When choosing a color for your new car, there are many factors to consider. The color you choose can impact everything from resale value, to visibility, to how hot the car gets in the sun. With so many options available from automakers today, it can be tough to know where to start. This article will examine the pros and cons of some of the most popular car colors to help you choose the best shade for your next vehicle.
Popular Car Colors
While color choice is a personal decision, there are a handful of shades that remain popular picks year after year. These include:
| Color | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| White | – Looks clean and crisp – Reflects sunlight, stays cooler in warm climates – Easy to match accessories to |
– Shows dirt easily – Can look dull to some |
| Black | – Looks sleek and elegant – Doesn’t show dirt as easily as lighter colors |
– Shows scratches and swirl marks – Absorbs heat from sunlight |
| Gray | – Classic, understated look – Works with many vehicle types |
– Bland to some buyers |
| Silver | – Neutral shade matches lots of styles – Helps resist heat like white |
– Dirt and scratches show easily |
| Red | – Eye-catching and exciting – Connotes speed and power |
– Fades faster than other colors – Can be difficult to keep clean |
| Blue | – Soothing, tranquil color – Conveys trust and dependability |
– Dark blues show scratches |
As you can see, each popular shade has its own unique mix of advantages and disadvantages. Keep these in mind as we dive deeper into what makes for the best car color.
Visibility
One of the most important factors in choosing a car color is visibility. You want a shade that will make your vehicle stand out on the road so other drivers will see you.
Brighter, lighter colors tend to be more visible than darker shades. White is an exceptionally high visibility color, as it reflects a great deal of sunlight. Yellow and orange are also easy to spot for the same reason. These lighter colors are ideal if safety is your top priority.
On the other end of the spectrum, black is the least visible color for a car. Its dark shade gets lost on the road, especially at night. While black cars undeniably look sleek, drivers should consider sacrificing style for safety. Other dark colors like brown, dark blue, and dark grey can also be hard to see.
If you like darker colors but want a more visible ride, consider adding reflective strips or other high-visibility accessories. Bright wheel covers, light-colored seat belts, and interior lighting can also help make your vehicle more noticeable.
Heat Resistance
In addition to visibility, heat management is another key factor that depends on your car’s color. On hot, sunny days, the interior of your car can heat up like an oven, reaching temperatures well above the outdoor air. Darker colors absorb heat, while lighter shades help reflect it away.
White is the coolest car color, reflecting up to 80% of sunlight. It’s followed by other light colors like yellow, silver, and light blue. White cars average about 10-15 degrees cooler inside than black vehicles. This makes a significant difference in comfort for drivers in warm climates.
On the other end of the scale, black absorbs up to 98% of sunlight. It gets hot fast, making summer driving unpleasant until the A/C kicks in. Dark red, brown, and dark blue are also heat magnets compared to lighter alternatives.
If you live in a hot environment, temperature regulation should be a priority in choosing your car color. Parking in the shade helps, but a light color provides much more relief. Add tinted windows for even more protection.
Dirt Concealment
No one likes driving a dirty car, but some colors do a better job of hiding dirt and grime than others. Darker shades don’t show dust, mud or road debris as plainly as lighter paints.
Black is the best at concealing dirt overall. White, on the other hand, tends to showcase every speck of dust. Silver and other light greys also show debris and road grime quite plainly.
Does this mean you should choose black or another dark color if you hate washing your car? Not necessarily. Darker paints have a major downside: they highlight scratches, swirl marks and chips. A minor scratch on a black car can stick out like a sore thumb.
Lighter colors like white don’t showcase scratches as badly. Their dirt visibility is offset by better concealment of wear. Pick a dark color only if you don’t mind swirl marks, or plan to frequently polish and touch up paint.
Resale Value
Your car’s color has an impact beyond just appearance and comfort. It can also influence resale value when it comes time to sell your vehicle or trade it in. In general, mainstream neutral colors tend to hold their value better than bright, bold shades.
According to Kelley Blue Book, the top colors for resale value are white, silver, gray, and black. Safe, neutral colors appeal to the widest range of buyers. Additionally, black hides wear well when properly detailed.
On the other end of the spectrum, resale value drops more for bright “look at me” colors like lime green, orange, pink and yellow. Gold cars may look luxury, but their resale takes a hit too. Custom colors also appeal to fewer prospective buyers.
Does this mean you should choose white or silver to maximize resale? Not necessarily. Pick a color you’ll enjoy over the time you own the vehicle. Just be aware that bold colors may translate to a lower trade-in value down the road.
Personal Preference
While visibility, heat management and other factors should play a role, your personal taste is also important. Some buyers are willing to sacrifice a little practicality to get the color they love. Don’t settle for a hue you don’t like just because it’s a smart choice on paper.
Before visiting the dealer, make a list of your favorite colors. Do you love how white looks on a sports car, or do you prefer black? Does that bright yellow hatchback make you smile? Go with what appeals to you emotionally. This is your car after all.
Prioritize the color you want, then examine the practical considerations. A bright red car may show scratches easily, but you can minimize this by keeping the paint polished. Or add tinted windows to help a black car stay cooler inside. The right maintenance can overcome shortcomings.
Your car color is an expression of your style and personality. While bright orange won’t hide dirt well, who cares if it fits your lively attitude? Don’t settle for a boring grey or white unless that suits you. When you love your car’s color, every drive feels that much more enjoyable.
Smart Combinations
One smart strategy is choosing different colors for your car’s exterior versus interior. Typically lighter exterior colors pair well with darker interiors, and vice versa. This contrast helps each component stand out.
For example, white, silver or tan work nicely with a black interior. The dark seats and dash make the interior feel cozy, while the light exterior remains easy to see. Conversely, a red, blue or grey exterior can contrast with beige seats and interior trim.
Using different but complementary shades inside and out gives you the best of both worlds. You get an eye-catching exterior color while the interior components are easy to see. Just be sure to avoid matching bold colors on both components, which tends to look gaudy.
Specialty and Custom Colors
Beyond mainstream paint choices, some brands offer premium specialty colors for an extra cost. These include pearl coats with a shimmering, iridescent look. Brands like Porsche, BMW and Mercedes are known for their stunning specialty paints.
Upcharges for these premium colors typically start around $500, ranging up to $5,000 or more. The coating process is more extensive, using additional layers of tinted clearcoat to produce dazzling effects in the light. From a distance, the paint seems to change color.
While pricier, specialty paint makes your vehicle stand apart. It also tends to hold value fairly well compared to other options. Just beware it often has a longer wait time during vehicle production. Ensure you order early if this is a must-have.
Some luxury automakers also offer full custom color matching if you want a truly unique ride. You can provide a sample swatch of any color imaginable. Custom paint jobs appeal to affluent buyers but have longer lead times and cost thousands. Make sure to plan ahead if you wish to match a favorite shade.
Conclusion
Choosing your next car color requires balancing priorities like visibility, heat resistance, appearance and personal preference. Lighter colors tend to be cooler and easier to see, while dark shades conceal dirt better and look more elegant to some buyers. Remember to pick a color you’ll enjoy living with for years. A smart combination of exterior and interior hues can give you the best of both worlds. While specialty and custom colors cost extra, they let you make your new car a true reflection of your style. Keep all these factors in mind and you’ll drive off the dealer lot with no regrets.
