Picked the Outback for Subaru’s AWD, but the branch said the model I booked was in for repairs so I couldn’t have it (no idea if that was actually true). They said I could “upgrade” to a pickup, which made no sense since we had huge suitcases, so the only SUV option left was to upgrade to a Ford Everest. The price wasn’t crazy, about 60 RMB per day. They ended up giving us the Platinum version – great spec, V6 diesel with full-time 4WD, perfect for all the different road conditions on the South Island – so we didn’t bother arguing at the counter, but it still felt like a bit of a sneaky upsell. In terms of driving, the Everest was totally fine: RWD on tarmac, switchable 4WD off-road, more than enough. The paint was tough too, all those flying stones didn’t leave any visible scratches. Only downside: it guzzles fuel – 80L of diesel for about 650km of range.

The rental staff were very friendly and gave us a brand-new pickup truck with just over 1,000 kilometers on it. The truck bed had a cover, providing a large storage space. We easily fit three suitcases inside with plenty of room to spare. The vehicle had great power, and we felt completely at ease even when driving through waterlogged roads while exploring several national parks. The return process was very efficient—they only asked if the tank was refueled and refunded the deposit quickly in no time.

They gave us an 11km brand new Mitsubishi Outlander with seven seats. After converting to five seats, the trunk was super large. It came with navigation and wireless charging. Couldn't be more satisfied!

It was absolutely fantastic

Renowned international brand, very reliable service