Top Trending Car Colors, Styles, and Materials in 2025
You don’t buy a car just to get from one place to another. Today, your car is an extension of your personality – just like the clothes you wear or the home you decorate. And in 2025, automakers are leaning into that reality with bolder colors, sleeker styles, and smarter materials that reflect how you live – not just how you drive.
So if you’re in the market for a new car, here’s your guide to the top trending car colors, designs, and interior materials that are defining this year’s models.
Exploring Current Color Trends
Neutral colors still dominate sales charts, but what you’re seeing more of in 2025 are updated neutrals. They’re moodier, warmer, and more refined than the flat blacks and plain whites of the past.
- Earth-Toned Sophistication. You’ll notice more cars rolling off the lot in deep olive greens, bronze browns, desert taupe, and muted clay reds. These earthy tones aren’t loud – but they do make a statement. They give your car a modern, natural feel that looks elegant without being flashy.
- Warm Metallics. Colors like champagne gold, copper, and brushed silver are popping up in more lineups, especially among luxury and electric vehicles. They’re timeless and they catch the light in a way that turns heads without trying too hard.
- Satin and Matte Finishes. Gloss paint is still popular, but matte and satin options are getting serious attention this year. They mute the shine but ramp up the sophistication – think soft slate blue or charcoal gray in a satin finish. It’s a subtle flex that feels futuristic without veering into gimmick territory.
- Smarter Neutrals. White, black, and gray aren’t going anywhere, but they are getting smarter. Pearl whites with a slight iridescence, graphite grays with metallic flake, and obsidian blacks with a deep gloss all add depth and dimension you didn’t get from past versions of these colors.
Top Trending Exterior Styles
Carmakers are simplifying exterior design in 2025 without making it boring. The trend is all about clean lines, strong silhouettes, and intentional details that create presence on the road without overcomplicating the look.
- Rugged, Boxy SUVs. SUVs are shedding their bubbly curves and adopting a more squared-off, upright shape. This actually improves visibility and gives your vehicle a more commanding feel. If you’re someone who likes a practical ride that also looks tough, this trend is working in your favor.
- Streamlined Crossovers. On the other end of the spectrum, crossovers are getting sleeker. Sloped rooflines, subtle spoilers, and hidden door handles are giving these in-between vehicles a more premium, aerodynamic look. If you want a family car that still turns heads, this is where to look.
- Two-Tone Paint Jobs. You’re seeing more vehicles with contrasting roof colors, especially in smaller SUVs and hatchbacks. Black roofs paired with rich body tones like emerald or brick red make for a distinctive, modern appearance. This small detail adds a lot of personality (and manufacturers know it).
- Light Signatures as Design Elements. Headlights and taillights aren’t just functional anymore – they’re part of your car’s identity. Full-width light bars across the front or rear of the vehicle are now common. They create a signature look and help your car stand out at night (or in the parking lot).
Top Trending Interior Materials
Inside the cabin, 2025’s cars are moving away from stiff plastics and synthetic textures. The focus is now on creating a warm, welcoming space that feels as good as it looks (without forgetting sustainability or technology).
- Soft-Touch Everywhere. Even in entry-level vehicles, you’re getting more soft-touch materials across the dash, doors, and center console. Fabrics feel plusher, trims look higher-end, and the overall vibe is more comfortable – less like a machine and more like a personal lounge.
- Eco-Friendly Materials. Carmakers are using recycled fabrics, bio-based leather alternatives, and natural fibers more than ever before. These materials don’t just reduce your car’s environmental impact – they also look and feel upscale. Vegan leather seats, for example, are no longer the downgrade they once were.
- Mood Lighting and Ambient Tech. You’re also seeing more customizable interior lighting, even in mid-range cars. Ambient light strips in door panels, footwells, and dashboards add a cool visual effect and let you tailor the vibe inside your cabin. Want soft blue in the morning and deep amber at night? You can have it.
Choosing a Car That Feels Like You
It’s easy to get drawn to what looks great in a commercial or on the showroom floor. But take a minute to think about how you’ll actually feel living with that color or interior every day. Ask yourself:
- Do you want something timeless or trendy?
- Are you okay with extra upkeep for a matte finish, or do you need something low-maintenance?
- Will that light-colored interior still look fresh after your dog, your coffee, and your weekend hikes?
The great part is that you’ve got options. Automakers know you care about design and comfort, so they’re building vehicles with more personality, and more choice than ever before. That’s a win for you!