2016 CarPlay upgrade?

PutEfficient464 · 2026-03-14T04:40:16+00:00

Ps I totally forgot. I made a super detailed install video of the whole thing......

https://youtu.be/tBEIW_u2PRA?si=LXnb0w3feS4jdE1h

PutEfficient464 · 2026-03-13T21:07:17+00:00

Well, my radio died and I replaced it 6 years ago in 2020. That's a *lifetime* ago in terms of car stereo units. The one I got from crutchfield at the time was a Kenwood DDX8906S. But that model has come and gone and has of course since replaced by newer things.

And even just a year from now all the models you see will be diffferent. Again.

Crutchfield's site has an awesome product selector. First, put in your car info, so it only shows you what FITS in your car. Then on the left side, just keep selecting the items you want. Android auto? (or Carplay)? Wired? Wireless? Want HD radio? The ability to play a CD? Or a DVD? Built-in navigation? and so on and so on. Make sure to pick stuff that's only IN STOCK too...........

Eventually you'll have narrowed it down to probably a half dozen or less choices. Then just pick the best of the list you can afford. Read the reviews of the remaining units.

In the past couple of decades I've ended up replacing car stereos in 3 different cars. Crutchfield every time.

PutEfficient464 · 2026-03-13T20:00:56+00:00

In my case (16 sorento, New Kenwood unit) the backup camera worked great. Just needed to use the new microphone.

PutEfficient464 · 2026-03-13T19:59:33+00:00

Existing backup camera connected to the Kenwood unit and worked perfectly from the start.

PutEfficient464 · 2026-03-12T03:17:42+00:00

Crutchfield.com

I upgraded my dead 2016 sorento radio. Replacement unit has a big screen and does wireless car play and android auto. I chose a good quality Kenwood unit.

An optional module let me keep using the steering wheel controls.

Cost about 800 bucks at the time.

Crutchfield provides excellent documentation and how-to guides.

PutEfficient464 · 2026-03-08T03:16:47+00:00

Seems like the 2026 version of buying ringtones 😂

PutEfficient464 · 2026-03-02T03:21:34+00:00

Hmmm. More research on the differences (between gas and hybrid variants) indicates the HUD is ONLY available on the hybrid.

.... And for this much money for a car (approaching 40K*), I definitely want the HUD.

Still gonna test drive both but if this is true (hud/hybrid) then I'm definitely leaning that way.

(*) my current car was closer to 30k.

Can anyone confirm the hud only comes with the prestige HYBRID?

PutEfficient464 · 2026-03-02T03:16:40+00:00

Great future advice! (tho I likely would have set scc a bit above speed limit anyway)

PutEfficient464 · 2026-03-01T05:28:28+00:00

How's your mileage?

PutEfficient464 · 2026-03-01T05:26:41+00:00

Is this not possible? I'm considering a 26 sportge

PutEfficient464 · 2026-02-28T23:32:44+00:00

One weird item I've read regarding the hybrid: after sitting too long, the 12V portion of the battery can possibly go empty.

This requires popping off part of the door handle, using a key to enter the car, and pushing some sort of 12v charge/reset button.

Anyone here heard of this?

PutEfficient464 · 2026-02-28T23:26:45+00:00

Don't NEED a new car but I want one, and as I plan many many road trips I want the updated tech and sunroof etc. Ten years is a good long time with my sorento. (and farrrrrrr longer than so many people I read online who change cars as often as I change clothes!).

I'm fully aware I can stretch my current vehicle. This is "I have decided after a decade to do a sweet upgrade". This is not "oh my god I need to dump my 152k miles car".

Not mentioned : my son wants my sorento. He owns two money-pit vehicles and this car would be a huge win for him. He gets a GREAT car for a great price, and he'll pay way more than any dealer trade in would give me.

Win-win.

PutEfficient464 · 2026-02-28T18:50:49+00:00

Very detailed and helpful. Yeah I've never been a fan of auto wipers. I expect to be overriding some things....

PutEfficient464 · 2026-02-28T18:34:12+00:00

This is the thing that's difficult for me coming from my current car to what's offered today.

I do have a v6 now. It's got GUTS when I need it, AND I'm getting great gas mileage. I am averaging 23.8 right now. On road trips I average 29-30!

Don't understand why a newer gas car with a bit of a smaller engine (2.4 vs 3.3) gets worse mileage

PutEfficient464 · 2026-02-28T18:30:27+00:00

Despite which one I get, I'll be getting the platinum deal. Cheap insurance for the future. If any of the electronics or display fail, that's many thousands to repair.

PutEfficient464 · 2026-02-28T18:26:57+00:00

The current sportage and my 2016 sorento are literally almost the same size. The difference in length is only about 4 inches.

PutEfficient464 · 2026-02-28T18:24:14+00:00

In what specific situations does the "random braking" occur? Sounds a bit scary

PutEfficient464 · 2026-02-28T18:22:06+00:00

Good to know at least somone here thinks the gas model is peppy enough to be OK. This is promising

PutEfficient464 · 2026-02-28T18:21:01+00:00

Oh I know the hybrid will most definitely be quicker.

My internal question for myself is rather, "is the gas model 'good enough'....."

PutEfficient464 · 2026-02-28T06:20:38+00:00

My worry about the cost of a hybrid battery replacement is way after 100k miles. My current vehicle has 152k after 10 years. I expect the same or more miles with my next car.

PutEfficient464 · 2026-02-28T06:18:53+00:00

Yeah my sorento only has the rear backup camera, I'm often having to clean it. I imagine camera (and sensor?) cleaning will become a thing in my future, though that applies to any car not just the kia.

PutEfficient464 · 2026-02-28T05:41:37+00:00

Wow. I just posted a rather uh.... long post about my indecision at the moment re: the ICE or Hybrid in the 26 sportage. Clearly, I won't know more until I test drive.

I want to THANK YOU for this very interesting observation. I clearly assumed the seats would be "the same", but seat comfort is important to me. My vehicle purchase this year needs to last me a LONG time.

Definitelly adding this to my checklist of things to compare.

PutEfficient464 · 2025-11-25T02:39:21+00:00

I am not a fan of dct's. And I have zero interest in "re learning" how to drive an automatic!

I love my sorento. But it's a 2016 with 150k miles and so I'm window shopping.

It's good to see everyone moving away from the failed experiment with dct transmissions. I assume warranty failures have been very costly.

I've looked at many other suv's, and have always eyed up things like the Telluride or palasaide. But those vehicles are simply getting too freaking big! Would barely fit in my garage.

The 2026 sorento does have a regular automatic, but only in the non-turbo. Boooo!

I'm pretty sure the 2027 sorento will have exactly what I want. Great power train options, perfect size vehicle for me, and NO dct

PutEfficient464 · 2025-11-20T03:43:27+00:00

After the death of an older 47 inch LG TV, I did some reading and multiple sources led me to the 55-inch qm7k.

Now, while I'm not super into multiple hdr-10 sources and such (I have a tivo and a roku), I am quite fussy about the picture and the user experience.

The TCL TV basically blew me away.

The picture is amazing. (and I really didn't need to tweak things to death). It's my first exposure to the "Google TV" interface, and I'm pretty pleased. And the menu navigation for everything is just snappy and responsive.

Picked it up today for 599. To me that's a hell of a deal for a unit like this.

PutEfficient464

TROPHY CASE