Blue is a popular color choice for cars. The rich, deep hue can give a vehicle a stylish, elegant look. But not all cars wear blue equally well. Some models seem made for the color, while others look better in different shades. So which cars really shine in blue? Here’s a look at some top contenders.
What Makes a Car Look Good in Blue?
Certain design elements can make a blue car really pop. Smooth, curving lines tend to complement the cool tone better than boxy, angular styling. A sleek, aerodynamic shape works well. Badges, trim and accents in chrome or silver accentuate the blue nicely. Interior colors like black, gray or tan pair attractively with blue exteriors. Overall, vehicles with a sporty, refined, upscale look tend to look their best in blue.
Sedans That Look Sharp in Blue
Many sedans have the sleek lines and refined styling that allow blue to shine. Here are some sedan models that look particularly striking in blue paint:
BMW 3 Series: With its sporty, elegant design, the 3 Series wears blue beautifully. The interlocking kidney grilles gleam in chrome, and details like the Hofmeister kink in the rear window line complement the color. Inside, black leather and wood trim provide an upscale feel.
Mercedes Benz C-Class: The C-Class has curving forms and sculpted sides, giving it a shapely, dynamic look. Blue paint allows those sensual lines to really stand out. Sleek front and rear ends give it a sporty edge. Inside, MB-Tex or real leather in black or gray look sharp with the exterior blue.
Audi A4: Audi’s premium compact executive sedan has an athletic, aerodynamic shape ideal for blue. A bold frontal grille and LED lighting add style. Inside, the A4 keeps things sporty yet refined. Options like carbon fiber trim and colored ambient lighting enhance the interior.
Lexus ES: With its flowing, coupe-like profile, the ES has an elegant look complemented by blue. Details like the spindle grille, tapered headlights and wraparound taillights enhance the style. The interior offers luxurious comfort in colors like parchment or gray.
Tesla Model 3: The Model 3’s swooping lines give it a very contemporary look. Blue paint adds to the vibrancy and modern personality. Touches like chrome trim, a panoramic roof and large wheels provide flair. The minimalist, tech-centered interior gels well with blue.
SUVs That Make an Impression in Blue
Like sedans, SUVs with smooth, sculpted exteriors tend to wear blue best. When matched with chrome and other metallic trim, blue can give an SUV a refined yet adventurous vibe. Some sharp-looking blue SUVs include:
Range Rover Evoque: With its sloping roofline and rounded edges, the Evoque has a sleek, forward-leaning stance. Blue paint reinforces those sporty lines. Details like a large front grille, aluminum trim and burnished copper accents add interest.
Porsche Macan: Porsche’s compact luxury crossover SUV combines sports car styling with SUV versatility. Its low, wide form looks great in blue. Sporty elements like large wheels, LED lighting and dual exhaust tips play up the performance side.
Volvo XC60: The XC60 has clean, minimalist lines for a contemporary Scandinavian vibe. Blue paint aligns well with that pared-back design. Touches like chrome trim around the windows enhance the exterior color. The interior offers tasteful materials like matte wood.
Acura RDX: With is low, wide stance and sloping roofline, the RDX has sporty curb appeal. Adding blue paint dramacall enhances those athletic lines. Chrome and black gloss trim add cosheran appeal. Inside, gray leather with blue stching ties back tothe exterior.
Lexus RX: The RX combines athleticism and luxury. Its sculpted body panels and distinctive spindle grille look great in blue. Inside, options like matte bamboo trim and ambient lighting allow buyers to customize the interior look.
Sports Cars That Sizzle in Blue
Performance cars with bold, dramatic styling seem made for eye-catching blue paint. Here are some sports cars that truly sizzle in blue:
Ford Mustang: The Mustang’s muscular form and aggressive stance are complemented by blue. Details like splitters, scoops and tri-bar taillights play up the sporty style. Custom touches like racing stripes and chrome wheels make it pop.
Chevrolet Corvette: With its long hood and curved rear, the ‘Vette embodies sports car style. Blue paint reinforces the sculpted lines and lets details like tapered headlights and quad exhausts shine. The driver-focused cockpit keeps things performance-oriented.
Dodge Challenger: The Challenger turns heads with its massive grille and bulging fenders. Blue paint on this retro-modern muscle car looks bold and brash, especially when paired with items like bumblebee stripes. The driver-focused interior keeps the vibe sporty.
Nissan 370Z: With its low, wide profile and short overhangs, the Z car looks ready to pounce. Blue paint draws the eye to details like the boomerang-shaped headlights and door handles hidden in the C-pillars. The interior focuses on the driver, with sport seating and available Alcantara trim.
Mazda MX-5 Miata: As a lightweight, low-slung roadster, the Miata was made for twisty roads. Blue paint reinforces the fun nature of this two-seat convertible. Interior color options like brown leather keep things stylish yet driver focused.
Trucks That Look Good Hauling in Blue
While trucks need to be rugged and capable, blue can provide an added touch of refinement. Chrome, body-color and aluminum trim help tie blue paint jobs together on pickups. Some sharp blue trucks include:
Ford F-150: As America’s perennial best-selling truck, the F-150 sets sales records year after year. Customers can choose blue paint to give their truck a look that stands out from a crowd of white, black or gray vehicles. With a wide range of trim and wheel options, customers can get the exact look they want.
Ram 1500: The 1500 brings full-size truck capability along with a refined ride. Blue paint allows buyers to get that polished, upscale appearance along with the Ram’s off-road technology andconnectivity features. Tow hooks, skid plates and big tires reinforce the truck’s work credentials.
Toyota Tacoma: Toyota’s mighty midsize pickup offers durability along with comfort and convenience features. Whether customers need a daily driver or a weekend warrior, blue paint gives the Tacoma some extra visual punch. Chrome surrounds on the grille, hood scoop and bed rails amp up the style.
GMC Sierra: GMC adds premium details to the Sierra like chrome accents, LED lighting and upscale Denali trim. Blue paint aligns with the Sierra’s professional yet bold appearance. The MultiPro tailgate and carbon fiber bed allow owners to configure their truck for the task at hand.
Nissan Frontier: The midsize Frontier provides power, torque and towing capability. Blue paint dresses up the Frontier’s bold, body-on-frame look. Athletic sculpting on the hood and fenders hints at the performance under the hood. Silver, chrome and body-color trim enhance the exterior.
Which Brand Wears Blue Best?
With so many sharp-looking blue cars on the market across brands, it’s difficult to single out one automaker that wears blue best. However, a few manufacturers consistently offer blue shades that stand out across their model ranges. BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche all have a strong tradition of stylish blue hues that draw the eye to their vehicles’ elegant lines. Japanese brands like Lexus, Acura and Infiniti also offer deep metallic blues and cool chromatic paints that attract attention. For American brands, blue is a bold choice that provides visual punch on sporty models from Ford, Chevrolet and Dodge. So when it comes to great blue cars, it’s less about one brand over another and more about finding the model that matches your style. With so many options, you can surely find the blue car that catches your eye.
How Does Blue Impact Resale Value?
Will choosing blue paint increase or decrease your car’s resale value down the road? The effect is somewhat complex.
On the one hand, blue is a popular color choice on many new cars. It’s versatile enough to appeal to a wide range of buyers. Neutral colors like white, black, gray and silver/gray typically make up 50-60% of new car sales, while more vibrant colors like blue account for 20-30%. So blue isn’t so niche or polarizing that it will turn off potential used car buyers.
However, with blue being common on many new cars, it doesn’t necessarily help a car stand out from the crowd when selling years later. Plus, brightly colored cars tend to depreciate more over 5-10 years compared to neutral tones.
Ultimately, factors like mileage, maintenance history and model desirability have a much bigger impact on resale value. Choosing a blue car won’t significantly hurt — or help — resale value down the line. Focus on finding the right car for your needs and desires, rather than trying to forecast resale value with color choice alone.
How Does Blue Impact Safety?
Does blue paint offer any safety advantages over other colors? Not inherently — the color itself doesn’t make a car safer. However, some research indicates brightly colored cars may be involved in slightly fewer accidents.
A study by Monash University Accident Research Center in Australia analyzed over 850,000 crashes. It found white cars were involved in the most accidents, followed by blue and then silver vehicles. Red and yellow cars had the lowest accident rates.
The theory is that brighter colors like blue, red and yellow increase a car’s visibility to other drivers. This may decrease the risk of accidents, especially in low-light conditions. However, many factors beyond color influence accident rates, so this shouldn’t be a major factor in choosing a blue car for safety reasons.
Following safer driving practices, looking out for hazards and avoiding distractions have a much larger benefit than exterior color alone. But blue may offer a slight visibility advantage in certain conditions.
How Does Color Impact Cost?
In most cases, choosing a blue exterior won’t impact the purchase price of a new car. Basic exterior paint is usually included in the MSRP across most brands. You’ll typically only pay extra for premium, customized or three-stage paint finishes.
However, with used cars, exterior color can play a small role in valuation and price. As mentioned earlier, brightly colored cars may depreciate more over the long run. But in the short term, popular colors like blue may be in high demand on the used market and fetch slightly higher prices. Neutral tones like white, black and silver/gray tend to be listed for lower prices since supply is higher.
So while color doesn’t impact new car prices, it can be a small factor in used car valuation. But many other elements like mileage, condition, demand and options have a larger influence on pricing. Blue looks great on the right vehicle, so if you’re shopping for a used car don’t let small price variations due to color override finding the ideal model.
What Are the Most Popular Blue Car Colors?
There are many hues of blue available across brands, ranging from light pastel blues to rich navy tones. Some of the most popular blue shades on today’s cars include:
– Marina Blue Metallic: A vibrant metallic medium blue that provides brightness along with depth. Looks great on sports cars and sleek sedans.
– Deep Sea Blue: As the name implies, a deep vivid blue reminiscent of the ocean depths. Pairs well with chrome and silver accents.
– Mineral Blue Metallic: A luxurious mid-tone blue with hints of gray. Looks elegant on upscale models.
– Aegean Blue Metallic: A blue-green teal hue named after the Aegean Sea. Offers an aquatic, tropical vibe.
– Blue Ember: A sensual, curving blue shade with fiery undertones. Makes a bold, head-turning choice.
– Blue Velvet Metallic: A rich, velvety blue inspired by deep cobalt shades. Ideal for luxury vehicles.
– Laser Blue: A bright electric blue that makes a strong visual statement. Fun for sports cars and personal vehicles.
– Blue Jeans Metallic: A light denim-inspired blue, sometimes with metal flake. Youthful and casual.
– Nautical Blue: As expected, a medium blue reminiscent of ocean and nautical hues.
– Patriot Blue: A medium blue with hints of purple. May appeal to those feeling nostalgic or patriotic.
| Make & Model | Popular Blue Shades |
|---|---|
| BMW 3 Series | Mineral Blue, Sapphire Black |
| Mercedes C-Class | SEL Night Blue, Mojave Silver |
| Audi A4 | Navarra Blue, Quantum Gray |
| Lexus ES | Ultrasonic Blue, Caviar |
| Tesla Model 3 | Deep Blue Metallic, Midnight Silver |
As the table shows, luxury brands like BMW, Audi and Lexus offer deep metallic blues often paired with silvery gray accents. Brands like Mercedes and Tesla provide a mix of traditional navy blues along with contemporary teal hues with aquatic vibes. So if you’re looking for a sharp blue car, you’ll likely find an appealing shade whether you prefer classic, elegant blues or more vibrant, adventurous tones.
Conclusion
Blue is an ever-popular choice that allows buyers to add style and flair to their vehicle purchase. Sedans, SUVs, sports cars and trucks across brands offer blue shades that highlight their design and match preferences from conservative to daring. While colors don’t inherently make a car safer or affect costs, vibrant blues may provide a slight visibility advantage in certain conditions. Ultimately, choosing the right shade of blue for the right model based on your tastes can give you an eye-catching car you’ll love driving for years to come. So for your next vehicle, why not give blue a try? When paired with the right automobile, this cool color really comes alive.
