Keeping the factory features in a Chrysler Pacifica

As factory car stereos become the control center for more than music, there's one question we get quite a lot: "If I swap out my touchscreen radio, will the new one let me control the features I need?" We tagged along with Crutchfield merchandising expert Peter as he upgraded the dash of his comfy 2018 Chrysler Pacifica to show you how he ensured his essential factory features are accessible in his new Kenwood 10.1" touchscreen receiver.

All the features to keep

Sliding into the leather driver's seat of his Pacifica, Peter walked me through the multitude of controls and conveniences that make riding in this spacious minivan a luxury. The deluxe user interface of the Chrysler UConnect® radio works more like a space shuttle control panel than a traditional car stereo. It provides navigation, in-depth convenience, climate and seat controls, and access to vehicle settings and info. With all that infotainment and a big display, why did Peter want to replace his factory radio? Because he could keep the things he loves and get even more.

Great reasons to upgrade

As a lifelong Apple® fanatic, Peter was happy to have Apple CarPlay® built into his factory radio, but found himself craving the wireless version of that game-changing platform. That got him thinking. With the right integration gear, he could upgrade to wireless CarPlay and step up the size and resolution of his car stereo display as well. Plus, with better resolution, he could add onboard video via dash and backup cams that provided a drastically better picture. With options like that and access to all the Pacifica's premium convenience settings, Peter couldn't resist this minivan evolution.

Using Crutchfield's vehicle selector, Peter was able to get all the gear he needed.

Visiting our vehicle selector

To keep all the factory features he loves, Peter knew he'd need to use an iDatalink Maestro integration module and Pacifica-specific wiring harnesses. Using our vehicle selector tool, Peter gained a fuller picture of what he'd be able to keep (essential climate controls, seat controls, and vehicle settings), and was reminded that iDatalink would allow him to forego the antenna included with SirusXM's aftermarket tuner and use the Pacifica's existing sharkfin antenna for SiriusXM satellite radio reception. That meant he'd get to maintain the streamlined factory look of his minivan, inside and out.

Before and after: The Pacifica's nice factory stereo was replaced with the Kenwood floating screen.

The new car stereo

Peter made the easy choice to opt for the Kenwood Excelon Reference DNR1007XR digital multimedia receiver. The Kenwood Excelon line ensures premium quality with 2-year warranties and audiophile-grade components. His stereo choice lives up to the Excelon name with a slew of soundquality controls and a 13-band parametric EQ to retune the Pacifica's speakers to his liking.

He says, "Even before tuning, I noticed an improvement in clarity." In addition to the jump in sound quality, Peter's gained a 10.1" floating capacitive touchscreen with HD resolution. His CarPlay apps and SiriusXM channel info look fantastic on this big screen. And now Peter can finally enjoy wireless CarPlay control. "It may be a small perk for some," he says, "but being able to hop into the minivan without plugging in my iPhone is one of my absolute favorite features."

The integration module

Thanks to the iDatalink Maestro RR2 Interface Module and select harnesses, Peter can access important factory features in his Kenwood stereo, which had previously been provided by Chrysler's UConnect platform in his factory radio. He says, "This vehicle has a lot of cool automation perks and settings, and I can still access all of them on the new stereo's giant touchscreen. I really love that. Plus, Kenwood lets me customize the home screen for quick access."

Adding HD cameras

While iDatalink allowed Peter to integrate his factory backup cam to work with his new Kenwood receiver, the old camera's resolution wasn't quite worthy of his new HD touchscreen.

The new Kenwood backup cam

Kenwood's CMOS-740HDLP backup cam rocks a 180° viewing angle, but it's the camera's 720p resolution and built-in "high dynamic range" technology that really makes it special. Now, Peter has a crisper image, day or night, and he loves it.

Adding a Kenwood dash cam

Peter's new stereo has a proprietary input made specially for Kenwood's DRV-N520 dash cam, which allows him to play back recorded video directly on his 10.1" touchscreen. With 1080p resolution, the dash cam records a vivid picture of the road ahead. And this camera isn't just about documenting a drive; it helps out in real time, providing forward collision and departure delay warnings.

What will you add? What will you keep?

Thinking about upgrading your car stereo? Find out what important and favorite features you can keep by entering your vehicle information in our online vehicle selector. If you have any questions, reach out to our knowledgeable advisors via phone or chat.