CarPlay Head Unit for Toyota Prius+ / Prius V (2012-2017): how to install Android Auto and Apple CarPlay

The Toyota Prius+ —known as the Prius V in North America and the Prius α in Japan— was for a long time the only way to get a seven-seat hybrid with Toyota's mechanical reliability. It's a car that keeps running with huge mileage on the clock, sips fuel in town and has become a favourite of large families and of taxi and ride-hailing drivers. But it has one obvious weak spot: its infotainment system has been left behind.

If you drive a Prius+ you know exactly what we mean: a small screen, slow menus, a navigation system updated with discs or memory sticks, and no comfortable way to use Google Maps, Waze or Spotify without clamping your phone to a mount. The good news is that you don't need a new car to get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto: there is an Android head unit made to measure for the Prius+ original slot.

Does the Toyota Prius+ have CarPlay as standard?

No. No version of the Prius+ / Prius V left the factory with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Depending on the trim, this hybrid MPV came with one of these setups:

• Basic radio with a small display: radio, CD, USB and Bluetooth for calls. Nothing else.
• Toyota Touch 2: touchscreen with radio, hands-free, USB/AUX inputs and very limited phone connectivity.
• Toyota Touch 2 with Go / navigation: all of the above plus built-in navigation, with maps that age badly and depend on official updates.

Toyota only introduced CarPlay and Android Auto in infotainment generations well after this Prius+, so no trim level and no official update will add those features to this car. The only real route is replacing the multimedia unit.

The solution: Android head unit for the Toyota Prius+

The CarPlay head unit for Toyota Prius+ / Prius V / Prius α (2012-2017) replaces the original unit and fits the factory slot with its own frame and specific harness. It isn't a universal screen forced into place: it's a unit designed for this dashboard.

• Wireless Apple CarPlay and built-in Android Auto.
• Android operating system with the Play Store: install Spotify, YouTube, Waze or any compatible app.
• Built-in GPS with maps of Spain and Europe, whether or not your phone is working.
• HD touchscreen, far larger and smoother than the original.
• Keeps the original steering wheel controls.
• 2 USB ports and Bluetooth for hands-free calls.
• Built-in DSP to fine-tune the sound and get the most out of your speakers.
• Reversing camera included, activating automatically when you select reverse.
• OTA updates of the system.

In practice, the dashboard goes from feeling like a car from over a decade ago to working like a brand-new one — with the bonus that the screen is bigger than the one fitted to most new superminis today.

Toyota Prius+ compatibility: supported versions

This unit is developed for the Prius+ chassis under its three regional names, which are the same car:

• Toyota Prius+ (Europe, 7-seat version), 2012-2017 — the one sold in Spain.
• Toyota Prius V (USA and Canada), 2012-2017.
• Toyota Prius α (Alpha, Japan), 2012-2017.

It fits both the trims with a basic radio and those with Toyota Touch 2, including the ones with factory navigation. You can choose between three hardware configurations depending on what you'll ask of it:

• 1 GB RAM + 16 GB storage — normal use: CarPlay, radio, music and navigation.
• 2 GB RAM + 32 GB — the most popular balance, with room for several apps at once.
• 4 GB RAM + 64 GB — for anyone who spends many hours behind the wheel and wants the fastest response.

If you're not sure which radio your Prius+ has, send us a photo of your dashboard on WhatsApp and we'll confirm compatibility for free before you buy.

What is the installation like?

It's a plug & play installation: no cutting or splicing the car's wiring. These are the steps:

1. Disconnect the negative terminal of the 12 V battery before you start.
2. Carefully remove the centre console trim (it clips out; use a plastic trim tool so you don't mark it).
3. Undo the screws holding the original unit and pull it out with its connectors exposed.
4. Plug the specific harness of the new unit into the Prius+ factory connectors: they only fit one way.
5. Connect the CAN Bus module, which translates the car's signals and lets you keep the steering wheel controls and vehicle information.
6. Route the reversing camera cable to the tailgate if you're fitting it (it's included).
7. Slot the screen into place, screw it down, refit the trim and reconnect the battery.
8. Switch on, pair your phone over Bluetooth/WiFi and check CarPlay, sound, camera and steering wheel controls.

Average time is 30 to 60 minutes. With a little patience it's perfectly doable at home following the included guide, and any car audio installer will handle it without trouble. What's more, since the original wiring isn't touched, the installation is fully reversible: if you ever sell the car, you can refit the factory radio.

At PantallasPremium the complete unit for the Prius+ starts at for the 1 GB + 16 GB version, for 2 GB + 32 GB and for 4 GB + 64 GB. Every version includes the specific harness, the CAN Bus module, the reversing camera and free shipping, plus warranty and after-sales support.

The official route barely exists: since there is no Toyota update that adds CarPlay to this system, a main dealer can only repair or replace the original unit with an equally dated one, gaining you no new features. So the real comparison isn't "main dealer vs. new screen", it's "carry on with your phone in a mount" or "have CarPlay built into the dashboard". If you want an exact official figure for your case, ask your dealer for a quote: we only publish prices we can guarantee, and ours are the ones above.

Frequently asked questions

Do I lose the hybrid system information when I change the screen?
No. The Prius+ hybrid system data is shown on the instrument cluster and the car's upper display, neither of which is touched. The new unit only replaces the multimedia unit in the console.

Do I keep the steering wheel controls?
Yes. The Toyota-specific CAN Bus module keeps volume, track skip, calls and voice control on the wheel.

Does the factory reversing camera still work if my Prius+ already has one?
Yes, the original camera can be connected to the screen's video input. And if your car doesn't have one, a new camera is included.

Does CarPlay work wirelessly?
Yes. Apple CarPlay works wirelessly and also over USB if you'd rather charge your phone at the same time.

Do I need mobile data to navigate?
Not necessarily. You can use the built-in GPS with maps of Spain and Europe, or download offline maps in Google Maps or Waze on your phone.

Does it fit a regular 5-seat Prius?
No. This unit is specific to the Prius+ / Prius V / Prius α (the 7-seat MPV). We have different units for other Prius versions: get in touch and we'll tell you which one fits.

See the CarPlay head unit for Toyota Prius+ (2012-2017)

You can see all versions, real photos and reviews on the product page for the CarPlay head unit for Toyota Prius+ / Prius V / Prius α (2012-2017). If you have any doubt about your trim, message us on WhatsApp with a photo of your current radio and we'll confirm compatibility for free within minutes.