The new head unit for the 2020 model comes with CarPlay standard. What are the chances that it would be an easy swap to install it in my 2017 Prius Three, if I were able to get ahold of one?
You'd probably be better off just getting an after market head unit that has CarPlay. I've been looking at this one (which also has wireless CarPlay). AVH-W4500NEX - Flagship In-Dash Multimedia Receiver with 6.94" WVGA Clear Resistive Touchscreen Display | Pioneer Electronics USA
+1 suggest switching to aftermarket. That way it’ll be better than anything Toyota sells today, plus it will be staged for a cheap, slam-dunk upgrade whenever something new takes over from Carplay. Much better defense against obsolescence.
If you switch to an aftermarket unit, wouldn’t you lose some of the car features that are controlled through the head unit? There is a car menu in there and some customization. The aftermarket wouldn’t have that.
That I don't know. I do know that Crutchfield sells a set of wiring harnesses and little hardware addons to do things like steering wheel control and backup camera, so most of the functionality will be there. I just can't say specifically what might be missing.
It wouldn’t be a drop-in replacement. The Repair Manual and Electrical Wiring Diagram (more info) both show that the connectors on the rear of the 7-inch head unit changed substantially for 2020. Even the 6-position and 10-position power and speaker connectors, found on Toyota vehicles for many years, are apparently no longer used. You can see the differences in the external photos attached to the FCC’s equipment authorization database for ACJ932AT1501 (2017 Entune Premium Audio) and AJDK101 (2020 Audio Multimedia). In principle, you could build an adapter harness, but the new-style connectors don’t seem to be available individually as service parts, so you might have to get a complete instrument panel wire harness from a 2020 model. The prices for this and the head unit, at least as service parts, are likely to be eye-watering.
I switched to a pioneer aftermarket with CarPlay and considering there is an equalizer and time alignment settings and the factory head unit doesn’t, sound is almost night and day in sound quality. I bought a headunit that is idatalink compatible so everything is retained and more. I believe the standard non idatalink head units can still retain the major majority features. If you care about sound quality, I recommend a change of the head unit unless you install an amp with a dsp.
Check out my post in this thread about aftermarket wireless CarPlay units. I was able to keep every single feature(except the useless HSI display no one uses on the radio) with a wireless CarPlay pioneer avid w8400-nex and I listed what hardware I used. I mean every feature, same GPS antenna, same SiriusXM antenna, all vehicle settings and more, same aux port, same USB port, etc etc and far more. Aftermarket head unit for model 2 2016 Prius | Page 5 | PriusChat
I think we should find someone willing to check the pinout of their 2020 headunit. I bet it's the same. What else changed in the cars from 17 to 20? Anything radio/telecom related?
You’d lose the bet, if you’re referring to the 7-inch one; see post #7. For the 11.6-inch head unit, I don’t think the connectors changed for 2020, but I don’t know about internal differences, if any.
