I picked my new Highlander 2 weeks ago and paint looks fine to me. I suggest you go to your nearest Toyota dealer and look at other highlanders in stock to do a direct comparison.

 

Could be that it's been sitting in the yard for a while and collected a lot surface contamination. Try washing the car and then using a clay bar. If that doesn't work then follow up with the dealer.

If you don't know what clay is and what it can do, see the following threads:

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=307846
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=315153
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=312346

 

Thanks

Thanks for posting the video on the claybar. That sounds like the issue that I have. You can't see the dirt at all but when you rub your hand over the hood it's really rough and feels like sandpaper. I never thought of petting a new car to examine it. I just called the dealer to let them deal with it since the car is only two days old. Thanks.

 

You should definitely clay it and like I am doing soon put a porter cable on it and do a light polish and wax, etc. it will do wonders for the paint.

 

I would really think about claying the paint first before taking it back to the dealer. All they will do is polish the paint without claying it. I'm guessing you have some sort of rail rust on probably due to it being transported via train to your location and thus accumulating rail rust on the paint. Claying will remove most of the contaminants on the surface of your paint. Clay it first, put a coat of wax on it and if it still feels rough then take it back to the dealer.

 

Two weeks old... take it back to dealer and let them take care of it. It should be smooth and clean when delivered.