5 Best Ceramic Coatings for Year-Round Showroom Shine [Updated for 2023]
Ceramic coatings and Sio2-based "Silica" sealants are becoming all the rage nowadays. We flew the team down to Florida & spent a few weeks testing some of the most popular products on the market. Here are the 5 best ceramic coatings we’ve found:
1). REDLINE SHINE by TORQUE DETAIL
We applied Redline Shine to our Mustang and we were blown away by the shine. The paint's surface truly looked like a layer of glass. It was the easiest Ceramic Coating we've ever applied, heck it was easier than waxing! When you hose the car down, you can see how hydrophobic the coating is. The water immediately beads up or rolls off, leaving the surface untouched and free of water spots.
It's been over 12 weeks since applying Redline Shine and it’s showing no signs of breaking down. It continues to bead water and looks as shiny as ever. Whenever we get some pollutants on the surface we just hose it down and it’s pretty much gone.
We were also happy to hear that TORQUE Detail is still produced by hand, by professional detailers. In car care manufacturing, brands frequently use separate manufacturers, so they’re merely charging a mark-up. Finally, we love all the strong reviews that Redline Shine has earned, including one from us after the samples we received were put to the test!
Torque Detail is currently offering a bundle deal; get a free Decon Wash and other gifts with each kit.
[EDIT: The folks at Torque Detail are offering readers a free gift with off any purchase. CLICK HERE TO ACTIVATE YOUR DISCOUNT.]
2). STREET by R1 COATINGS
STREET is a full-on ceramic coating that creates a *nearly* permanent bond to your vehicle’s clear coat. This is a professional grade nano-coating, so it must be applied carefully. Ideally a professional would perform the installation, as this will provide years of protection. We tested this on multiple vehicles (applied ourselves) and have gotten A-1 results. It provides a 9H hardness and a glossy finish. UV Damage, heat, and pollutants will be no match for this. The only downside is the price and meticulous application.
3). RECHARGE by HYDROSILEX
We’ve reviewed Recharge in the past and we’re still sticking with them as a rock-solid silica-based formula. Hydrosilex is a brand that was early to the punch when it comes to ceramic-based sealants, and they’ve been on the market for a few years now, with a cult following. It's very easy to apply and we've seen solid results with Revive; but it didn’t quite give us as much as a “WOW” factor as the formula by Torque Detail.
4). SYSTEM-X by ELEMENT 119
System-X provides commercial-grade nano-coating technology from automotive consumers all the way to industrial aircraft companies. Their formulas are tried and tested and have a strong reputation among the car care community. They even offer 2 year, 3 year and 7 year options for their coatings. The downside is their products can be quite expensive and must be carefully applied. If they are not applied properly, they can leave high spots with and an uneven finish.
5). RELOAD by CARPRO
CarPro offers a suite of ceramic-based products. Reload is a popular Sio2 spray sealant, similar to Hydrosilex. The upside is it’s priced very affordably. We saw good results with Reload, however the product does “cure” very quickly, so it must be applied carefully and under good conditions. The coating didn't last quite as long as some others, but we still recommend Reload as a solid, easy-to-apply sealant.
