2012 Kia Touch Up Paint (44 OEM Colors)

The 2012 Kia Vibe

2012 was the year Kia finally graduated from the "cheap commuter" desk and sat down at the cool kids' table. This was the era of the Peter Schreyer design revolution-the Optima looked like a spaceship, the Soul was a neon-colored party box for hamsters, and the Sportage and Sorento were finally turning heads. With 44 colors in our database, it's clear the factory was having a field day. They weren't just spraying cars; they were making statements with stuff like Green Tea Latte Metallic, Techno Orange Pearl, and Vanilla Shake. It was a high-energy time for the brand, and they wanted you to see it from a mile away.

Paint Health Check

Welcome to the Thin Paint Era. By 2012, factory robots had become masters of "efficiency," which is code for applying just enough paint to make it past the warranty. While these colors have incredible depth-especially the pearls like Snow White and Dark Cherry-the actual film thickness is pretty stingy. If you're driving a Forte or Rio that's spent its life in the sun, you've likely noticed that the clear coat is starting to feel a bit fragile, or the hood looks like it's been through a gravel storm. The reality? These coats were laid on thin, and once a chip starts, the surrounding clear coat wants to pack its bags and leave.

Restoration Tip

Since you're working with the "Robot Efficiency" era of paint, my advice is simple: build layers slowly; don't blob it. Because the factory finish is so thin, a giant glob of touch-up paint will stick out like a sore thumb. You want to mimic that tight, factory look. Apply your color in 2-3 paper-thin passes, letting it dry between each one, until the level of the repair sits just below the surface. This isn't the 1970s where you can just slap on a thick coat and call it a day-patience is the only way to make that Titanium Silver look factory-fresh again.