• Isle of Man Green is the best paint BMW has made in decades
• The most popular color of 2021 was white
• Honda offers a killer “Blazing Orange Metallic” on the Civic Si

Paint choice says a lot when it comes to cars. Short of what kind of vehicle you drive, it tells the world what kind of person you are, supposing you care enough about that sort of thing. Automakers know that, and will sometimes let the folks in the paint booth have their fun. As an ode to that, it’s time to take a look at cars like the 2022 BMW M3, the 2022 Honda Civic Si, the 2022 Acura TLX Type S, and the best paint colors of 2021.

What is the most popular car color for 2021?

2021’s list of the best paint colors is just about what you’d expect if you look out the window at passing cars. There’s lots of dark greys, blacks, and maybe the occasional white and red car sprinkled in. KBB says that white was this year’s most popular paint color. The 2022 BMW M3 and its coupe sibling, the M4, fly in the face of such a horrendously boring choice.

Take the two colors above, Isle of Man Green and Sao Paulo Yellow. While the green is certainly the more subtle of the two, Sao Paulo Yellow certainly fits the M4. It’s just as loud as the twin-turbo inline six’s exhaust, and a fitting color. The M3 on the other hand is supposed to be a more usable everyday sports car and can be specc’d with a suitably subtle green. While BMW is certainly no stranger to fun paint colors (remember the Daytona Violet Metallic of the E36 M3?), these two are easily the most fun colors you can get from the Bavarians. Whether the new BMW kidney grille is for you, on the other hand, is another matter entirely.

What is the best car paint color?

Now for a car with significantly less controversial looks. Enter: the 2022 Acura TLX Type S’ “Tiger Eye Pearl.” Generally, you’ll see more than your fair share of boring black and grey Acura SUVs on your daily commute, but this one will certainly stick out. It was the launch color for the 2022 TLX Type S and is far and away the most interesting. The rest are your typical spread of reds, blacks, whites, and greys.

Think of Tiger Eye Pearl as a sort of mix of Sao Paulo Yellow and Isle of Man Green. Usually, the color pops like Sao Paulo Yellow in the light, but the photo above is evidence it can also blend into its surroundings in the absence of light. It’s a very flakey yellow, but it’s certainly not for everyone. However, it’s certainly the color you should pick for the 2022 Type S. Hopefully it makes its way into other Acura models, like the upcoming Integra hot hatch.

Paint color can affect your resale value, but not by a lot

Now, we totally understand the urge to pay homage to the famous Acura NSX R and paint your Civic Si white. But don’t. Blazing Orange Mettalic is far superior, and a much more interesting choice. When was the last time you saw an orange Honda outside of Fast and Furious? It’s an especially spicy color for an especially spicy Honda, and that’s why we think it’s one of the most interesting paint colors out there right now. As for the rest, well, that’s up to you.