2020 Subaru Touch Up Paint (26 OEM Colors)

The 2020 Subaru Vibe

2020 was the year we all decided to "social distance" by driving as far into the woods as an Outback or Forester could carry us. Subaru was leaning hard into the adventure aesthetic, offering a staggering 26 colors in our database-apparently, the factory decided to use every single crayon in the box. While everyone else was painting their cars "Depression Gray," Subaru was out here keeping things interesting with Sunshine Orange and the cult-favorite Cool Gray Khaki. Whether you were hauling the family in an Ascent or chasing apexes in a WRX or BRZ, you had a color that said, "I have a kayak rack I've used exactly once."

Paint Health Check

Welcome to The Thin Paint Era. Back in the day, we used to measure paint thickness with a ruler; now, we use a microscope. In 2020, factory robots became masters of "efficiency," meaning your Subaru left the line with a clear coat thinner than a politician's promise. It looks spectacular in the showroom, but out in the real world, a stray pebble has a 50/50 chance of winning a fight against your hood. This era is notorious for "Robot Efficiency" chips-where the paint is so thin it doesn't just scratch; it gives up. If you look closely at your front bumper or the leading edge of your Crosstrek's hood, you'll likely see the battle scars of the highway.

Restoration Tip

Since 2020 paint is applied in razor-thin layers, your repair strategy needs to match that "efficient" factory logic. Build your layers slowly; don't blob it. If you try to fill a chip in one heavy go, you'll end up with a "paint mountain" that stands out worse than the chip itself. Use a fine-tip applicator to place a tiny dot of color, let it dry, and repeat until you've built the level up to the surrounding clear coat. It takes patience, but it's the only way to make that World Rally Blue 2 Tricoat look like the robots intended.