It’s the life of a dog
When looking for the right car, consider all family members, including your four-legged friend.
The UK is a country of pet lovers, so it’s no surprise that some people make purchasing decisions based on whether a car is suitable for dogs. If your dog is a regular passenger in your car, they need to be comfortable, safe, and easy to get in and out of the vehicle.
Not sure where to start looking for a dog-friendly car? Here’s a list of the 10 best used cars for dog owners that boast good-sized boots for easy access and offer additional features such as four-wheel drive or pet accessories.
Ford Focus Manor
Used car buying recommendation for dog owners: Emile, a 3-year-old Australian shepherd who actually inspired the design of Ford Focus Estate.
Throughout the testing phase, engineers ensured that the largest crate might fit in Focus Estate’s suitcase. In fact, the vehicle can even transport an Irish wolfhound, which is the tallest dog breed in the world.
Another advantage of Focus Estate is the hands-free tailgate technology, which allows you to open the trunk with a simple foot movement under the rear bumper. At the touch of a button, the rear seats can also be flattened, which will increase the trunk capacity from 575 liters to 1,650 liters.
There are a variety of transmissions to choose from, with plenty of petrol and diesel options available, so there will be variants to suit everyone.
Nissan Navarre
Okay, so technically, the Nissan Navara isn’t considered a car. Since it is a pickup truck, it is often considered a van.
Make no mistake though, despite the Navara’s rugged exterior, the interior is surprisingly car-like. In fact, it’s easy to forget that you’re driving a large truck while driving.
If you’re transporting dogs, you’ll need to consider finding a second-hand example with a load cap, or you can consider buying these separately. Once the load hood is installed, the load area has enough space for multiple dogs and large cages to confine them.
Four-wheel drive and a towing capacity of up to 3,500 kg make Navara an excellent means of transport for combining work and leisure, as it is suitable for both farmers and families who are out and about.
Mini club people
When you hear the brand “MINI”, you may immediately think of the iconic small MINI Hatchback. However, MINI has also added a larger Countryman SUV and Clubman Estate to its sleek lineup.
Truly in keeping with the MINI car, the clubman is quirky and unique. Based on the original estate from the 1960s, Clubman has six doors; Because access to the trunk is through a pair of side hinged doors.
The MINI focuses on targeting the Clubman at dog owners, with luggage loading space allowing breeds such as Spanish Hounds and Terriers to stretch out comfortably. The brand also offers a range of dog protection devices to help keep your dog safe and comfortable while riding in the car.
Performance enthusiasts will be pleased to hear that there is a John Cooper Works (JCW) variant with a 302bhp that can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 4.9 seconds.
Despite being now owned by the German brand BMW, elements of the MINI model remind you of its British heritage; For example, the Union Jack taillights.
Land Rover Discovery Campaign
List of the best used cars for dog owners: The Land Rover Discovery Sport replaced the popular Land Rover Freelander SUV in 2014 as one of the best-selling models of the Land Rover.
The 194-litre boot in the 7-seater model expands to 981 litres, and the two rear seats fold down. For larger luggage, the middle row of seats can be folded up, leaving you with an incredible 1,698 litres of boot space. In addition, the low load lip makes it easy for the dog to jump in and out.
Additional benefits are a battery-powered tailgate and panoramic sunroof, which provides light into the cabin for long journeys and makes the dog’s trip even more enjoyable.
Land Rover also offers a wide variety of pet bags, including pet loading space protection bags, pet transport bags, and pet care and access bags. These packages include accessories such as full-height bulkheads, load space liners, and ramps.
Mazda CX-5
Dog owner’s used car buying recommendation: The Mazda CX-5 won the award for Best Dog Owner Car at the 2019 Auto Trader New Car Awards, and due to its combination of practicality and quality, the Mazda CX-5 is well worth mentioning in this article.
Acclaimed for its cabin space, safety, and driving experience; Family SUVs are comfortable and sporty. Decent materials are used throughout the SUV, with efficient petrol and diesel engines powering the SUV.
The trunk has a capacity of 506 liters (seats in place) or 1,620 liters (seats folded). An official Mazda dog guard can be installed, as well as an official trunk mat and bumper protector, making the SUV more suitable for canine companions.
Nissan X-Trail
Available as a 7-seater for 5-seaters, the Nissan X-Trail is a family crossover SUV that is a practical option for family adventures, including pet dogs.
Look for a pre-owned example with an optional Paw Pack that transforms this large SUV into the perfect car for a canine companion.
Includes dog boot separator, ramp, luxury machine washable dog bed, sewage bowl and boot liner; The Paw Pack makes car travel for dogs more comfortable and safe while protecting the X-Trail’s paint and interior.
Compared to the 550 litres of space in the facelifted version before 2017, the boot space of the facelifted model (from 2018) has increased by 565 litres. Lay the rear seats flat for a larger trunk that can hold up to 1,996 litres of luggage.
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross has sleek styling and the practicality and comfort you’d expect from a small crossover SUV, with great reliability and the use of high-quality materials throughout.
The Eclipse Cross’s trunk isn’t too large compared to similarly sized vehicles, but it’s on par with many hatchbacks, which means there’s plenty of room for a large dog or a couple of small dogs. With all the seats in place, you get 341 litres of baggage capacity, but if you don’t need much rear legroom, you can slide the rear seats forward to increase the capacity to 448 litres.
Thanks to the increased ride height, drivers will appreciate a comfortable driving position and good road visibility.
Peugeot Rifter
Due to the popularity of SUVs, utility vehicles (MPVs) are becoming less common on the road, however, you can’t deny that MPVs like the Peugeot Rifter offer the highest level of practicality and versatility.
Despite being based on a van and recognizable as an MPV, the Rifter has a strong SUV style to appeal to most drivers who opt for an SUV over an MPV.
The Rifter can accommodate up to 7 people, offering acres of head- and legroom for all occupants, as well as a huge suitcase with 775 litres of space for you; Plenty of space for a pack of dogs. The large boxy opening and low loading threshold make it easy for small dogs or dogs with limited mobility to get in and out of the vehicle.
Volkswagen Golf
Used car buying recommendation for dog owners: SUVs aren’t for everyone, and if you’re looking to buy a dog-friendly hatchback, the Volkswagen Golf is a great choice. The main positive is that the dogs don’t get far in and out of the trunk, as the Golf is much lower than most SUVs.
In this list of cars, the Golf may not have the largest luggage, however, for a hatchback, the trunk is certainly a well-shaped, well-sized trunk with a capacity of 380 liters. This storage space can be increased to 1,270 liters by folding the 60:40 rear seats.
The model in the picture is actually the Golf R, which has slightly smaller boots and a capacity of 343 liters, but as you can see, the space is more than enough for the Labrador.
The wide opening and low-load lip make the trunk accessible and more dog-friendly, while accessories that can protect your car from muddy paws can be purchased, such as trunk loading liners and dog guards, to ensure your dog is securely secured in the trunk.
Skoda Kodiak
List of the best used cars for dog owners: If it’s good enough for a police dog, it’s good enough for any dog. In Skoda Kodiaq was actually used by colleagues for the transport of dogs.
As the largest SUV in the Skoda range, the Kodiaq can accommodate up to seven passengers and offers 270 litres of luggage loading space even when all seven seats are in place. On the other hand, the 5-seater version offers a huge 835 liters of space for multiple dogs or larger breeds. Fold all the rear seats and you’ll see a huge 2,065 litres of boot space.
In terms of appearance. Kodiaq is dizzying in appearance and eye-catching in appearance. Step inside and you’ll find comfortable, modern, functional and family-friendly interiors.
Look for a dog-friendly car
Finding the right car for your family is a challenge in itself, but finding one that is dog-friendly can be even more difficult.
You need to know that there is enough space in the car for them, check if they can easily get in and out of the vehicle, and maybe you want to make sure that you can protect the paint and interior of the car from muddy claws and sharp claws.
The above 10 cars are just a great option for you when transporting a four-legged friend, but there are many more to choose from in our extensive collection of used cars. If you still need more inspiration for your next car, we’ll also update our blog section regularly with a buyer’s guide.
