Honda’s CarPlay Retrofit Is Officially Available

Last week, we shared a report that Honda was preparing to offer wireless CarPlay upgrades for older year models, and now the automaker’s retrofit program has officially launched, providing some more details on how it works — and what it will cost for Honda owners to untether their iPhones on the road.

As expected, the retrofit will only be available for older Honda Accord models — for now, at least. Specifically, it covers any 2018-2022 Accords that were already equipped with wired CarPlay and Android Auto.

Honda announced the details in a press release today, noting that the upgrade will encompass approximately 631,000 Accords in the United States. The carmaker says it’s doing this as part of a “broader sustainability effort” that offers “upgrades and new digital services” that it hopes will have its customers keeping their older vehicles on the road for longer rather than ditching them to upgrade to newer models just to gain features like wireless CarPlay.

The catch? This is a dealer-installed software upgrade, which means you’ll have to take your car into the shop — and there’s a cost involved. That’s a bit disappointing, considering all the vehicles eligible for the retrofit typically get their software updates over the air.

Honda makes it clear that there’s no new hardware involved, and the good news is that the company promises it’s a “quick software update.”

This quick software update enables customers to leverage hardware already in their Honda vehicle to enjoy seamless connectivity through wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Enhancing the ownership experience and market value of Honda vehicles already in use is a key strategy in pursuit of our goal to have zero environmental impact by 2050.

Jay Joseph, vice president of the Sustainability & Business Development Division at American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

Since Bluetooth isn’t fast enough to support wireless CarPlay, only vehicles that have built-in Wi-Fi systems are eligible, which is why it’s only the 2018 and later Honda Accords; even though CarPlay debuted on the 2016 Accord, the 2016–17 models didn’t have the necessary Wi-Fi hardware in the vehicles. Some lower-end 2018–2022 Accord trims may not be eligible, either, as the car has to have wired CarPlay in the first place; Honda isn’t adding CarPlay to those vehicles that didn’t already have it, it’s merely extending the existing CarPlay to work wirelessly.

It’s a bit of a mystery why these models didn’t already support wireless CarPlay. Chalk it up to the vagaries of automakers’ priorities when bundling features and option packages in their vehicles.

What Will This Cost?

Honda Accord owners can expect to pay at least $112, which is the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP), plus “a dealer labor charge.” The MSRP isn’t necessarily fixed but will probably be the standard base fee, while the dealer charge will likely vary depending on where you take your Accord to get it installed. Customers can learn more by visiting the Honda DreamShop;

Honda is also installing the upgrade at no additional charge on any Accord models it sells as Certified Pre-Owned vehicles, “providing additional value to the certified program.”

Although some manufacturers like BMW were ahead of the curve, most carmakers only began embracing wireless CarPlay in their 2021 year models. As a result, a cottage industry of third-party adapters has sprung up over the years to bridge the gap, plugging into your car’s USB port to convince your vehicle that it’s using a wired CarPlay connection while letting your iPhone connect wirelessly. However, these tend to be hit-or-miss when it comes to compatibility and reliability and can’t compare to built-in wireless CarPlay integration, so Honda’s upgrade program should be well worth it for Accord owners who want to stop plugging in before they hit the road.