Sony Unveils New Version of Its Top-Rated Aftermarket CarPlay System

Sony today introduced its new XAV-AX210 receiver, which doubles as an aftermarket CarPlay and Android Auto system.

xav ax210
The XAV-AX210 is an update to Sony's year-old XAV-AX200 receiver, with the headline new feature being support for iDatalink Maestro, a car audio system that seamlessly interfaces with steering wheel controls, amplifier functions, on-screen vehicle settings, and more when used outside of CarPlay mode.

The receiver has a 6.4-inch touchscreen, but Sony hasn't specified if it's resistive or capacitive. Other key features include hands-free phone calls and music playback via Bluetooth, SiriusXM compatibility, rear view camera readiness, a built-in four-channel amplifier, and a built-in CD/DVD player.

This product is ideal for vehicles that don't come with factory installed CarPlay, mirroring several apps onto the dashboard, including Phone, Messages, Apple Maps, Apple Music, Spotify, and starting with iOS 12, Google Maps and Waze. As a wired system, an iPhone must be connected via Lightning cable.

Sony said XAV-AX210 pricing and availability in North America will be announced in the fall of 2018. It will likely have a similar price as the XAV-AX200, available on Amazon for between $399 and $499 depending on configuration.

Of note, the XAV-AX100 and XAV-AX200 have received favorable reviews from publications such as The Wirecutter.

Other brands with aftermarket CarPlay and Android Auto receivers include Alpine, Pioneer, JVC, Kenwood, and Clarion.

Related Roundup: CarPlay
Tag: Sony

Popular Stories

AirPods Pro 3 Mock Feature

AirPods Pro 3 Just Months Away – Here's What We Know

Friday April 18, 2025 5:16 am PDT by
Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...
iphone 16 pro models 1

17 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 17

Thursday April 17, 2025 4:12 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models simultaneously, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you skipped the iPhone...
ipad air windows 11 arm

M2 iPad Air Runs Windows 11 ARM via Emulation, Thanks to EU Rules

Tuesday April 22, 2025 5:01 am PDT by
A developer has demonstrated Windows 11 ARM running on an M2 iPad Air using emulation, which has become much easier since the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) regulations came into effect. As spotted by Windows Latest, NTDev shared an instance of the emulation on social media and posted a video on YouTube (embedded below) demonstrating it in action. The achievement relies on new EU regulatory...
iphone 17 air dummy unbox therapy

iPhone 17 Air's Extreme Thinness Demoed in New Video

Tuesday April 22, 2025 10:22 am PDT by
Apple plans to release an all-new super thin iPhone this year, debuting it alongside the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. We've seen pictures of dummy models, cases, and renders with the design, but Lewis Hilsenteger of Unbox Therapy today showed off newer dummy models that give us a better idea of just how thin the "iPhone 17 Air" will be. The iPhone 17 Air is expected to be ...
maxresdefault

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Sunday April 13, 2025 7:52 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and ...
iOS 18

iOS 18.5 Includes Only a Few Changes So Far

Monday April 21, 2025 11:00 am PDT by
Apple seeded the third beta of iOS 18.5 to developers today, and so far the software update includes only a few minor changes. The changes are in the Mail and Settings apps. In the Mail app, you can now easily turn off contact photos directly within the app, by tapping on the circle with three dots in the top-right corner. In the Settings app, AppleCare+ coverage information is more...
Beyond iPhone 13 Better Triad

Apple's 20th Anniversary iPhone May Finally Go All Screen

Tuesday April 15, 2025 6:31 am PDT by
Apple is preparing a "bold" new iPhone Pro model for the iPhone's 20th anniversary in 2027, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. As part of what's being described as a "major shake-up," Apple is said to be developing a design that makes more extensive use of glass – and this could point directly to the display itself. Here's the case for Apple releasing a truly all-screen iPhone with no...
CarPlay Hero

Apple Releases Wireless CarPlay Fix

Wednesday April 16, 2025 11:28 am PDT by
If you have been experiencing issues with wireless CarPlay in your vehicle lately, it was likely due to a software bug that has now been fixed. Apple released iOS 18.4.1 today, and the update's release notes say it "addresses a rare issue that prevents wireless CarPlay connection in certain vehicles." If wireless CarPlay was acting up for you, updating your iPhone to iOS 18.4.1 should...

Top Rated Comments

macduke Avatar
87 months ago
What is the point of touting wireless connectivity if it has to be plugged in for CarPlay anyway? I'm tired of all these overpriced wired systems, many of which are resistive touch. I can get an iPad for $300 or a Nintendo Switch for $250 but not a little display that plugs into my car and interfaces with my phone? It's also annoying that all the high end models have crap we don't need like DVD players. This market is prime for someone to come in and shake it up.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
diddl14 Avatar
87 months ago
Still don‘t get why these things come with DVD/CD...
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BC2009 Avatar
87 months ago
Are things really "top-rated" if they are just being unveiled and haven't properly been "rated"?
And who rated it?
The previous version of this was “top rated”. Sony has unveiled a new version.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Spock Avatar
87 months ago
I honestly wish Apple would just enable CarPlay on the phone. Maybe a NFC dock that tells the iPhone it’s in the dock and connected to Bluetooth and automatically enables CarPlay.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
philfry Avatar
87 months ago
I have the XAV-AX100 and i'm very happy with it. It is resistive but I don't even notice. For the price it was really nice and BestBuy installed it for free. I've heard that wireless carplay consumes battery fast but I haven't used it myself. Plus the wireless carplay systems were more than double of the $300 that I paid. I really don't mind plugging in my phone especially if i'm going to be in the car for awhile.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
[AUT] Thomas Avatar
87 months ago
Would instantly buy (even for 800+ bucks) if it would fullfill all of the below requiremets:

* no optical drive
* thus not deeper than absolutely necessary, I got limited space on my lower slot
* some physical buttons for basic controls
* a very bright, high contrast screen, where black is actually black and not grey. We don't need to save energy here, just fire it up!

* capacitive touch
* wired+wireless carplay

* cinch outputs on the back for the sub

* SD-card on the front
* 1280x800 pixels please at least... because we are in 2018... 800x480 is a joke even for automotive use...
* built-in GPS quad receiver (NAVSTAR, GLONASS, GALILEO, BEIDOU), also because we are in 2018
* also, the ability to mix rather than switch inputs would be highly appreciated, but for some reason OEMs lack the innovation for that...
* Bluetooth 4.0 at very least
* good quality handsfree
* top audio quality for music

* firmware upgrade support & bug fixes for the next 2 years unless we are talking matured software...
* Proper cooling would be nice too... why the miniature fans in double DIN units?
* (!) Screen not polarized in a way that makes it unreadable with sunglasses...

...maybe some more items...
Anything less than that doesn't justify 800+... the Sonys are well priced, but Pioneers are way too expensive...
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)