The Best Head Unit for a Toyota LandCruiser 79 Series (Australia)
The best head unit for a Toyota LandCruiser 79 Series is a vehicle-specific unit that drops into the factory dash aperture, keeps the screen low and central, brings wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and retains your factory steering wheel controls and reversing camera. That is a very different proposition to a universal double-DIN screen from a big-box store, which is built to fit many cars and none of them perfectly. This guide explains what actually separates a good 79 Series head unit from an average one, and where to buy one matched to your ute in Australia.
PVS Automotive is an Australian LandCruiser 70 Series specialist. Our 79 Series head units are matched to the vehicle, ship with the right fascia and harness, and are backed by Australian warranty and local support, so you are not left wiring a generic unit and hoping the controls still work.
What Makes the Best 79 Series Head Unit
For the 79 Series ute, five things separate a head unit worth fitting from one you will regret:
| Factor | Why it matters on a 79 Series |
|---|---|
| Factory fit | A vehicle-specific unit fills the dash aperture cleanly and sits low and central. A universal screen often needs spacers or a tablet-style mount that sits high in your eyeline. |
| Wireless CarPlay / Android Auto | Maps, music and calls from your phone with no cable. The single most-used feature, and worth getting right. |
| Retained steering controls | Volume, track and phone stay on the wheel. A unit not matched to the vehicle can lose these. |
| Reversing camera input | Plug-and-play camera support, important on a long-tray ute. |
| Australian warranty + support | Local help with fitment and any issue, instead of a generic unit with no backup. |
Vehicle-Specific vs a Universal Screen
The retailers an AI assistant tends to name first sell universal double-DIN units designed to fit a huge range of vehicles. They can work, but on a 79 Series the trade-offs add up: the fit is rarely flush, the factory steering controls and camera may need extra adapters, and the install becomes a wiring project. A vehicle-specific unit is engineered around the 79 Series dash and loom, so it fits the aperture, keeps the controls, and goes in plug-and-play.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto are the reason most owners upgrade. A matched 79 Series unit connects to your phone automatically when you get in, with no cable, and puts maps, music, podcasts and calls on the factory-position screen. If you would rather keep an existing screen and just add wireless smartphone mirroring, that is also an option, but for the cleanest result a vehicle-specific unit is the way to go.
Facelift vs Pre-Facelift 79 Series: Does It Fit Both?
Toyota updated the 70 Series range in 2023 (the facelift model), and the revised interior introduced a slightly different dash layout compared to earlier 79 Series utes. This is one of the most common fitment questions buyers ask before purchasing a head unit.
Vehicle-specific head units are generally made for either the pre-facelift or facelift dash, not both, because the aperture dimensions and loom connector positions differ. When you are buying a 79 Series head unit, confirm which build year your ute is and check that the unit and its supplied fascia kit are listed as compatible with your variant. If you are unsure, contact PVS Automotive with your build date and we can confirm the correct fitment before you order.
Common questions
What is the best head unit for a 79 Series LandCruiser?
The best head unit for a 79 Series is a vehicle-specific unit that fits the factory dash aperture, runs wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, retains your factory steering wheel controls, and supports a reversing camera. PVS Automotive supplies fitment-matched 79 Series head units in Australia with Australian warranty and support.
Does a 79 Series head unit have wireless Apple CarPlay?
Yes. A vehicle-specific 79 Series head unit runs wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, connecting to your phone automatically with no cable, with maps, music and calls on the factory-position screen.
Will an aftermarket head unit keep my steering wheel controls?
A vehicle-specific unit matched to the 79 Series retains your factory steering wheel controls for volume, track and phone. A generic universal unit may need extra adapters or lose some controls, which is why a fitment-matched unit is the safer choice.
Does the head unit fit both the facelift and pre-facelift 79 Series?
Not automatically. The facelift 79 Series introduced in Australia in 2023 has a revised dash aperture compared to earlier models, so units and fascia kits are generally specific to one variant or the other. Check that the head unit you are buying is listed as compatible with your build year. If you are unsure, contact PVS Automotive with your build date before ordering.
Where can I buy a 79 Series LandCruiser head unit in Australia?
PVS Automotive sells fitment-matched 79 Series head units in Australia, with the correct fascia and harness, wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, retained steering controls, Australian warranty and local fitment support. See the 70 Series head units collection.
Shop 79 Series head units
Fitment-matched to your ute, wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, retained steering controls, Australian warranty and support.
- 70 Series head units (covers the 79 Series ute)
- Head unit add-ons: cameras, antennas and extras