1997 Kia Touch Up Paint (14 OEM Colors)

The 1997 Kia Vibe

1997 was a hell of a year. Titanic was breaking hearts at the box office, and Kia was breaking into the American driveway with the Sephia and the first-gen Sportage. It was the era of the "budget disruptor," where you could get a brand-new SUV for the price of a used Camry. Because we've spent decades staring at the stuff that actually lasted, our database focuses on the true survivors of the late-90s palette-the colors that actually had the backbone to make it to the 21st century, like the deep Ebony Black and that quintessential 90s earth-tone, Olive Green Pearl.

Paint Health Check

Welcome to the peak of the Peeling Era. By '97, the industry had fully committed to the basecoat/clearcoat system, but budget-friendly manufacturers were still dialling in the chemistry. On a '97 Sportage, that clear coat isn't just a protective layer; it's a ticking clock. We're talking about "Delamination"-that tragic moment when the clear coat loses its grip on the color underneath and starts flaking off like a bad sunburn. If your Kia spent its youth parked in the sun, you've likely seen the roof or hood start to look chalky or white before the "skin" actually starts to peel. Once that clear lifts, the base color is defenseless.

Restoration Tip

In this era of paint, a tiny rock chip is a gateway drug for total clear coat failure. Moisture and air get under the edge of the chip and start a "runaway train" of peeling that no amount of wax can stop. My advice? Seal your chips immediately. Don't wait for the weekend. The second you see a nick in that Ebony Black, get some touch-up on it to "glue" the edges of the clear coat down. If the clear has already started to lift at the edges, you're in the "feather-sanding" zone, and you'll need to build your layers slowly to bridge the gap between the surviving clear and the exposed base.