How to Take a Budget-Friendly Car From Plain to Posh: Add a Blackout Package
Trust us when we say this: a nice, well-thought-out blackout package can instantly boost the curb appeal, even on a “cheap” car. Here are 8 we think stand out the most.
When I was in high school, I remember painting my nails black, wearing black band t-shirts with black skinny jeans, and black high-top Converse. But my look couldn’t be complete without thick, black, and intentionally smudged eyeliner. If my parents allowed it, I would have dyed my hair glossy black, too.
My mom was right, and it was just a phase–but it definitely transferred to my car. I drive a 2011 Subaru Forester, which I’ve blacked out. I painted the factory wheels matte black, I replaced the OEM headlights with “smoked” ones, and I went through the trouble of painting the front trim black.
Why? Because black trim, badges, and accenting help make an “ordinary” car look sleek, more modern, or, in my case, a tad more incognito. Depending on the car a blackout package is on, it can add some spice or aggression to the mix, which can command attention. If you’re on the hunt for a car you wouldn’t have to modify, here are 8 budget-friendly cars that look great with a factory blackout package.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
Toyota’s Nightshade Blackout Package Replaces Chrome with Glossy Black
We love Toyota’s Nightshade trim on the Camry, Prius, Crown, Corolla Hatchback, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Tacoma, Tundra, Sequoia, Highlander, and Grand Highlander. The Nighshade edition of these cars is typically a step or two below the Platinum or top-shelf model, so you don’t miss any of the tech or convenience upgrades.
What you do get, though, is black door handles, a glossy black roof, gorgeous trim-specific and glossy black wheels, black badging all-around, a black grille, and a tastefully black interior. Since the Nightshade blackout package comes on a variety of cars, the cost also varies, with the lowest price being for the Corolla Hatchback (which features bronze wheels instead of black for the Nightshade, and they’re equally as handsome) at $24,780, going up to $70,160 for the Sequoia. We loved the look, especially on the Corolla Cross Hybrid and Grand Highlander, though.
Subaru Has a Stunning Onyx Package to Gawk At, Too
It’s a shame that Subaru’s blackout package, the Onyx edition, doesn’t come on more cars. As of right now, the Onyx edition comes on the Ascent, Outback, and Outback XT. The Onyx editions aren’t just black, though–a bright, neon green is thrown into the mix, with green accent stitching on the seats and steering wheel.
The badges are black, all exterior accenting is black, and the floor mats have a green and black “Onyx” badge that buttons everything up. All Onyx models have trim-specific glossy black wheels, black door handles, mirrors, and cladding. We love it on the Outback, but we especially liked it on the Ascent. Price-wise, the Outback Onyx edition costs around $39,390, the XT costs $41,225, and the Ascent Onyx edition runs between $43,985 and $52,050.
Hyundai’s Night Package is Severely Underappreciated
The Night package option from Hyundai can be seen on the Palisade, Santa Fe, and the Sonata N—and all of them look sleek and stealthy. Since all are great values when looking at the features list, we can vouch for all of them, especially when they have the black grilles, wheels, a darker front and rear fascia, black mirrors and door handles, roof rails, and black H-Tex (in the Palisade, the cloth is replaced with leather).
Prices range, similar to Toyota, since it can be found on a handful of their cars and SUVs. The Palisade Night package is typically on the Calligraphy trim, so it can cost around $54,000. The Santa Fe Night edition costs between $40,000 and $50,000, depending on whether or not it’s a hybrid, fitted with AWD, or fully-loaded. The Sonata-N with the Night package debuted in 2022 and had a sticker price of about $34,750.
Honda’s Black Edition Can Be Chic and Sleek
There’s just something to be said about the Honda Pilot when it’s fitted with the company’s blackout package, the Black Edition. It can also be found on the Ridgeline and Passport. For the Pilot, the Black Edition is actually the top-of-the-line over the Elite, and features black wheels, black exterior cladding, a black grille, black badging, and a fancier black interior. The Ridgeline actually has two Black Editions: one that’s all black, and a two-tone Black Edition, which are the little truck’s top-shelf models.
However, the Black Edition of the Pilot is quite pricey. The MSRP is around $54,280, with the Passport Black Edition following close behind at $53,650. Both of the Ridgeline’s Black Editions are the most affordable, with an MSRP of $47,195 for the Black Edition and $47,695 for the Two-Tone Black Edition.
Did You Know About Chevy’s Midnight Editions?
Chevy’s Midnight package, like the others, offers blacked-out goodies like wheels, mirror caps, grilles, door handles, and darker cladding that look great in both lighter and darker exterior colors. For 2025, the Midnight package can be fit onto the Colorado, Silverado 1500, Silverado HD, Equinox, and Blazer EV.
Chevy is a lot more picky about the Midnight editions, though. For the Colorado, it can be added to the Trail Boss, Z71, and ZR2 trims. The Silverado 1500 can be blacked out as long as it’s on the High Country trim, and it’s the same story on the Silverado HD. The Equinox can be blacked out on the LT trim, and the Blazer EV can have the Midnight package on the LT eAWD trims.
Prices vary for obvious reasons, but they range between $29,995 for the Equinox and $54,210 for the Silverado HD with the pricey upgrade.
Kia’s X-Line Nightfall Package is a Fan Favorite
Kia’s been on a roll with stylistic updates for the last few years, and we adore the Nightfall package on the X-Line trims of the Sportage, Sorento, and Telluride. The A, B, and C pillars are painted a glossy black, as well as the grille, door handles, and wheels. Naturally, it wouldn’t be a blackout package without black badging all around. The 2026 EV9 will have a Nightfall edition, too, and we can’t wait to see that in person.
Prices range, but land between $28,595 for the Sportage, $36,390 for the Telluride, and $42,590 for the Sorento blacked out.
Nissan Has Three Blacked Out Models
Nissan used to offer the Midnight package on six models; now it’s down to just three: the Armada, Murano, and Sentra. All of which look exceptional with black wheels, grille, spoiler, side sill extensions, and black bading throughout.
For the Armada, the Midnight package can be added onto the SL or the Platinum trims, which range from $63,530 to $70,490 MSRP. The Murano can be blacked out as long as it’s in the SV trim, starting at $40,470, and the Sentra can have the midnight package added onto the $24,590 middle-of-the-line SR trim.
Finally, Jeep’s Altitude Package Brings Up the Fancy for the Grand Cherokee
This is the first blacked-out package that doesn’t have multiple models, and it’s worth mentioning because the black accenting, wheels, badges, black headliner, and posh, glossy black interior make the Grand Cherokee or Grand Cherokee L look exquisite. It can be bought as 2WD or 4WD, and can be further elevated with an Altitude X trim.
The Altitude X trim comes with larger, fancier black wheels and more interior updates like wireless charging and more amenities in the third row, like charging ports. The Altitude costs $41,640 for a 2WD Grand Cherokee with two rows, $43,460 for the 4WD 2-row configuration (it’s the same price as the 2WD 3-row), and $45,640 with three rows and 4WD. The Altitude X ranges from $42,140 to $46,140, depending on how you build it out.
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