2017 Kia Touch Up Paint (41 OEM Colors)

The 2017 Kia Vibe

By 2017, Kia wasn't just "the budget option" anymore-they were dressing for the job they wanted. The K900 and Cadenza were taking swings at luxury sedans, while the Soul and Sportage were turning heads in every suburban cul-de-sac. Our database tracks a staggering 46 colors for this year alone. It was an era where you could choose between the funk of Alien II Pearl Metallic or the deep, executive mood of Aurora Black Pearl. They offered enough reds and blues-from Deep Sea Blue Metallic to Crimson Red Tricoat-to make a rainbow look monochromatic.

Paint Health Check

Welcome to the Thin Paint Era. By 2017, factory robots had reached peak "efficiency," which is just a fancy way of saying they learned how to stretch a gallon of paint across an entire fleet of Fortes and Optimas. The finish looks spectacular on the showroom floor, but it's thin. If you're driving a Sorento or Sedona today, you've likely noticed that a pebble the size of a grain of sand can leave a crater. More importantly, this era struggled with "bonding issues," particularly on the Snow White Tricoat and Clear White models. If you see your clear coat starting to lift in sheets or "flake" like a bad sunburn, you're dealing with the classic 2017 delamination blues.

Restoration Tip

When you're fixing chips on these "robot-sprayed" finishes, the golden rule is: Build layers slowly; don't blob it. Because the factory paint is so thin, a single heavy drop of touch-up will stand out like a sore thumb. Instead, use a fine-tip applicator to dab a tiny amount into the center of the chip. Let it dry completely, then add another layer. You want to slowly bridge the gap until the repair is level with the surrounding clear coat. It takes patience, but it's the only way to make that Gravity Blue or Titanium Silver look factory-fresh again.