2018 Mazda Touch Up Paint (14 OEM Colors)

The 2018 Mazda Vibe

By 2018, Mazda wasn't just building cars; they were trying to build rolling sculptures. This was the peak of the "Kodo" design era, where the MX-5 looked like a million bucks and the CX-5 was out-styling luxury European SUVs twice its price. With 14 distinct shades in the mix, the palette was a moody, sophisticated playground. You had the deep, brooding Deep Crystal Blue Pearl, the futuristic Machine Gray Metallic, and the absolute showstopper: Soul Red Tricoat. These colors were designed to catch the light on every curve, making the Mazda6 and CX-9 look like they were still wet. It was a time of high-gloss ambition and deep, translucent finishes.

Paint Health Check

Welcome to the Thin Paint Era. Back in the day, we'd spray enough lacquer to stop a bullet, but by 2018, the factory robots became masters of "Efficiency." These machines are so precise they can lay down a coat of Snowflake Pearl Tricoat that's thinner than a strand of hair. It looks incredible on the showroom floor, but the reality is these finishes are brittle. If you've spent any time on the highway, your hood probably looks like it's been hit with birdshot. The clear coat is hard and glossy, but because the total film build is so lean, a single pebble doesn't just scratch it-it chips it right down to the primer.

Restoration Tip

When you're touching up a 2018, you have to fight your instinct to fill the hole in one go. Because this factory paint is so thin, a big "blob" of touch-up paint will stick out like a sore thumb. Build your layers slowly. Use a fine-tipped brush or even a toothpick to apply paper-thin layers of the base color, letting each one dry before adding the next. This mimics that "Robot Efficiency" and prevents the repair from looking like a mountain on a flat plain. Once you're level with the surface, a thin swipe of clear will seal the deal.