control?
No. That information is generated by the car and stays, either in the instrument cluster or inside the new screen depending on the model.

Does CarPlay work wirelessly?
It depends on the unit. Many models support wireless CarPlay and Android Auto; the rest work over USB. It is stated on each product page.

Does it work for work vans?
Yes, and it is one of our best sellers: Kangoo, Trafic and Master all take a model-specific screen with a rear camera input, very useful when manoeuvring fully loaded.

See CarPlay head units for Renault and Dacia

You will find every unit available for Renault and Dacia, with its screen sizes and configurations, in the full collection of CarPlay head units for Renault. If you are not sure which system your car has, write to us before buying and we will confirm it.