Today, most people who buy a new car aren’t really thinking about what they want when they pick a car color. Instead, they’re considering what the person who buys it off them might want. And that’s led to all manner of neutral, but boring, colors hitting the road.
But what manufacturers out there are the worst offenders when it comes to awful color options? To find out, we asked you what car makers offer the worst colors. Here are some of your best responses.
“Here’s my example: Mazda.
“They have both the BEST car color available with the soul red mica, and the worst mix of drab grays, blacks, beiges and blues that all kind of blend into each other. The volume colors are the boring ones too... so all you see are CX-5's in that dumb dark blue.
“There’s promise here... and because they fall all over that and fail to provide other fun colors, I rate them as worst. The Germans and their fleet of grays aren’t even trying in comparison.”
One good color cannot redeem a brand for a lifetime of wicked options, as this commenter argues. Mazda has now fallen into the camp of companies making nondescript paint schemes that all blend into one another.
Suggested by: dolsh
“Most definitely Mercedes and their S-Class. IDK about you, but at least 4 of these ‘grays’ appear identical on my screen. And they have the audacity to charge a premium for some of them.”
Ah, the premium German car makers with their premium German colors, which don’t often extend beyond dark white and light black. Not everyone wants their luxurious sedan in gray, Mercedes!
Suggested by: joshbec
“As much as I love Polestar, their color selections are horrid.
“Black - Void
“White - Snow
“Silver - Magnesium
“Metallic Grey - Thunder
“Nickel Grey - Moon
“Dark Blue - Midnight
“The only color they have that has any semblance of color is a Dark Blue that is almost Black.”
Why are you doing this to us, Polestar? When you were just a Volvo tuning works you gave us the glorious Rebel Blue paint scheme and now we’re stuck with a dreary palette of non-colors. Please do better.
Suggested by: yara31
“Definitely Audi/VW. They used to offer actual colors some of which were really cool, bright, and/or vibrant. Now they offer 11 shades of gray, 16 different whites, and pretty much nothing else save for the rare boring blue.”
Another duo of German carmakers accused of playing it safe. As well as a host of mundane shades of white, Volkswagen is also responsible for some very questionable shades, like Futura Yellow.
Suggested by: Dan Erns (Facebook)
“Jeep Grand Cherokee colors, especially the new ones. Mostly dark colors. Only solid color available on Summit Reserve is black. The lower models are the same as the top colors.”
While I admit a love for many of the options on the Jeep Wrangler, the same can’t be said for the Grand Cherokee. Here it’s a whole heap of dull accented by the occasional splash of bland. You already have the paint, Jeep, why reserve it for the Wrangler?
Suggested by: pontiacssv
“On a daily basis, I drive by a gold IS300 SportCross. Now, I must have blanked this out because I didn’t know they offered it, but it’s simultaneously a horrid color, and still fancy beige, so it’s not like they get points for trying something with a bit of flair.
“For that matter, there aren’t a ton of great Lexus colors from their history. They had some decent dark greens in the mid-90's, but who didn’t? Other than that, it’s mostly greyscale, fancy beige, and the odd dark red.
“I’m not even sure I like the bright blue on the IS F for any reason other than being something different from them.”
When your best option is “fancy beige,” you know you’ve messed up.
Suggested by: maymar
“Hands down Tesla. They have only have 5 colors. White, Black, Grey, Blue, Red. Every model, same 5 colors. They used to have chrome trim, now black trim – no option.”
While I’m inclined to agree that Tesla’s options are limited, at least 40 percent of the firm’s offering isn’t varying shades of gray.
Suggested by: thisismyid2
“Honda has the most basic color palette overall imo. Some cars have good options (hello Type R) but they’re a little too simple. As far as paint quality, Honda and Ford are 2 brands that my prior employer told me will be on the lower end (used to do vehicle inspections and had to feel for prior paintwork).”
A mix of poor quality and poor options earned Honda a nod from this poster. I might be a fan of Honda’s Aegean Blue Metallic, but many of the options on some of its range leave a little to be desired.
Suggested by: Matthew Shipanik (Facebook)
“Toyota. Not only are 90% of their vehicles painted in some shade of vague, when they try to be ‘fun,’ they’re either derivative or just wrong somehow.
“For instance, this color. I’m sure Toyota meant it to look militaristic, like a Gulf War Humvee, or like a desert pre-runner. But it does not look like that in person - it’s much more matte and darker, especially in low light. Whenever I see one, I refer to the color as Ace Bandage.”
Honestly, this color is disgusting. I was happily living my life not knowing it existed up until this point.
Suggested by: dbeach84
“The mere existence of World Rally Blue doesn’t excuse the fact that a WRX has mostly the same color options as a base Corolla.
“Java Black Pearl, Gone. Any sort of Green, gone.
“But you can get Orange.”
Another example where one great color isn’t enough to offset an onslaught of awful options. Modern Subarus are awash with muddy tones and nondescript shades.
Suggested by: wrx-n-effect