Toyota RAV4 Sony XAV-AX100 Install

Around the 10 year mark is where we begin to see factory car stereos fail. Some typical symptoms may be malfunctioning CD drives, inability to turn on, or poor sound quality/reception. Our customer's RAV4 was coming up on a decade and the factory deck was starting to show its age. He opted for the Sony XAV-AX100 for its excellent combination of features and value.

2010 Rav4 factory stereo

With a 6.4" touchscreen, this system rivals the 2018 RAV4 in terms of screen size. However, unlike the new Toyota Entune systems, the XAV-AX100 doesn't rely on confusing apps to interact with your smartphone. Instead, the Sony system and most higher-end aftermarket systems offer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which offer intuitively integrated apps which are enhanced for in-car use. 

Sony xav-ax100 rav4

Additional features like Siri Eyes Free and bluetooth handsfree calling further decrease distractions and improve driving safety. The aftermarket receiver is nicely integrated using a custom dash kit designed for this generation of RAV4. For vehicles that have factory steering wheel audio controls, we can also integrate those features with special modules and wiring harnesses such as the Maestro SW

sony xav ax100 rav4 usb

Our customer also requested that we run the USB port into this compartment just in front of the cupholders. This USB port not only offers charging and music playback capabilities, but also allows use of the Android Auto and Apple CarPlay features on this particular deck. The built-in amplifier on this model offers 20W RMS and improved sound processing over the factory system. Even without a speaker upgrade, the sound is noticeably better than stock. With 3 sets of pre-amp outputs, the aftermarket deck also makes it easy to add a subwoofer for additional bass.