Escape Campervans New Zealand Review

Editors Review

Last Updated: 9/20/19

Established in 2003 by three friends, Escape Rentals New Zealand is a hire company in that rents out campervans that sleep up to three adults. One of Escape Rentals’ unique features is that each van is individually painted by one of the company’s artists. They are generally aimed at the budget market.

About Escape Rentals New Zealand

Escape Rentals claims to have the “most modern and reliable” campers of any budget fleet in the country. All are endorsed by Qualmark. Escape Rentals also says customers won’t be stuck with hidden costs. One-way hires are also available. Escape Campervan Rental is heavily associated with Travellers Autobarn in New Zealand and also Escape Rentals in the USA. In New Zealand, you can hire the Escape vehicles directly through the Travellers Autobarn website, they are basically considered a "category" within the site, however, all TAB gets in return is a front-page mention on the Escape Rentals website. With accessible depots in Auckland and Christchurch, Escape Rentals vehicle pick-up and drop-off can be easier. And if you're exploring around NZ with a campervan, it's highly important to comprehend the NZ freedom camping rules beforehand. 

Fleet

Escape Rentals has around 200 vehicles, while the average age of each van is five years old (the average age of each van fit-out is less than three years). Most vehicles are Toyota Hiace, with a few Nissans and Mazdas. All vehicles run on unleaded petrol and come in a mix of manual and automatic transmissions. All vehicles also come with a certificate of fitness, are serviced regularly and adhere to a strict maintenance program. These are compact campervans, hence easy to drive, economical to run and comfortable to sleep in. The perfect option for backpackers and international travellers alike. We know it takes more than a great paint job to deliver an epic self-drive holiday in New Zealand. You need a reliable, cheap, comfy campervan with lots of free 

Vehicles

Standard Campervans

Designed from 2003-2008 Nissan Caravan models with the 2014-2018 interior fit-out, these Standard Campervans seats and sleeps up to 3 adults. Mileage starts from 190,000kms to approx. 300,000kms+ while fuel consumption ranges from10 to 13 litres per 100kms. Aside from the catchy exterior, you'll fall in love with the spacious and versatile interior. The convertible seats come with storage space while the pop-up table easily alters to make up the large bed. The rear area is for the kitchen with sink and running water.

Certified Self-contained Campervans

Also built on Nissan Caravan units, the Certified Self-Contained Campervans are slightly newer, ranging from 2008-2014 models. Compared to the other vehicles, these campervans offers 100,000kms to approx. 300,000kms+ mileage and 10 to 12 litres per 100kms fuel consumption. They may have the same layout as the Standard Campervans but they are more attractive in terms of convenience. Because of its self-containment feature, the units are equipped with a portable toilet and waste-water holding tanks positioned in the rear area. 

Insurance

The standard insurance is $3, 000 and an additional $1,000 for the single-vehicle incident. The total amount of $4,000, which also corresponds to the bond, is frozen through credit card. Reduce the liability and bond to $1,500 by paying $22.50/day for age 22 + or $25/day for 18 to 21 years old. If you want a lesser liability, opt for the additional $30/day (age 22 +) or $35/day (18 to 21 years old) to have NIL with no bond required. 

Reputation

Generally speaking, Escape Rentals has generated a lot of positive reviews and lots of them. One recent review said the van was cheap, came with a large bed, and lots of storage space. Another said the vans were “cheaper than other” rentals, and customer raved about the customer service and colorful van. But the campervans fell short in a couple of areas, according to some of the recent reviews. Some customers complained about the power (or lack thereof) inside the vans. And despite touting its new fleet, several customers said their respective van was “old.” However, in most cases – whether the review was glowing or bad―a representative from the company responded back. Still, they have some good features that keep them on the limelight like artistic campervans, affordable rates, and impressive number of units. 

Summary

A rather loud and colorful campervan hire awaits renters for their NZ road trip. These older campervans are priced affordably so you can't expect for a faultless hire with Escape Campervans NZ. Still, you get a reliable and rugged unit in standard or self-contained options.