This was my first time installing an aftermarket unit in a vehicle. The last time I purchased an aftermarket head unit, I paid Circuit City to install it. Heck, the last time I purchased an aftermarket head unit, Circuit City was still in business!

Cost: $354.98

• Sony XAV-AX100
• Crutchfield's Ready Harness Service
• Metra 70-1761 Wire Harness for Toyota/Scion/Lexus/Geo 87-up
• Toyota Kit 2000-Up, DD

The "Ready Harness" service is a wonderful service in which Crutchfield wires your harness to a connector that fits your stereo. I did not have to splice a single wire; all I had to do was "Plug and Play". $24.99 for this.

I must give Crutchfield a 100% review for this. I called them multiple times during installation and they were very eager to help. The only "issue" I had was that the factory screws that came with the Sony unit were not long enough; Crutchfield advised a specific screw size I go to the hardware store and purchase. I purchased four screws at Ace Hardware for about $0.44.

If purchasing this radio, I cannot recommend enough Crutchfield. They included the wiring harness and "bracket" for free. Might I also suggest never paying full price at Crutchfield? I routinely use a serviced called Raise (Link Here) to purchase Crutchfield Gift Cards at reduced prices. Typically you can purchase gift cards from them for 5% off. I've never had a problem with them. They also routinely give discount codes for an additional 5% or even 10% off. I highly recommend doing this.

Unfortunately, I did not take any photos during installation. I did not splice the "parking brake" wire into anything; It is simply sitting in my fuse panel area. So far, I have noticed zero issues with not hooking it up. I imagine if I tried to use the head unit for videos, it may not work since I did not splice this wire in. I've heard Android Auto may use this wire as well. So far, zero issues with CarPlay regarding the parking brake wire.

So...photos!


Looks great. Works great.


I brought the included microphone to this location. I'm amazed at how well this thing picks up my voice in the location. This is where I suggest pulling it too. Popping the "dashboard" off is easy during installation. There were no additional screws on top of what Crutchfield had me remove. I simply (and carefully) tugged on the dashboard panel to remove it to pull the microphone to its current location. If I can do it, anyone can.


There's my current setup, based on my "Smoker's Kit" mod.

Afterthoughts.

Make sure you leave a female USB end near your gear selector or elsewhere. You'll want it for firmware updates. Also, as a note, on firmware updates, make sure your flashdrive is:

FAT16 or FAT32
MBR instead of GUID
I'd use a 2GB or so flashdrive.

CarPlay works great, most of the time. Sometimes things don't make sense, but overall I'm very happy with this setup. Maps and Siri work great.

Eventually, I may move my USB port to another location. Not sure, for now, this works great.

Shorter USB cables are better. Might I suggest this specific Anker Powerline+ II cable? One foot length, it's nice and "braided", and built super well. I love it. These are, without a doubt, my favorite lightning cables. Micro USB versions also available for you Android folks.

I am very, very happy with this head unit and installation. If I can do it, anyone can. Crutchfield provides you with detailed instructions on how to remove panel by panel.

Nice recommendation. I think this is what I'm looking for and the price is great compared to some other well known brands.

Can you highlight the "things that don't make sense"?

Nice recommendation. I think this is what I'm looking for and the price is great compared to some other well known brands.

Can you highlight the "things that don't make sense"?

Of course. Like I said, they are minor. I think they may be chalked up to partially CarPlay issues themselves.

The volume knob can be pressed and held to activate Siri (and probably Google Assistant if using Android Auto). Works great. However, sometimes (it's happened probably about twice a week on me), during pressing this button to activate Siri, the voice prompt quickly exits. Then, pressing the volume knob no longer activates Siri. Generally, after power cycling the radio/vehicle and or phone, it comes back. Inconvenient, but not occurrent enough to actually be a huge issue.

You'd think the screen would generally stay put, especially if it's on the "Now Playing" screen. Nope, sometimes it seems to default back to the "Home" of CarPlay. Weird, but no big deal.

Overall, I love this radio. I'd say these "issues" only irritate me slightly, I still love the radio! Some of them may very well be fixed in a future firmware update and/or iOS/CarPlay update.

Can you comment on the FM reception and how you dealt with the dual antenna plugs?

I have an older Sony single DIN and the reception is crap despite using a y-adapter for both antenna leads.

Thanks. The

I’m stuck between this unit and a similar pioneer unit to replace my oem Nav in my 08 LTD. overall I think I’m more attracted to the Sony since it’s just a cleaner looking unit. Thanks for the review! I think I’m sold.


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I'm not the best person to ask about this. I didn't really use the radio but for a few weeks before upgrading to this Sony unit. I've only used the Sony radio (FM) for about 30 minutes total since installation.

I did call Crutchfield and inquire specifically about this. He told me to use the larger radio plug and forget the small one. He said something about Toyota vehicles typically having a large and small antenna. The factory radio can automatically switch between the two or something. I admit that this was confusing for me (that's why I called, seeing the two plugs but only one input on the unit).

He didn't mention or suggest I needed to buy a "Y" adapter to incorporate both plugs.

The radio works. I think it sounds good enough, maybe or maybe not what it sounded like before. It's hard to say. It seems to get good enough reception, but that's a guess because I really don't have a lot to compare it to.

I'd say go for it! Again, I'd highly recommend Crutchfield. Also, consider using the Raise service (listed about) to buy Crutchfield gift cards at 5% to 10% off (typically).

I don't know if it's a function of Sony vs Pioneer or mic location, but I have the mic included with my Pioneer head unit mounted on the back of the mirror and Siri activation and recognition is virtually flawless up to very high volumes of music.

I have the same HU that I also bought off Crutchfield in my 04 Limited.

Crutchfield customer service was top notch. I use Android Auto and needed the parking brake wire tapped. They also helped me as the previous owner had installed a aftermarket amp and we managed to figure that out and get it all to work. I also used their "ready" harness. Steering wheel controls also work perfectly and are programmable with the HU to make them work the way I wanted. For example., I use the "Hang Up" button to pause play.

I routed the mic up the side pillar to the top corner of the windshield and the female USB into the center console (small hole drilled to feed cable).

I also hooked up a backup cam I bought on Amazon for about $20. It works perfectly, but was a bit of pain to wire to the rear tailgate. Plenty of Youtube vids on how to do it though.

Any other car I now ride in (other peoples or my own) feels inadequate without Android Auto. I love it. The ability to use Google Maps, Spotify and AudioBooks natively on the HU works for me. Being able to speak to it and ask to play a certain song, or navigate to a destination is just great.

I recommend the HU and Crutchfield unreservedly!

Things I don't like...

The warning screen - not needed.
I wish I could stream Youtube/Netflix for my daughter.
The HU is occasionally a little glitchy, and can take a while to bring up my audiobook. This may be my phone or the HU, not sure. Sometimes it's immediate, and sometimes it can take 20 seconds to play.

So...two questions regarding your backup camera:

Overall, how long would you say it took you to run the wire, etc? I've watched one video. I think I could do it, but it does look like a decent project.

Secondly, I know on my 2016 Fusion, there was an indicator that "turned" when you turned the wheel, essentially showing you were the vehicle was headed while backing up. Does this radio in any way tie into your steering/computer to calculate anything like this, or is it just a "dumb camera"?

It took me the best part of 4 hours of solid work spread over the course of a day. I had never done one before, and I really didn't understand the wiring at first. I wanted the ability to turn it on even if I wasn't in reverse, so I tapped the power into the radio switched power rather than the rear lights. It just takes time to route the wires into the tailgate and then secure them so they don't interfere with the rear window.

It's just a dumb camera, but has grid lines which are useful. It's not tied to the steering in any way. You can adjust the grid lines on the HU to make sure the "red" line is an inch from your bumper.

I take it you would have spliced into the reverse light indicator thought? Shall I assume that A: The camera comes up automatically on your screen and B: You can manually open it from the headunit display whenever you want?

Yes, if you only want it to be able to come on when on reverse, you splice into the rear tail light for power.

Mine still automatically comes up when I put in reverse, as it still is triggered by the reverse signal, but I also have the option of just turning it on via the HU when I'm not in reverse.

I haven't actually thought of a good use case for that though, but it can impress my passengers!

@Maxie & @LinuxHack3r

Did both of your rigs come with JBL system originally?