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In this review, we take a look at the best ceramic coatings to add a layer of protection to your car whilst producing a jaw dropping shine.
Whilst you are likely to be familiar with car wax and what it does, you may be less so familiar with a ceramic coating and it’s benefits.
A ceramic coating is designed to add the highest level of protection to your car and an extreme increase in gloss levels. Just like waxes, there are many different types of ceramic coatings available which will all have differences in their make up and how to apply etc.
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1. Gtechniq EXO V4
Gtechniq Exo V4 takes the acclaim for our top ceramic coating. Exo V4 has been improved many times since it’s first conception and delivers staggering results everytime. Thanks to its superb hydrophobic properties, Exo V4 repels water and dirt from your car as soon as it comes into contact.
Exo V4 produces exceptional, unrivalled levels of gloss to car paintwork. You’ll be amazed at the shine and deep gloss that it can create, it really is incredible.
In terms of durability, Gtechniq claim a period of 18-24 months durability from a single application – impressive stuff.
The key features of Gtechniq Exo V4 are;
- Ultra water and dirt repellent
- 18-24 months durability
- Easy to apply
- Exceptional gloss levels
- Available in 30ml or 50ml sizes
2. Autoglym Ultra High Definiton Ceramic Coating Kit
Ultra High Definition Ceramic Coating Kit is another impressive product from the British car care giant. Closely beaten Gtechniq Exo V4, Autogylm UHD Ceramic Coating Kit is an extremely capable and impressive product in it’s own right.
Included in the kit is a preparation formula, ceramic coating, applicator and two microfiber cloths for buffing off the coating when you’re finished. The kit contains everything you need to get the job done, a nice touch.
Autoglym are brilliant at producing excellent products but more importantly, they produce products that are extremely easy to use. That’s a really important consideration for a ceramic coating and UHD ceramic coating kit certainly doesn’t dissapoint. The instructions are clear and concise, easy to follow and the kit contains everything needed.
UHD ceramic coating kit will protect your car for a period of up to 12 months from initial application, a really impressive figure. Once UHD ceramic coating kit has been applied, it’ll produce stunning glossy results thanks to it’s amino-functional siloxanes and reactive polymers.
The key features of Autoglym Ultra High Definition Ceramic Coating Kit are;
- Extremely easy to apply
- Complete kit containing everything that you need
- Produces stunning results
- 100ml of ceramic coating included
3. Migliore Strata Coating: High Gloss Ceramic Coating & Car Sealant
Hand crafted in the USA, Migliore Strata Coating is an extremely glossy coating that will protect your car from UV damage and produce impressive water sheeting results. With a claimed 12 month plus durability period, Migliore Strata Coating will keep your car looking fantastic all year round.
It’s easy to apply and rather impressively, contains self cleaning abilities. This means that you’ll be washing your car much less frequently and when you do break out the bucket and wash mitt, you’ll be using much less effort. Cleaning your car is a doddle once Migliore Strata Coating has been applied.
The key features of Migliore Strata Coating are;
- 12 months plus of protection
- Extremely glossy
- Easy to use
- Offers great UV resistance and water sheeting
4. Drexler Ceramic Coating Kit
The Drexler ceramic coating kit is a professional kit which features a unique two part system. The kit contains a base coat and top coat spray which work together to create a stunning, glossy result. The kit is easy to apply with clear easy to follow instructions and remarkably, Drexler claim durability of up to three years from one application! Yes, you read that correctly, three years.
Manufactured in France, Drexler ceramic coating kit produces a 9H hardness level coating, the highest possible rating for a coating. Just like the Migliore Strata kit, Drexler ceramic coating kit contains self cleaning functionality which means reduced requirement for cleaning your car.
The key features of Drexler Ceramic Coating Kit are;
- 3 years of durability
- Unique 2 part system
- High gloss finish
- Self cleaning
- 9H Hardnesss
- Complete kit
5. Sonax Profline Ceramic Coating Set
Sonax Profline Ceramic Coating set is an easy to apply, two stage ceramic coating that’ll protect your car for up to a year. Sonax are a hugely established German car care brand with a reputation for producing excellent products. This kit feels extremely premium and wouldn’t feel out of place in a professional bodyshop or detailing studio. The packaging is extremely premium and feels well thought out, very German.
Nano-Ceramic particles provide a flexible but tough 3D structured high gloss coating whilst producing high shine and gloss levels.
The key features of Sonax Profline Ceramic Coating Set are;
- Multi-Layer coating
- Easy to apply
- Extremely tough, 9H hardness rating
- Glossy results
- Complete kit
What Is Ceramic Coating?
A ceramic coating is a chemical bond polymer based solution that adhered to car paintwork to protect it from damage. When the coating comes into contact with paintwork, a chemical bonding takes place which results in a hydrophobic layer of protection being applied. This hydrophobic layer repels water and dirt to keep your paintwork looking it’s best and protecting it at all times.
There are both permanent and semi-permanent coatings available from a magntitude of different vendors. The type of polymer used derives whether it’s a permanent or semi-permanent bond.
What Are The Benefits of Ceramic Coatings?
There are a whole host of benefits to ceramic coatings, such as;
Protection from UV damage – UV rays from the sun can cause damage to your paintwork if it’s unprotected and much like a good quality wax, ceramic coatings offer protection from harmful UV damage. The ceramic coating created an added layer of protection to your paint which the UV rays can’t penetrate.
Additional Protection – As well as protecting from harmful UV rays, ceramic coatings also offer protection from mud, dirt, water and rock salts. Once a ceramic coating is applied to your paintwork, water will be repelled thanks to the hydrophobic properties of the coating. This can also protect against dirt,mud and harmful rock salts when flicking up from our much maligned UK roads.
Ease of Application – Generally speaking, it requires quite a lot of effort and elbow grease to wax a car completely. On the flip side, ceramic coatings are extremely easy to apply and remove. Where a wax has to be rubbed in and buffed to ensure maximum coverage and performance, a ceramic coating doesn’t. Simply apply in straight lines without the need for rubbing and working in all directions. Removal of the product is also easier with a simple wipe all that’s required.
Extreme Shine and Gloss Levels – Everybody loves a shiny, glossy car.. right? A ceramic coating will produce exceptional shine and gloss levels as soon as it’s applied. A huge benefit over a conventional paste wax is how long the shine lasts. A good quality ceramic coating will last over 12 months, it’s almost nigh on impossible to get that from a paste wax. If a car has recently caught your eye with extremely high levels of shine and gloss, it’s more than likely had a ceramic coating applied.
Waxes vs Ceramic Coatings, Which Is Best?
A wax and a ceramic coating are two completely different products which try to achieve the same thing – protect your car paintwork and increase shine and gloss.
First and foremost, we recommend having a read of our article which explains exactly what a car wax is and how often it should be used.
What is car wax and how often should I use it?
Essentially, car wax is most commonly derived from Carnauba which derived from Copernicia Prunifera Palm tree leaves found in Brazil. The carnauba creates a protective layer which protects car paintwork from harmful UV damage, the same way that it protects the tree leaves from sun exposure.
Pros and cons of wax
Pros
- Simple and easy to use
- Hydrophobic properties
- Heat resistant
- UV Protection
Cons
- Requires frequent re application
- Time consuming to apply
- Can be difficult to remove if applied too heavily
By contrast, ceramic coatings are derived from completely different items and bare no resemblence to a paste wax. Ceramic coatings consist of liquid polymers derived from silica which are commonly used in the manufacture of glass amongst other items. When the ceramic coating is applied to paintwork, a chemical bond is created which then imparts a hydrophobic layer on top of the paintwork which protects it from UV exposure and damage. A ceramic coating can also offer protection against scratches, swirl marks, extreme heat and general water spotting damage.
Ceramic coatings offer many benefits over a conventional paste wax but arguably, the biggest benefit is the increased durability. A good quality ceramic coating can last well in excess of 12 months, a paste wax wouldn’t be able to provide anywhere near that much durability.
In summary, a ceramic coating is a brilliant way to protect your car paintwork and keep it looking it’s best all year round. Whilst a conventional wax can do this, a wax simply cannot compete with the gloss levels and the durability of a ceramic coating. A ceramic coating will produce spectacular results with minimal effort.
Our Top Pick Ceramic Coatings
1. Gtechniq EXO V4
Gtechniq Exo V4 takes the acclaim for our top ceramic coating. Exo V4 has been improved many times since it’s first conception and delivers staggering results everytime. Thanks to its superb hydrophobic properties, Exo V4 repels water and dirt from your car as soon as it comes into contact.
Exo V4 produces exceptional, unrivalled levels of gloss to car paintwork. You’ll be amazed at the shine and deep gloss that it can create, it really is incredible.
In terms of durability, Gtechniq claim a period of 18-24 months durability from a single application – impressive stuff.
The key features of Gtechniq Exo V4 are;
- Ultra water and dirt repellent
- 18-24 months durability
- Easy to apply
- Exceptional gloss levels
- Available in 30ml or 50ml sizes
2. Autoglym Ultra High Definiton Ceramic Coating Kit
Ultra High Definition Ceramic Coating Kit is another impressive product from the British car care giant. Closely beaten Gtechniq Exo V4, Autogylm UHD Ceramic Coating Kit is an extremely capable and impressive product in it’s own right.
Included in the kit is a preparation formula, ceramic coating, applicator and two microfiber cloths for buffing off the coating when you’re finished. The kit contains everything you need to get the job done, a nice touch.
Autoglym are brilliant at producing excellent products but more importantly, they produce products that are extremely easy to use. That’s a really important consideration for a ceramic coating and UHD ceramic coating kit certainly doesn’t dissapoint. The instructions are clear and concise, easy to follow and the kit contains everything needed.
UHD ceramic coating kit will protect your car for a period of up to 12 months from initial application, a really impressive figure. Once UHD ceramic coating kit has been applied, it’ll produce stunning glossy results thanks to it’s amino-functional siloxanes and reactive polymers.
The key features of Autoglym Ultra High Definition Ceramic Coating Kit are;
- Extremely easy to apply
- Complete kit containing everything that you need
- Produces stunning results
- 100ml of ceramic coating included
3. Migliore Strata Coating: High Gloss Ceramic Coating & Car Sealant
Hand crafted in the USA, Migliore Strata Coating is an extremely glossy coating that will protect your car from UV damage and produce impressive water sheeting results. With a claimed 12 month plus durability period, Migliore Strata Coating will keep your car looking fantastic all year round.
It’s easy to apply and rather impressively, contains self cleaning abilities. This means that you’ll be washing your car much less frequently and when you do break out the bucket and wash mitt, you’ll be using much less effort. Cleaning your car is a doddle once Migliore Strata Coating has been applied.
The key features of Migliore Strata Coating are;
- 12 months plus of protection
- Extremely glossy
- Easy to use
- Offers great UV resistance and water sheeting
4. Drexler Ceramic Coating Kit
The Drexler ceramic coating kit is a professional kit which features a unique two part system. The kit contains a base coat and top coat spray which work together to create a stunning, glossy result. The kit is easy to apply with clear easy to follow instructions and remarkably, Drexler claim durability of up to three years from one application! Yes, you read that correctly, three years.
Manufactured in France, Drexler ceramic coating kit produces a 9H hardness level coating, the highest possible rating for a coating. Just like the Migliore Strata kit, Drexler ceramic coating kit contains self cleaning functionality which means reduced requirement for cleaning your car.
The key features of Drexler Ceramic Coating Kit are;
- 3 years of durability
- Unique 2 part system
- High gloss finish
- Self cleaning
- 9H Hardnesss
- Complete kit
5. Sonax Profline Ceramic Coating Set
Sonax Profline Ceramic Coating set is an easy to apply, two stage ceramic coating that’ll protect your car for up to a year. Sonax are a hugely established German car care brand with a reputation for producing excellent products. This kit feels extremely premium and wouldn’t feel out of place in a professional bodyshop or detailing studio. The packaging is extremely premium and feels well thought out, very German.
Nano-Ceramic particles provide a flexible but tough 3D structured high gloss coating whilst producing high shine and gloss levels.
The key features of Sonax Profline Ceramic Coating Set are;
- Multi-Layer coating
- Easy to apply
- Extremely tough, 9H hardness rating
- Glossy results
- Complete kit
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