Color Match?

You are correct. the paint does not match between plastic and metal parts. it's most noticeable in the sun. It's pretty crappy I think but that's the way it is.

 

I have the same issue with my super white 2010 corolla. However, my Blizzard Pearl Prius has pretty good match. I guess it depends on the assembly plant?

 

I have a 2011 II Sandy Beach and it matches!

 

Odd. I have a 2010 with Winter Grey Metallic exterior, and Dark Grey interior. Pretty much everything blends well with everything else, inside and out.

 

Bumpers shouldn't be painted in the first place. Or at least there should be a lower trim that is not painted.

 

all i know is my blue is very noticeable, and there was a thread back in the day about it. different theories were the difference in materials (plastic vs. metal) and maybe even using a different paint on the plastic so it flexes more.

 

Mine matches perfectly, even in the sun. I've clay-bar'ed, polished and waxed the whole vehicle, and that shouldn't help in principle but it might.

 

got a picture tonight. now, it doesn't always look this different. it does at certain angles when the sun hits it. in the shade, you can't really tell much. but you'll see that there is definitely a difference.