Subaru Dark Gray Metallic (61K) Touch Up Paint

The Look

Since your Forester or XV Crosstrek has likely been through its fair share of grocery runs and gravel trails, its finish has probably picked up some battle scars. This color is the ultimate chameleon of the Subaru lineup, appearing nearly black in the rain while flashing a deep charcoal under the sun. It was a staple of the 2010s, providing a mature, rugged look for everything from the track-ready BRZ to the family-hauling Outback. Because it has been on the road for years, you are likely dealing with a finish that has weathered some UV exposure, making a proper application even more important for a good match.

Technical Details

This is a true metallic finish, which is both its greatest strength and your biggest challenge. Those tiny silver flakes give the paint its characteristic depth, but they are heavy and love to settle at the bottom of the container. If you do not keep the paint properly mixed, you will end up with dark patches or stripes where the flakes bunched together or failed to show up at all. While this gray is excellent at hiding road grime and dust, it is sensitive to how the flakes lay down. If you apply it too heavily in one spot, the color will look darker and muddier than the rest of the car.

Best Practices

You can usually find your paint information on the passenger side door jamb or the passenger side strut tower under the hood. Before you spray or dab Subaru Dark Gray Metallic (check for code 61K), you need to shake it for at least 60 seconds. This is non-negotiable for a metallic if you want the silver highlights to actually appear. Test the color on the included card first to ensure the flakes are distributing evenly and the shade looks right. When you move to the car, keep the container moving in steady, light passes. Respect the drying time between layers; if the paint stays wet for too long, the metallic flakes will sink to the bottom and ruin the finish.