2017 will see a myriad of new car colour trends, from bright and bold, through to more shades of brown and grey than we ever thought possible. Nowadays, white is rarely just white, with crystal, pearl and ivory effects taking centre stage – plus navy is the new black… for now.
Everyone has a personal preference when it comes to car colours and some of the new colours are hot topics of discussion and polarise opinion.
We know that over the years the most popular new car colour choices have consistently been monochromatic, and that trend has continued in 2016.
According to our Best Price data, just over 75 per cent of respondents prefer white, grey, black and silver. That still means almost 25 per cent are willing to be a bit more adventurous, and there were a few surprises in the results.
Last year it was interesting to see 10 per cent of survey respondents would choose blue, with red not far behind at 9 per cent.
This trend flipped in 2016, with red officially the most popular colour and up 30 per cent on 2015. Blue is now trailing slightly behind, but still trending higher than the previous year.
Orange and yellow have gone from hot to not, both dropping significantly while green is so last year, down almost 60 per cent.
The colour brown is not always associated with a pleasant surprise, but in this case it is. Chocolate-inspired shades, though still only preferred by a small fraction of survey respondents, are up a massive 238 per cent.
While our own observations certainly match the data, we’ve noticed a few other trends as well. Satin finishes seem to have run their course, regardless of what Mercedes-Benz says. Given it’s now available on a Hyundai, it’s no longer haute couture and perhaps it’s time for a new signature style.
Beautiful pearly whites have been abundant, particularly at the premium end of the spectrum. Here’s a fun fact: both the cheapest and most expensive colours on the Audi SQ7 are white, the pricey option being a crystal effect that costs $5600.
Navy, so dark it’s almost black, has been a welcome change, as has the re-birth of maroon.
And, despite the fact they’re out of favour with buyers, there have been some stunning citrus shades and beautiful blues too. Not to mention shades of red that set our hearts on fire.
Top Car Colour Trends For 2017
- Endless shades of grey
Not to be mistaken for classic silver – the new way of going grey may have taken a while to warm up, but it seems the trend is here to stay. We’re seeing more dark grey rather than the pale, cement-like shades we saw so much of last year. 2016/17 brought us some interesting interpretations.
The 2016 Mercedes-AMG GLA45 is finished in Mountain Grey Metallic, which gives it an almost ethereal glow.
2. Sky high
These intense, bright hues evoke thoughts of the Cookie Monster, Caribbean seas and blue skies. Though blue isn’t quite as popular as red right now, we’ve still seen some amazing shades lately.
The Italian brand may be known for its iconic reds, but the 2016 Ferrari 488 Spider in Blue Corsa looks spectacular and is a $22,000 option. Ouch, but totally worth it.
3. Chocolate binge
Many manufacturers are exploring the not-so-colourful world of brown. While personally I’m not a fan, these shades are certainly more appealing than the colour of the old Holden Kingswood station wagon my family had when I was growing up.
With cool undertones and a bronze sheen, the 2017 Mazda CX-5 looks great in Titanium Flash Mica.
4. Citrus crush
Despite our data showing a decline in the number of people who would choose yellow or orange cars, we spotted some cracking colours this year. You can’t miss these on the road!
The aptly named Attract Yellow certainly draws attention to the 2016 Honda Jazz.
5. Maroon fever
The battle between the Blues and Maroons has bled into the car industry, with the dark red tones making a strong comeback in 2016/17.
From deep cherry red to more traditional brownish-maroons, we expect to see more of this trend in coming years.
The 2016 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport glows in this dark red finish called Terra Rossa.
6. In the Navy
We’ve seen a lot of dark cars this year that look black until the light catches them, resulting in an explosion of colour thanks to pearlescent or mica particles. Navy is the new black, it seems. Here are a few that really stood out.
The hotly-anticipated 2017 Volvo XC90 Excellence arrived in Magic Blue Metallic.
7. Stark contrast
Contrasting roof colours, mirror caps, racing lines, decals and even Airbumps on a Citroen Cactus; customisation options are still widely available.
MG Motor relaunched in Australia in 2016 and the MG3 is offered in a range of colours with contrasting roof options and decals galore. Below is the 2017 MG3 in Manchester Red with a white roof.
8. Red hot
We all know red cars go faster, and red will never go out of fashion. Brands including Ferrari, Mazda and Holden have iconic signature shades, but there are plenty of other manufacturers that also know how to rock the red.
The 2017 Subaru Impreza impresses in Pure Red.
The Carousel would like to thank Tegan Lawson at Car Advice for the article.
