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Dear Car Talk: I have a 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour, and the navigation screen has gone out on me. This leaves me with no GPS, no radio, no music of any kind, and no ability to adjust the clock. The display works intermittently, but only for the backup camera.
What would be the best option to regain all of the functionality I have lost? — Will
A 2026 Honda.
No. I’m guessing you’ve already called your dealership and asked them what a new Honda unit costs, Will. And that’s why you’ve written to me desperately seeking alternatives.
Replacing the factory Honda “head unit,” which is what this part is called, could be a $2,000 job. So, you want to go “aftermarket.” And you’re in luck, because these days, for less than half of that price, you can get an aftermarket head unit that does pretty much everything your Honda used to do, and, in many cases, more.
If you’re willing to rely on your phone’s navigation apps, you can get something like the Sony XAV-AX4000. It has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so it’ll project Google or Apple Maps onto its own screen.
The advantage of that is that you never need to pay anybody to update the GPS maps. The downside is that if you regularly drive in areas without cell coverage, you’ll need to keep a sextant in the glovebox.
The Sony has a radio, clock, Bluetooth audio for podcasts or music, and integration for phone calls. It’ll cost you about $500 plus installation, and will fit right where your current screen goes. For a couple of hundred bucks more, you can get a unit with all that, plus a built-in GPS. The Kenwood Excelon DNX697S comes with a built-in Garmin navigation system.
Both of these head units (and others) are designed to integrate with your backup camera. So, they’ll display the view behind you on their screens automatically when you shift into Reverse, just like your Honda used to do. Just be sure to get the right wiring harness adapter for your Crosstour.
By the way, I may devote a future column to my theory that car stereo makers and drug companies are now using the same guy to come up with the product names. Is Excelon the stereo or the thing I’m supposed to ask my doctor about?
Got a question about cars? Write to Ray in care of King Features, 300 W. 57th St., 41st Floor, New York, NY 10019, or email by visiting the Car Talk website at www.cartalk.com.