An aqueous coating composition is provided which includes crosslinkable film-forming resin and about 0.01 to about 25 weight percent on a basis of total resin solids of an amphiphilic adjuvant having an acid value of less than 30, a water-soluble polar end including at least one terminal hydroxyl group and a water-insoluble hydrocarbon end including at least seven contiguous carbon atoms. The coating composition is useful as a monocoat or primer, basecoat or clearcoat in a multi-component composite coating composition for automotive applications.