I finally decided to swap my factory stereo for an idoing head unit crosstrek kit, plus honestly, the is night time and day. If you've spent any significant time when driving of a second-gen Subaru Crosstrek, a person already know the particular struggle. The factory Starlink system isn't exactly a work of art of modern design. It's often slow to boot, the screen feels cramped, and mine had a nasty habit associated with "ghost touching" anytime the weather got a little too humid.
Right after months of hiding on Subaru forums and watching limitless YouTube videos, I pulled the trigger on the Idoing unit. It's probably the most popular interior mod with regard to these cars right now, and for good reason. But is it actually mainly because seamless as everybody says, or are we all just blinded by the particular shiny 9-inch display screen? Let's enter the weeds of exactly what it's actually such as to live with this thing.
Why the manufacturer radio had in order to go
Subaru makes an excellent car, but their infotainment systems through the late 2010s feel like these were designed in 2005. My stock head unit was small, the navigation was clunky, and the wired Apple CarPlay would disconnect in case I so much as bumped the wire. In a vehicle that's meant intended for road trips plus adventuring, having a reliable interface will be pretty high on the priority listing.
The idoing head unit crosstrek owners generally choose is an Android-based system that's designed to seem like this came from the particular factory. That's the big selling point. It doesn't look like some cheap plastic material double-DIN kit a person bought at the big-box store. This replaces the entire trim piece, ports and all, offering the dash a much more modern, "Tesla-lite" feel.
Getting the particular thing installed
I'm the kind of person which gets a little bit of nervous about cutting wires or messing with the electrical system of the relatively new car. Thankfully, this unit is truly plug and play. When the container arrived, I was hit using a massive "nest" of cables, which looked intimidating at first. Nevertheless, once I started matching up the connectors, it grew to become clear that you literally can't connect the wrong factor into the wrong hole.
The particular hardest part of the whole procedure wasn't the wires; it was obtaining the factory grills out of the old trim. Subaru really snaps those things inside limited. You'll definitely want a set of plastic trim removal tools so you don't scratch upward your dash. When the vents were transferred over to the new Idoing frame, the whole point just snapped best into place. No gaps, no rattles, and the color match on the plastic was remarkably spot-on.
Coping with the "Canbus" box
1 little thing in order to watch out intended for is the little red or black box that is available in the wiring use. That's the Canbus module. It's the particular "brain" that allows the new radio stations speak to your Subaru. With out it, your steering wheel buttons won't work, and you also won't see your door-open alerts on the particular screen. Make sure that thing is usually tucked away securely so it doesn't jingle around while you're driving.
The particular screen: A massive upgrade
The first time I turned the vehicle on following the install, I was genuinely blown away by the display. We're talking about the 9-inch IPS display that is considerably brighter and sharper compared to stock unit. It's weird how much a larger screen changes the experience of the cottage. It makes the Crosstrek feel like a much even more expensive car as opposed to the way it actually is.
Since it's an IPS panel, you don't get that odd washing-out effect whenever the sun strikes it through the side. This was a huge relief because the Crosstrek's windshield will be angled in the way that lets a lot of glare within. The touch response can also be way better—it feels like using a modern smartphone rather than a resistive touchscreen from a good old ATM.
Using Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto
It was the "killer feature" regarding me. Having cellular CarPlay in the car that didn't include it is a total game-changer. I don't even take my phone out of the pocket anymore. Simply by the time I've backed out associated with my driveway in addition to shifted into drive, the idoing head unit crosstrek has already matched with my apple iphone and is enjoying my Spotify playlist.
It's not 100% perfect—there is definitely a slight lag (maybe a half-second) when skipping paths compared to the wired connection—but that's just the character of wireless Bluetooth/WiFi transmission. If you're a purist, a person can still connect in via UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS, but the comfort of the cellular setup is hard in order to give up.
How does it tone?
I wasn't expecting the sound quality to alter much, however the built-in Digital Signal Processor chip (DSP) within the Idoing unit is actually quite powerful. The share Subaru speakers are well, they're alright, but the stock radio doesn't drive them very very hard.
The particular Idoing unit seems to have a much better internal amp. It woke the speakers upward, giving them the bit more "thump" on the low end and solution highs. Plus, the EQ settings are insane. You may adjust the time position of the audio so it hits your ears completely through the driver's chair. When you have the Harmon Kardon system, a person might need a specific harness, but regarding the base and Superior trims, it's the massive jump in audio performance.
Maintaining the Subaru features
Our biggest fear has been losing the stuff I actually liked, like the backup camera and the particular steering wheel handles. I was delighted to find that the particular backup camera appears even better on the larger screen. The resolution is the particular same, obviously, yet seeing it upon a 9-inch screen makes parking way easier.
The steering wheel control keys worked right out from the box, too. Volume up/down, track skipping, and the voice command button almost all stayed functional. You can even remap the buttons within the settings menu when you want these to do something else, that is a level associated with customization you simply don't get with all the manufacturer head unit.
The downsides (because nothing is perfect)
It might be a rest to say it's been a flawless experience. Since this is essentially an Google android tablet running your own car's brain, this can be just a little "fiddly" at periods.
- The Microphone: The pre-installed mic on the particular faceplate isn't great. People I known as complained that I sounded like I had been marine. I ended up installing the external mic that came in the particular box, clipping it near the rearview mirror, which resolved the issue.
- Startup Time: While it usually wakes immediately, every now and then (maybe as soon as a month), it does a "cold boot" which takes about 30 seconds. Not a dealbreaker, but frustrating when you're in a hurry.
- Glare: While the screen is brilliant, it's also quite glossy. On really sunny days with the sunroof open up, you might observe more of your own own reflection compared to your Google-maps path.
Could it be worthy of the money?
When you appear at the associated with an idoing head unit crosstrek kit, it generally sits somewhere about $350 to $450 depending on the specs a person choose (get the 4GB or 6GB RAM version; don't bother with the particular 2GB one, it's too sluggish).
For that price, you're obtaining a completely refreshed interior, wireless mobile phone integration, and better sound. To have the same features from the "name brand" like Leader or Alpine, you'd likely spend $600 on the head unit alone, plus another $150 for the dash kit and wiring harnesses.
Final thoughts
If you're on the fence regarding upgrading your Crosstrek's tech, I'd state go for it. It's one associated with the few mods which you actually benefit from every single second you're inside the vehicle. No more fumbling with cables, no longer squinting at the tiny 6-inch display screen, and no more working with the laggy Subaru factory software. It's not an ideal device, but for the price and the ease of installation, it's possibly the best value-for-money upgrade you may buy for the Trek right now. Just be affected individual with those in-take clips—they're a genuine pain!