How many Subaru Sambars are left in New Zealand?
Rare 1 in 38,957 on the road Built 1985-2026 Japanese import
Updated from the NZTA Motor Vehicle Register, counted as at 31 August 2026. Recounted every month.
Subaru's kei truck and van, on sale since 1961. For half a century it was built to Subaru's own design with the engine at the rear and independent suspension all round, which won it a loyal following, and some had a supercharged four-cylinder engine. Since 2012 the Sambar has been a rebadged Daihatsu Hijet.
Still on the road, by model year
The most are from 1998: 14 still registered. Every year is listed under the chart.
Every model year
| Model year | Still registered |
|---|---|
| 1985 | 1 |
| 1988 | 2 |
| 1990 | 4 |
| 1991 | 3 |
| 1992 | 1 |
| 1993 | 4 |
| 1994 | 3 |
| 1995 | 6 |
| 1996 | 7 |
| 1997 | 10 |
| 1998 | 14 |
| 1999 | 3 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 2 |
What Rare means
Spotto grades every car by how many are still registered in New Zealand. With 120 still registered, the Subaru Sambar is Rare: the grade for cars with 25 to 174 left.
By how many are left it ranks 15th of the 30 Subaru models and equal 997th of all 2,903 cars in Spotto's catalogue.
The six grades: Common, 8,000 or more · Uncommon, 1,200 to 7,999 · Scarce, 175 to 1,199 · Rare, 25 to 174 · Super rare, 5 to 24 · Unicorn, fewer than 5.
Seen one?
Spotto grades every car on New Zealand roads by how many are still registered, down to the generation and the badge. Log the ones you spot, build a collection, and see who else has found one.