Preview of the new DriverMods site. Checkout and uploads are switched off, and the supplier page shows example orders.
2015-2018 Subaru Forester Head Unit Kit
Kit for your car1 / 3

Your build

  • DM Plus head unit kit$790
All kits

2015-2018 Subaru Forester Head Unit Kit

Series SJ, SJ5, SJG, SJD

Head unit
Display
HD IPS
Chip
UIS7862S, 12nm
Memory
4GB
Audio
AKM7738 DSP
  • Wireless CarPlay & Android Auto
  • Google Play Store
  • Micro-SD capable

Includes all our features with impressive audio and performance that won't let you down.

Discover DM Core
Display
QHD QLED
Chip
UIS7862S, 12nm
Memory
6GB
Audio
AKM7738 DSP
  • Wireless CarPlay & Android Auto
  • Google Play Store
  • Micro-SD capable

Same great performance as DM Core, incredible display. Our recommendation for most.

Discover DM Plus
Display
QHD QLED
Chip
UIS7870, 6nm
Memory
8GB
Audio
AKM7739 DSP
Bluetooth
aptX-HD
  • Wireless CarPlay & Android Auto
  • Google Play Store
  • Micro-SD capable

A noticeable jump in performance and studio quality audio. For the power users.

Discover DM Pro
Display
QHD QLED, 11.5"
Chip
UIS7862S, 6nm
Memory
8GB
Audio
AKM7738 DSP
Bluetooth
aptX-HD
  • Wireless CarPlay & Android Auto
  • Google Play Store
  • Micro-SD capable

Big is good. If you want your head unit to be your portable cinema, this is the one.

Discover DM Max
Display
QHD QLED
Chip
UIS7870, 6nm
Memory
12GB
Audio
AKM7739 DSP
Bluetooth
aptX-HD
  • Wireless CarPlay & Android Auto
  • Google Play Store
  • Micro-SD capable

Complete overkill, created simply because we could. If you want the absolute best in performance and lossless audio, here it is.

Discover DM Flagship
Compare specifications
Dash camera

Dual Cam DVR Dashcam

Two high-definition cameras record the road and cabin, giving you crisp coverage of what’s ahead and inside the car.

  • Easy phone connectivity
  • Loop recording
  • 24/7 parking monitoring

Triple Cam DVR Dashcam

Capture every angle of your journey with three high-definition cameras that record the road, cabin, and rear—so you don’t miss a thing.

  • Easy phone connectivity
  • Loop recording
  • 24/7 parking monitoring
Microphone
Extras
Delivery4–⁠11 business days
Total$790

About this kit

Give your Forester a proper sound upgrade with a display that looks like it belongs. Crisp staging, clearer vocals and quick wake-up make daily drives easier. The kit suits your dash and keeps steering-wheel controls. Built with cooling and heat-sink hardware tested for Australian summer reliability.

Supports Apple CarPlay & Android Auto via CarLink 2.0 (pre-installed).

Android head unit installed, showing split-screen maps and music

Compatibility at a glance

Years
2015–2018
Series
SJ, SJ5, SJG, SJD
Trims
2.0i-L, 2.5i-L, 2.5i-S, 2.0D-L, 2.0D-S, 2.0 XT, 2.0 XT Premium, tS Special Edition
Steering wheel controls
Retained if present
Premium audio systems supported
Harman Kardon (8-speaker + amplifier)
Camera retention
Retained if present
Market name
Fourth-gen Forester; Subaru internal series code S4 corresponds to chassis code SJ in AU market.

What’s included

  • Head unit of your choice — select your preferred tier
  • Vehicle-specific fascia — OEM-match finish
  • Core plug-and-play harness; trim-specific adapters added if your car needs them (free of charge)
  • Factory reverse camera retention (where fitted)
  • Antenna adapter (where required)

Install snapshot

Time
60 mins
Difficulty 1 to 5
2
Tools
Trim Removal Tools, Phillips Screwdriver, 10 mm Socket

Ask a fitment question

Built for Australian conditions

AU warranty

Tuned for AU road noise and rough surfaces—clarity at speed.

  • Active fan & heat-sink
  • Voltage-stable power stage
  • 12-month local warranty

Features you’ll use

Stock Forester audio can feel a bit muddy at speed. This kit adds real control: EQ you can shape plus per-channel timing to bring vocals to the centre. The fascia keeps a tidy, factory look, while the system stays readable and responsive on rough Australian roads.

2015-2018 Subaru Forester Head Unit Kit

Designed to look factory

Built around a vehicle-specific fascia and brackets, this kit suits the Forester dash so the new display looks intentional. Looms are plug-and-play, and steering-wheel buttons stay active. Where a factory camera exists, it's retained. The result is an OEM-match finish that avoids rattles and blends with trims, ready for daily use.
  • Factory-style fascia fit
  • Steering controls stay
  • Factory camera retained
  • Plug-and-play looms included

Stage it how you like

Shape the cabin to your taste with a 16–31-band EQ and per-channel time alignment. Dial delays until vocals centre and bass tightens, then save profiles for different tracks. Hi-Res playback keeps micro-detail, while Bluetooth with aptX-HD delivers crisp wireless listening. Clean pre-outs make amp upgrades simple, and it plays nice with Harman Kardon systems.
  • 31-band EQ available
  • Per-channel timing control
  • Clean pre-outs for amps
  • Plays nice with HK

Wireless every day

Hop in and it reconnects wirelessly via CarLink 2.0, so calls, messages and voice commands are ready without plugging in. Browse playlists on Spotify or Apple Music, cue albums by voice, and keep your eyes up. If you prefer a cable on longer trips, wired mode is there for charging and steady playback.
  • Wireless via CarLink 2.0
  • Calls and messages
  • Voice control ready
  • Optional wired mode

Offline maps & Torque

Heading away from coverage? Download map areas ahead of time so guidance keeps working even when reception drops. Pair an OBD2 adapter and use Torque to watch temps, boost or simple fault codes on the display. Handy for weekend trails and keeping an eye on health between services, without extra gauges cluttering the cabin.
  • Offline areas for trips
  • OBD2 with Torque
  • Temps, boost, codes
  • No extra gauges

The DriverMods difference

Real performance — and real transparency

The current standard is still 28 nm—slower and hotter, with only the highest end units running 12 nm.
Our units start at 12 nm for smooth, lag-free performance (Core & Plus), stepping up to 6 nm in Pro/Max/Flagship for lightning-fast response.

  • spec transparency
  • modern silicon
  • fast boot
  • cool, stable runs
Displays you enjoy looking at

No dim, plasticky panels.
Our Plus / Pro / Max / Flagship use QLED QHD for razor-sharp maps, media, and text.
Our Core tier unit uses a bright, vivid HD IPS display—clear, clean, and easy on the eyes.

  • higher resolution
  • higher brightness
  • premium panel tech
Bigger screen, less bezel, factory-style fit

More screen, minimal bezels, tidy fascia—designed to look like it belongs in your dash.
Controls stay accessible and integration stays clean.

  • OEM-style fit
  • modern look
  • tidy install
Tuned software that makes life easy

Lean, fast, and stable—plus full customisation.
Keep our optimised setup or download and swap to a different launcher if you prefer.
With an Android OS head unit, the options are endless.

  • fast UI
  • no bloat
  • choose your launcher
Memory & storage that keep up

Gone are the days when 4 GB of RAM was “top-end.”
Ours start at 4 GB and go up from there, so app switching stays smooth.
Add maps and media with microSD expansion and you’re set for offline trips.

  • more RAM
  • smoother multitasking
  • microSD for expandable storage
Built for value, backed locally

Top-tier hardware at fair pricing, with AU support and clear documentation.
We care about the experience after install just as much as unboxing day.

  • local help
  • real warranty
  • easy ownership
Why we do it

The concept isn’t new—the standard should be.
Modern processors, better panels, lean and fast software, fair pricing.
We build head units that make driving feel effortless, not frustrating.

Checkout & shipping — how it works

  1. Order your kitChoose your preferred head unit tier and place your order.
  2. Upload a photoAfter checkout, we'll provide a link for you to easily upload a photo of your dash and any steering wheel controls.
  3. We assemble the correct kitWe confirm your exact model and include any needed adapters and the correct fascia. Correct-fit guarantee applies.
  4. Tracked shippingAU-wide tracked delivery in 4–⁠11 business days.

FAQs

Will this fit my Subaru Forester SJ and keep the steering-wheel controls?

Yes. The fascia and looms are designed for the SJ series, so the install suits the dash and the steering-wheel buttons remain active. Where fitted, the factory reverse camera is retained.

Does it work with the Harman Kardon package?

It plays nice with Harman Kardon systems in SJ trims that have the amp. You'll still gain EQ and timing control, with clean upgrade paths if you add an external amplifier later.

How does the screen handle glare and Australian heat?

The panel is chosen for readability and the unit wakes quickly; cooling and heat-sink hardware are built for Aussie conditions. Placement and brightness help cut midday reflections in the Forester cabin.

How stable is the wireless connection day to day?

It reconnects automatically via CarLink 2.0 after the first pairing. If you prefer, wired mode is available for charging or when you want a fixed connection on longer drives.

Can I use maps offline and run Torque for gauges?

Yes. Download map areas before you head out and pair a small OBD2 adapter to view Torque gauges like temps, boost and basic codes on the display—no extra pods needed.

Can I install this at home?

Most owners can. Allow about 60 minutes with Trim Removal Tools, a Phillips Screwdriver and a 10 mm Socket. The looms are plug-and-play; take photos as you go and protect the trim.

Learn more

Want to dive deeper into features and how everything works? These guides break it down and help you choose the right setup.

Compare head units

DM Core
$685
DM Plus
$790
DM Pro
$990
DM Max
$1,170
DM Flagship
$1,450
Screen size9.0 - 10.1″9.5 - 10.36″9.5 - 10.36″11.5″—
ResolutionHDQHDQHDQHDQHD
PanelIPSQLEDQLEDQLEDQLED
Brightness1100 nits1500 nits1500 nits1500 nits—
UI refresh60 Hz60 Hz100 Hz60 Hz—
CPUUIS7862S 2× A75 + 6× A55 2+6 @ 2.0 GHzUIS7862S 2× A75 + 6× A55 2+6 @ 2.0 GHzUIS7870 8x Cortex A76 @ 2.7 GHzUIS7870 2× A75 + 6× A55 2+6 @ 2.0 GHzUIS7870
Processor Node Type12nm12nm6nm6nm6nm
RAM4 GB LPDDR4X6 GB LPDDR4X8 GB LPDDR4X8 GB LPDDR4X12GB
Storage64 GB eMMC 5.1128 GB eMMC 5.1128 GB UFS128 GB UFS—
DSPAKM7738AKM7738AKM7739AKM7738AKM7739
Pre-outs3 × 2.5 V3 × 2.5 V3 × 4.0 V3 × 4.0 V—
Optical outNoNoYesYes—
Coaxial outNoNoYesYes—
USB 2.02233—
USB-C 3.20011—
In shortIncludes all our features and great performance that wont let you down.Same great performance, incredible display. Our recommendation for most.A solid improvement in performance and studio quality audio.Big, is good. If you want your head unit to be the focus point, this is the one.Complete overkill, created simply because we could. If you want the absolute best in performance and lossless audio, here it is.