Top 10 dog friendly cars

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Dogs come in all shapes and sizes. As do cars. Those with mini mutts won’t need to compromise their car choice as their beloved pets will usually be happy in the back seat. But when dogs get to a certain size, their needs can start to influence vehicle choice. Read on to find out what the best cars are for dogs – especially larger or multiple dogs and dog crates.

What are the rules around transporting a dog in a car?

The Highway Code states: “When in a vehicle make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly. A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars.”

As a result, even if you have a smaller dog, you might want to consider crating them in the car, getting them a carrier, or using a seat belt harness.

Best value buy – Kia Sportage

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2016-Present
Approx. £26k new, £7-10k used for older models
Boot space: Up to 591 litres (1,780 with seats down)
Autocar rating: 3.5 stars

The Kia Sportage is ideal for dog owners with small budgets. You get a lot of boot for your buck with this small SUV, and Kia sells a wide range of accessories for keeping dogs safe and comfortable in the car, from dog guards and boot liners to crates and cages. The 2022 model offers some extra boot space and is available in a variety of models, including diesel and hybrid-fuelled cars.

If you’re looking for an SUV that’s easy to drive, has plenty of space for the family, and includes the latest infotainment system, you probably won’t go wrong with the Kia Sportage. The 2022 models also have plenty of safety features to keep you and your canine family member safe, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and a blind spot collision warning system, which warns you if you’re steering into the path of another car.

You can see one dog giving the Kia Sportage its seal of approval in this video.

Want to drive your dog around in style? Check out our top 10 affordable supercars.

Small but perfectly formed – Mini Countryman

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2010-Present
Approx. £28k new, £7-10k for an older model
Boot space: 450 litres (1,390 with seats down)
Autocar rating: 3.5 stars

Not everyone needs enough space for three Irish deerhounds, which is where the Mini Countryman comes in. If you’ve got a medium-sized dog, such as a spaniel, and you’re in need of a practical car for city driving, this compact SUV is a great option. With an almost vertical rear window, the small boot space goes a long way for dogs, and choices of guards abound. The Mini is also a lot lower than its SUV rivals, making it easier for smaller and mid-sized dogs to get in and out.

Mini is a fantastic choice for dog lovers – teaming up with the Dogs Trust, the marque is the first dog-friendly car retailer supported by the non-profit and it isn’t afraid to show it. So what does this mean? It means you can take your doggy with you to the Mini showroom, and you’ll be told which models are the best for you and your pup and which accessories you might want to consider purchasing to keep them safe, such as a dog crate or harness.

You can get a sense of just how much will fit in the Mini Countryman from this video.

The underdog – Volkswagen Tiguan

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2017-Present
Approx. from £29k new, £3-9k used for older models
Boot space: 520 litres, 615 litres with rear seats pushed forward (1,655 litres with seats down)
Autocar review: 4.5 stars

Although not exactly a household name in the UK, the Tiguan is actually VW’s most popular model worldwide. The SUV is available in a number of models, including hybrid, petrol and diesel models. Be warned, though, that materials used will differ depending on the model you get – if you want the most comfortable option, you might want to consider getting a more expensive model than the base Tiguan.

The VW Tiguan boasts a fairly large boot and a wide boot opening, making it a winner for older dogs that might struggle to get in and out of the vehicle. You can also get a pet pack, which includes a partition grille to separate the boot from the rear passenger space, and a boot liner to prevent messes from muddy paws.

This video shows how, with a few adjustments, a large dog cage can fit in the boot.

All creatures great and small – Land Rover Discovery

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2016-Present
Approx. £57k new, £35-45k for a used older model
Boot space: Seven-seater – 228 litres, six-seater – 698 litres, five-seater – 1,137 litres, two-seater – 2,406 litres
Autocar rating: 4.5 stars

When it comes to pets, there are very few options that are as versatile as the Land Rover Discovery. You could probably get two or three dogs into this car if you dropped all the seats and used all the space available, making it a great option for dog walkers. Alternatively, the boot could fit a large dog very comfortably, especially ones that prefer to sit rather than lay down in the car.

Land Rover also offer a range of optional Pet Packs, from a Pet Transportation Pack, which includes a carrier and spill-resistant water bowl, to a Pet Care and Access Pack, which includes a portable rinse system to clean muddy paws and a pet access ramp for easier pet access to the boot.

See one of the Pet Packs in action in this video.

You can’t beat a classic – Volvo V70

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2007-2016
Approx. £2-21k used
Autocar rating: 3.5
Boot volume: 575 litres (1,600 with seats down)

SUVs and 4x4s often have space to spare, but they’re not to everyone’s taste. A classic dog-friendly car is the Volvo estate, especially the V70. Older models were boxy, which gave good height right to the back. More recent models have lower roofs, but thanks to its wide berth, low boot lip, flat floor and reduced wheel arch intrusion, the V70 still offers lots for dog owners – especially for those that don’t want to lift their dog into the car. The ubiquity of the car has also meant there are a number of cage and dog guard options for V70 owners.

Check out how two Huskies react to their owner’s new V70.

Street car named desire – Volkswagen Passat Estate

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Approx. £32k new, £13-20k for a used model
Boot volume: 650 litres (1,780 with seats down
Autocar rating: 4 stars for the VW Passat Wagon

With the Passat, you’re buying a classy road car with a high-quality build as well as a boot that’s larger than you might expect, beating the equivalent Vauxhalls (Astra Sports Estate) and SEATs (Leon ST Estate) in terms of size.

The VW Passat Estate features a relatively low boot, making it much easier for your canine friend to jump into. You can also open the boot even if your hands are full; simply wave your foot under the rear of the Passat and the boot will open for you.

With a wide range of safety features, such as the Front Assist with Pedestrian Monitoring System, which alerts you to pedestrians in the road and brakes automatically if you do not react, and the Proactive Occupant Protection System, which protects you and your passengers when it detects an impending critical situation, the Estate is a good option if you’re looking for a practical and safe option for yourself, your family, and your pets.

There are also a range of cages, dividers and fitted dog beds available for the Passat, making it easy for owners to customise the space as needed.

Watch this video to see the boot almost doubled once the seats are down.

Leader of the Paw Pack – Nissan X-Trail SUV

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2007-present
Approx. £32k for a new model, £15k-£30k for a used model
Autocar rating: 3.5 stars
Boot volume: 586 litres (1,424 litres with seats down)

The Nissan X-Trail SUV has a generous boot, even with the seats up. The incline of the back window isn’t too steep – it’s easy to see the floor space and forget that its value can be lost by a steep rear window.

Conscious of its potential audience and the height of the boot, the X-Trail has the option of a useful add-on. The Paw Pack costs just over £500 and includes a ramp to help dogs into the boot, a trunk liner, a dog guard, a super soft dog bed, and seat back tidy for leads and other accessories.

See the gadgets in action in this video.

Big boot, big price tag – Porsche Cayenne SUV

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2003-Present
Approx. £64k new, £15-30k for an old used model
Autocar rating: 4 star
Boot volume: 745 litres (1,710 litres with seats down)

Up at the pricier end of the market is this surprise: a Porsche offering one of the biggest boots available to man, woman or beast. Any dog would have a spacious ride and the model also houses cages, guards, crates and boxes with ease. As well as a roomy boot for your pet(s) you get a high-spec, high-performance SUV from the German sports car legend.

See the Cayenne’s large interior space in this video.

Best budget buy – Dacia Logan MCV Estate

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2013-Present
Approx. £9k-£10k
Autocar rating: 3.5 (Estate N/A)
Boot volume: 573 litres (1,518 litres with seats down)

MCV stands for ‘maximum capacity vehicle’ and the estate version certainly delivers a lot of space for a small price tag. Romania’s Dacia are a lesser known marque but have reputable backing, co-produced by the French manufacturer Renault since 2004. Size is the focus of the model but comes at the expense of tech and gadgets, which may suit dog owners who know that pretty interiors rarely remain that way for long when pets are involved.

This car’s boot is so big that the woman in this video can lay down in it.

Critics’ favourite – Skoda Superb Estate

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2008-Present
Approx. £29k for a new model
Autocar rating: 4.5 stars
Boot volume: 510 to 660 litres (1,800 to 1,950 litres with seats down)

The Superb Estate offers one of the biggest boots you can buy. The rest of the car is also large and with some clever practical touches it’s ideal for a big family with big pets – though some of the height is reclaimed by the slanting rear window.

See just how spacious this car’s boot is.