Disc-go inferno: death of the in-car CD player

Following the recent decision by Subaru to remove the in-car CD player from one of its SUVs, we scoured the new cars offered by all mainstream car brands in the UK to look for any remaining stalwarts. After countless hours of research, we can announce the death of the in-car CD player.

The disappearance of CD players from cars isn’t new, but up until recently, there were still a few offering a physical alternative to digital in-car streaming.

Read on to find out which models were the last to come with a CD player and what your options are if you want to listen to CDs in new cars.

Best cars for 2024: view the models that scored highly in our lab tests.

End of an era

Remember the good old in-car cassette player? Lexus was among the last manufacturers to offer a factory-fitted cassette player on its SC model, which remained on sale until 2009. And it was another Japanese brand that was the last to offer a CD player.

Up until just a few months ago, a CD player came as standard in Subaru's Forester mid-sized SUV (as shown in the image below). However, Subaru told us that the model was recently updated for the 2024 model year, and as part of that, the CD player was removed, bringing the Forester in line with the rest of the brand’s range.

While cars with large CD-changer systems (often situated in the boot) haven’t been sold in the UK for many years, only last year you would have found plenty of new models (such as the Subaru XV, Porsche 718 and Lexus LC) with single-disc CD players.

But with the Subaru Forester now shunning the humble CD player, it really is the end of an era.

We explain how to buy the best new car in our guide.

CD sales on the up

Unsurprisingly, not everyone is happy with the demise of the in-car CD player.

According to data from the Digital Entertainment and Retail Association, CD sales saw a year-on-year increase of 3.2% in the first half of 2024.

Kim Bayley, CEO of the Digital Entertainment and Retail Association, said: “With 15% of the UK adult population reporting that they listen to CDs in their cars, this is a remarkably short-sighted move by carmakers to stop fans listening to the music they love.

“Taylor Swift is leading the way. The 172,000 CDs sold in the UK this year of her latest album ‘The Tortured Poets Department’[2] is more than the three biggest-selling cars in the UK last year combined[3]. Car manufacturers should listen to the Swifties and give the CD another chance”

Also, when asked what frustrates them most about their car in our latest survey, many respondents were clearly dismayed about the lack of a CD player.

‘Very disappointed that there was no option to have a CD player fitted,’ said a Ford Focus Estate (2018 to present) owner, while a Dacia Sandero Hatchback (2013-21) driver commented: ‘I bemoan the lack of a CD player.’ Many other owners simply exclaimed: ‘No CD player!’

How to continue listening to CDs in new cars

The only way to play music in new cars from now on (without buying extra kit) is to stream it through a device such as your smartphone or to listen to the radio. Of course, streaming has its advantages, not least that you can listen to a vast library of songs in your car – certainly more than would be possible with a wallet of CDs. And with many cars linking seamlessly to your phone by Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, streaming from services such as Amazon Music and Spotify has never been easier.

Of all mainstream vehicles available to buy new, the Isuzu D-Max pick-up truck is the only one available with a CD player. At the time of writing, three out of four trim levels come with one, so be sure to not accidentally get the one without.

Of course, buying a new car doesn’t have to mean opting for a brand-new model. You can browse the used-car market for models with CD players (check out the more affordable used models we recommend in our guide to the best cheap cars).

One final option is to buy a portable CD player and connect it to your new car’s entertainment system (most have either a USB or 3.5mm audio input). This isn’t without issues, though, and even on the smoothest of roads, a portable CD player is likely to suffer from the occasional skip.

Drive smarter and cut costs using our expert advice. Get our Cars newsletter – it's free monthly.