Hyundai Stratos Blue Metallic (ND) Touch Up Paint

The Look

Stratos Blue is the quiet hero of the Hyundai lineup. It served as a staple color for the Elantra and i30 for over two decades, providing a dependable, medium-deep blue that transitions from a subtle navy in the shade to a brighter sapphire under direct sunlight. Since your car has likely been on the road for quite a while, you should notice that this color is excellent at hiding light road dust. However, because it was used on so many daily drivers from the nineties through the mid-2010s, the original finish often shows some age. Matching it requires you to account for how much the sun has mellowed the factory glow over the years.

Technical Details

This finish is a true metallic, which means it relies on tiny aluminum flakes suspended in the blue base to catch the light. The biggest risk with a metallic like this is mottling, where the paint looks patchy or striped. This happens when the flakes clump together instead of laying flat. If you apply the paint too heavily in one spot, the metal particles will sink and create dark, muddy areas. To prevent this, you must focus on thin, even layers. Before you spray or dab Hyundai Stratos Blue Metallic (check for code ND), you need to shake it for 60 seconds to ensure those flakes are fully distributed in the liquid.

Best Practices

Start by verifying your color match. You can find your paint code on the manufacturer's sticker located on the driver's side door jamb or the door pillar. Before applying anything to your car, test the color on the included card to see how the metallic flakes settle. When you move to the repair, work in a cool garage or the shade rather than under the hot sun. Keep the container moving at a steady pace to prevent the paint from pooling. If you are using a brush or pen, use light strokes to avoid dragging the metallic particles into a clump. Allow plenty of drying time between layers to build the color up slowly rather than trying to cover the damage in one heavy pass.