Can You Change a Japanese Car Stereo to English? Toyota, Strada, Carrozzeria

Most stereos and navigation units built for the Japanese market have no English option. That includes the dealer units fitted to Toyota and Nissan imports, and the Panasonic Strada and Carrozzeria units many imports carry. The units were made for Japan, and there is usually no New Zealand software update. It is still worth checking the settings once, because a few units do have a language setting, and it takes two minutes.

Find out what unit you have

The brand and model are usually printed on the front of the unit or shown on the start-up screen.

• Toyota dealer units, as fitted to many Axio, Premio, Aqua, Corolla and other imports, usually have a model starting with NSZT, NSCP or NHZN.
• Panasonic units are branded Strada, with model numbers starting with CN.
• Carrozzeria is Pioneer's brand in Japan, and its navigation units have model numbers starting with AVIC.
• Nissan, Honda and Mazda imports often have their own dealer units. The model number is the thing to note.

How to check for an English setting

Open the settings menu, often marked 設定 (settings), and look for 言語 (language). If there is a language setting with English in the list, choose it. If there is no language setting, or English is not in the list, the unit does not have one. Make a note of the model number either way, as an installer will ask for it.

What owners report by brand

• Toyota dealer navigation: owners of imported Axio, Premio, Aqua and Corolla units report Japanese menus with no English option, and dealers outside Japan generally cannot load English software.
• Panasonic Strada: most Japanese-market Strada units are Japanese only.
• Carrozzeria: the Japanese AVIC navigation units were sold only in Japan, with Japanese menus and manuals.

Even where the menus can be changed, the built-in maps still only cover Japan, the radio still tunes the Japanese FM band, and the TV tuner will not work here.

If there is no English option

• Replace it with an English head unit: English menus, the New Zealand FM band, and wireless CarPlay and Android Auto for maps, in one job. This is what most owners choose.
• Keep it and fix the radio: an FM band expander lets it receive more New Zealand stations, but the menus stay Japanese. See FM band expanders.
• A conversion, where available: some factory systems can be converted, which we check by model. See Japanese car stereo conversion.

Our guide to changing a Japanese car radio to English compares these options in more detail, and if your unit asks for a code after a battery change, see Japanese car radio codes.

Frequently asked questions

Can I change the language on my Toyota Axio or Premio stereo?

Check the settings for a language option first. Most Japanese-market Toyota units do not have English, so a new head unit is the usual answer.

Can a Panasonic Strada be changed to English?

Most Japanese-market Strada units are Japanese only. Check the settings once, then consider a new head unit if there is no English.

Will an English setting fix the radio?

No. The menus may change, but the radio still tunes the Japanese FM band, so many New Zealand stations stay out of reach without a band expander or a new head unit.

Can you check my unit for me?

Yes. Send us your make, model and year and a photo of the stereo, and we will tell you the options for your car.