Subaru Crosstrek Paint Info
The Color Breakdown
Subaru clearly didn't get the memo that crossover SUVs are supposed to be boring. With a massive library of 30 colors recorded for the Crosstrek, they really went for it-offering everything from the adventurous Desert Khaki and Alpine Green to the "look-at-me" brightness of Sunshine Orange. Whether you're driving a Cool Gray Khaki that looks like a rainy day or a Plasma Yellow Pearl that looks like a highlighter, your car has personality. This isn't just a fleet of "50 shades of grey," though they did include plenty of classics like Crystal Black Silica and Ice Silver Metallic for the traditionalists.
What to Watch For
Here is the honest truth: Subaru is known for having "soft" paint. It's environmentally friendly, which is great for the planet, but it means your hood and front bumper are basically rock-chip magnets. You might notice small dings appearing after even a short highway drive. Before you start, you'll need your 3-digit paint code. Subaru likes to play hide-and-seek with this; you'll usually find it on a black sticker on the passenger-side door jamb, but on some models, it's actually tucked under the hood on top of the passenger-side strut tower. If you see a code like "PAF" or "H6Q," you've found your winner.
Driveway Repair Tip
Since so many Crosstrek colors are "Pearls" or "Metallics," they have tiny flakes of mica or metal living inside the paint. These flakes like to settle at the bottom of the bottle like sand in a snowglobe. To get a match that doesn't look dark or muddy, shake your touch-up bottle for a full 60 seconds-and then shake it again halfway through. When applying, remember that patience is your best friend. Instead of trying to fill a chip with one giant blob, dab in a tiny amount, let it dry for 20 minutes, and repeat. Building up the color in thin layers will keep the repair flush with the rest of the panel and ensure those sparkles sit exactly where they should.