A Subaru is one of the best rental cars for exploring New Zealand because its all-wheel-drive system, low-slung boxer engine and generous ground clearance handle exactly the conditions the South Island throws at you — wet Canterbury motorways, gravel back roads, alpine passes and frosty winter mornings. At Boss Auto Rentals you can pick up a Subaru from two Canterbury branches: Christchurch car rental at 38 Rich Terrace, Wigram (open 24/7, with free delivery and collection across Christchurch between 9am and 7pm), and Rolleston car rental at 4 Marble Court, right beside State Highway 1 for anyone heading south to Tekapo, Aoraki/Mt Cook and Queenstown.
Both branches share the same fleet, so you can book a Subaru Impreza G4 from NZ$39 per day, or a Subaru XV AWD or Subaru Outback AWD from NZ$69 per day. Browse our fleet to see current availability and pricing.
Subaru’s story began in Japan, with the company developing a reputation for innovative engineering and practical vehicles designed around real-world driving needs.
One of Subaru’s most important milestones came in 1966 with the introduction of the Subaru 1000, which featured the company’s first horizontally opposed “Boxer” engine. This engine configuration would go on to become one of Subaru’s defining engineering characteristics.
Then came a major breakthrough.
In 1972, Subaru introduced the Leone 4WD Estate Van, recognized by Subaru as Japan’s first mass-produced AWD passenger car. This marked the beginning of Subaru’s long-standing commitment to All-Wheel Drive technology.
Over the following decades, Subaru continued developing its AWD systems and combining them with its horizontally opposed Boxer engines.
Subaru’s motorsport history also helped establish its reputation for performance and traction. The Subaru World Rally Team achieved major success during the 1990s and 2000s, including World Rally Championship victories and multiple Australian Rally Championship titles.
The technology developed through this engineering and motorsport heritage eventually found its way into vehicles designed for everyday drivers.
Drive around Christchurch for ten minutes and you will notice something: Subarus are everywhere. They are one of the most common vehicles on Kiwi roads, and that is not an accident of marketing. New Zealand’s road network is a mix of smooth motorway, narrow sealed rural roads, unsealed gravel and steep alpine highways — often within the same hour of driving. Subaru’s engineering answers that mix better than almost anything else in an affordable rental price bracket.
Most crossovers use a front-wheel-drive layout that only sends power rearwards once a wheel has already started slipping. Subaru’s system drives all four wheels full time, so traction is managed before you lose grip rather than after. On a wet Canterbury roundabout, a gravel driveway at a vineyard, or a damp climb out of the Rakaia Gorge, that difference is felt as calm, undramatic grip.
Subaru’s horizontally opposed “boxer” engine sits flat and low in the body. A lower centre of gravity means less body roll through corners — genuinely useful on the switchbacks of the Banks Peninsula road to Akaroa, or on the long sweeping bends of Arthur’s Pass. Passengers who get carsick on winding roads tend to notice this before the driver does.
The Subaru XV and Outback both offer more clearance than a standard sedan or hatchback. New Zealand has thousands of kilometres of unsealed road leading to trailheads, fishing spots, wineries, DOC campsites and holiday houses. Extra clearance means fewer nervous moments over a rutted farm track or a stony ford crossing.
The Outback in particular is a station wagon at heart. Skis, snowboards, hiking packs, chilly bins, surfboards and three weeks of luggage all disappear into it. If you are travelling as a couple or a small family on a two-week South Island loop, load space matters more than horsepower.
New Zealand’s weather changes fast, particularly in Canterbury where a warm nor’wester can be replaced by a southerly and snow to low levels within a day. AWD makes cold, wet, greasy road surfaces far less stressful, especially for visitors who have never driven on the left.
If you are unsure which suits your itinerary, compare all three side by side on our rental car fleet page, or tell our team where you are heading and we will match the car to the route.
| Feature | Typical 2WD Car | Subaru AWD |
|---|---|---|
| City driving | Excellent | Excellent |
| Sealed highways | Excellent | Excellent |
| Wet roads | Good | Very good traction capability |
| Gravel roads | Model dependent | Particularly well suited |
| Mountain roads | Good | Excellent stability and traction capability |
| Changing weather | Good | Strong advantage |
| Adventure touring | Limited depending on model | Excellent |
| Ground clearance | Usually lower | Higher on many Subaru SUVs |
| Long-distance touring | Good | Excellent |
The key point is that you don’t necessarily need AWD for every New Zealand journey.
But if your itinerary includes mountain roads, gravel sections, rural destinations, changing weather and remote scenic locations, AWD can provide an important advantage.
Arthur’s Pass (SH73) — The great crossing from Canterbury to the West Coast. Steep grades, the Otira Viaduct, keas in the car park and weather that can turn in minutes. AWD makes the wet descent noticeably more settled.
Mt Hutt and the Canterbury club fields — The Mt Hutt access road is unsealed, steep and open to all vehicles, not just 4WDs. Important: you must carry snow chains and know how to fit them, and even AWD vehicles can be required to fit chains at short notice. Tell us when you book if a ski trip is on the plan so we can set you up correctly.
Lake Tekapo, Aoraki/Mt Cook and the Mackenzie — A straight run south from Rolleston on SH1 then inland. Long distances, high-country wind, black ice on winter mornings and unsealed side roads to viewpoints.
Banks Peninsula and Akaroa — Tight, steep, spectacular. The Summit Road rewards a car that stays flat through corners.
West Coast, Lewis Pass and the Southern Alps — Heavy rainfall, mossy tarmac and one-lane bridges. Grip and composure matter more than speed.
Wine country and farm stays — Waipara, the Selwyn district and inland Canterbury are full of gravel driveways where a low-clearance city car feels out of its depth.
A small 2WD hatchback is cheaper, sips fuel, and is perfectly adequate if you are staying on State Highway 1 between Christchurch and Timaru in summer. Choose a Subaru instead when your trip includes any of the following:
If none of those apply, our Suzuki Swift or Nissan Sylphy at NZ$39 per day will do the job. We would rather put you in the right car than the expensive one.
Choose Christchurch (Wigram) if you are flying into Christchurch Airport, staying in the central city, or want the car delivered to you. Our Christchurch branch operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, accepts debit cards, and offers free delivery and collection across Christchurch from 9am to 7pm — useful if your flight lands at an awkward hour.
Choose Rolleston if you live in Selwyn, are staying west or south of the city, or want to skip Christchurch traffic entirely and start your road trip already pointed south. Our Rolleston branch sits at 4 Marble Court, minutes from the SH1 on-ramp, and is a natural launch point for Methven, Mt Hutt, Geraldine and the Mackenzie Country.
Same fleet, same pricing, two convenient collection points across Canterbury.
Yes. Subaru’s full-time all-wheel drive, low centre of gravity and ground clearance suit New Zealand’s mix of motorway, gravel and alpine roads, which is why Subarus are one of the most common vehicles on Kiwi roads.
Not for sealed highways in summer. You should strongly consider AWD if you are travelling in winter, visiting a ski field, or driving unsealed roads to trailheads, campsites or rural accommodation.
Boss Auto Rentals Christchurch, at 38 Rich Terrace, Wigram, rents the Subaru Impreza G4, Subaru XV AWD and Subaru Outback AWD. The branch is open 24/7 and offers free delivery and collection across Christchurch from 9am to 7pm.
Yes. Boss Auto Rentals Rolleston at 4 Marble Court offers the same fleet as our Christchurch branch, including all Subaru models, with quick access to State Highway 1.
The Subaru Impreza G4 starts from NZ$39 per day, and the Subaru XV AWD and Subaru Outback AWD start from NZ$69 per day. Current rates are shown on our fleet page.
The Subaru Outback AWD is usually the best fit — AWD grip, higher clearance for the unsealed access road, and wagon space for skis, boards and boots. You must still carry chains and be able to fit them.
Tell us at the time of booking. Alpine access roads and chain use are not covered by every rental policy, so we will confirm the terms and make sure you have the right vehicle and advice before you go.
Very. The route via SH1 and the Lindis Pass covers long high-country stretches where stability, comfort and cold-weather grip all count.
Get in touch before booking and our team will confirm what is possible for your dates.
If your licence is not in English, you need an accurate English translation or an International Driving Permit alongside your original licence.
Whether you are chasing powder at Mt Hutt, driving the Great Alpine Highway to Hokitika, or simply want a car that feels planted on a wet Canterbury morning, a Subaru is the most versatile companion for a Kiwi adventure.
View our fleet to check availability and rates, or book directly with Boss Auto Rentals Christchurch or Boss Auto Rentals Rolleston.
