The best Android Auto head unit is designed to bring an element of modernity to ageing vehicles that perhaps don't possess the latest all-singing, all-dancing infotainment system.
While we can't guarantee these aftermarket options will be able to offer games from an app marketplace, like you can in a modern Porsche or Tesla, the tech is designed to allow you to pair a favoured Android smartphone… and that's the next best thing.
The Android head units we've featured on this list all allow for seamless Android compatibility with a large touchscreen display, which provides access to navigational tools, such as Google Maps and Waze, as well as seamless integration of your preferred playlists on Spotify.
Similarly to the best sat navs and best dash cams, Android Auto units can be retrofitted into cars with little fuss or fabrication. Even those ancient vehicles with a thin sliver of a stereo system can now be finished with phone-friendly tech and a large, easy-to-read screen.
If you fancy yourself as a bit of a DIY mechanic, most of the head units listed below are essentially 'plug-and-play' devices, so long as you are comfortable with potentially removing vehicle trim and locating some wiring.
Otherwise, retailers like Halfords will fit the technology for you in a couple of hours for around £99, depending on the vehicle and the ease at which your chosen head unit can be installed.
Best Android Auto head units to buy right now
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Thanks to its seven-inch, motorised touchscreen display, this impressively grand infotainment system neatly stashes away inside a single DIN chassis, meaning users can get a sizeable tech hit without the need for masses of real estate.
With the ability to stand fully upright, or tilt back slightly, it can also be mounted in multiple locations, as not all vehicles have the single DIN chassis slot in the same place.
Once installed, this premium Pioneer unit offers bags of Android Auto functionality, including beaming your favourite car-friendly apps to the sharp display.
Annoyingly, there's no wireless Android Auto here, but there are physical USB inputs, as well as connectivity for reversing cameras. There’s even a CD player, should you still prefer listening to your favourite tracks via that decidedly retro format.
What’s more, the neat mix of touchscreen and physical buttons makes it easy to locate and adjust the volume when driving, open and close the unit, as well as navigate back to home screens without excessive swiping.
We have expensive taste because this top-quality Alpine unit sits towards the top end of the budget scale, but it is a lovely piece of kit.
Its incredibly crisp HD screen is a joy to look at and massively out-performs some of the cheaper models on the market. It boots up quickly and offers seamless Android Auto integration as soon as a phone is wired in. There are inputs for reverse cameras and plenty of outputs for subwoofers and extra speakers.
Granted, it doesn't sit flush into the dash like some screens, but that's because it is designed to fit into a single DIN slot, which means it is compatible with a huge variety of vehicles, regardless of age. Oh, and the little strip of white ambient LED lighting at the bottom of the unit is a nice touch. Pure class.
This might be one of the most expensive Android Auto-compatible head units on the list, but its is by far one of the most technologically accomplished. Bluetooth pairing for up to five phones, alongside the ability to control two of those at once, as well as a HDMI input for Amazon FireSticks and whatnot are just a couple of highlights.
It's also an absolute beast of a system, with a 10.1-inch touchscreen display adding luxury automotive levels of infotainment to pretty much any car with the space. The "floating panel" display can be set to three different heights, ensuring it works in most dashboards, although those heights aren’t electronically adjustable like some rivals.
The double DIN design means this won’t be compatible with all vehicles, but the extra chassis space houses inputs for up to four external cameras, which can be triggered when initiating reverse gear, for example.
Kenwood has long been a brand associated with booming audio quality and the DMX9720XDS Stereo offers a 13 band graphic equaliser and a Time Alignment feature to really dial in your favourite sounds.
Although lacking the inches of some of the head units previously mentioned, this Sony number deserves high praise for its stylish looks and physical volume dial. Many others resort to separate plus and minus keys or commit volume functionality to the touchscreen, which can be very annoying.
The dial on this is a joy to use, as is the rest of the system, which proves fast and responsive, delivering seamless navigation, Spotify and other Android experiences. A built-in 4 x 55 watts Dynamic Reality Amplifier allows for tunes to be pumped at extraordinary levels, and it plays nicely with numerous other after-market sub-woofers and speakers, too.
Road Angel might be better known for its passenger car and commercial vehicle dash cam and sat nav systems, but it also offers a line in simple, plug-and-play head units that are compatible with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
There are few bells and whistles here, just a sharp capacitative 7-inch touchscreen display that mirrors all of your favourite, automotive-enabled apps from an Android smartphone. Said smartphone will require plugging in via the USB cable, which is at the rear of the unit, so will require an extension cable and mounting in a glovebox or central cubbyhole, which is a bit of a faff but a decent installer will sort this for you.
There is an aux input around the back too, while AV inputs also allow for reversing cameras and others tech to be neatly plumbed in.
It features a double DIN chassis, so make sure your vehicle has the required space before committing, but this is a relatively low cost yet top quality way of freshening up a car’s interior.
Easy to install and boasting an extremely thin 75 mm installation depth, this double DIN unit from JVC is great for those with a cramped dash area. Granted, you'll still need a large aperture to house this, but the lack of heft means it can sit where other existing wires also reside.
Once set up, it is quick and slick to operate, with lots of control over menu functions, sound quality and much more. However, there's only one USB input at the rear, which means you'll have to run a wire into the glove box or out of the dash to plug in. This is fairly standard, but other head units mentioned here feature a secondary USB slot at the front, making charging additional devices a little easier.
Who needs a big touchscreen when you can simply attach your smartphone? Of course, fiddling with your device on the move is frowned upon (and massively illegal), so Pioneer offers four dedicated hard key buttons for your favourite app access.
This one-touch access to favoured apps (such as Waze, Google Maps etc.) makes it safer to use, while voice commands are arguably the best way to interact with the unit. Above all else, it’s a very affordable and clever way of achieving Bluetooth streaming, hands-free calls and neat phone charging on a slim budget. Sure, it isn't real Android Auto comparability, but it is a very cheap option for this on much tighter budgets.
How to buy the best Android Auto head unit for you
As previously mentioned, there is a new car stereo or head unit to suit most budgets and to fit most vehicles. So long as you have the existing wiring for some sort of stereo device, prices range from around £200 for the most basic unit with Android Auto compatibility, while the most expensive can easily tickle the £1k mark if you opt for built-in maps and other jazzy features.
This, in our eyes, is a little bit pointless because the whole point of this endeavour is to bring your smartphone into the car, meaning you can hook up and charge while using Google Maps, Apple Maps or Waze to deliver you to a destination - much better than the ageing sat nav rubbish found on many infotainment systems. In reality, you shouldn't have to part with any more than £500 to get something utterly brilliant.
If you simply want a Bluetooth connection to play Spotify or listen to Podcasts, then it is very easy to shop at a much lower end of the budget (£90-£150). But true Android Auto requires a touchscreen, and that means parting with more cash.
On the subject of fitting, this can be done fairly easily for those with a bit of car-related knowledge, some tools and plenty of patience (check out the numerous YouTube How-To videos if you fancy a spot of DIY), but buy from Halfords, for example, and they will offer to fit it for you. This usually takes a couple of hours at the most, and costs around £70/$90, depending on how complicated the fitting process is.
FAQ
What’s the best Android Auto head unit on sale?
Everyone will have different budgets and requirements when it comes to fitting an aftermarket Android Auto head unit, but we really liked the Pioneer AVH-Z7200DAB, purely for its flashy folding screen.
Not only does this neaten up the dash when you don't require infotainment, it also fits nicely into older vehicles with more cramped interiors. Even classic cars look quite cool with this system in place.
The screen is sharp, quick to react and does absolutely everything you need from a modern infotainment unit. The CD player might be a dated addition, but it could be nice to have for some audiophiles.
