Dogs are comfortably the most well-liked pets within the UK with 1 in 3 (31%) households now proudly owning one, up from 23% in 2020. During lockdown, Britons purchased 4 million new puppies, sending the nation’s canine inhabitants hovering to 13 million in 2022, and the necessity for canine pleasant vehicles rising with it. Naturally, man’s finest pal deserves to journey in consolation and elegance, so choosing a automobile that may preserve your pooch happy on the way in which to and from walkies is a vital consideration for homeowners.
Ahead of International Dog Day this weekend (Saturday 26 August), carwow’s Automotive Expert and Chief Content Officer Mat Watson shares a few of his prime picks for canine homeowners. From estates which can be nearer to the bottom, to SUVs boasting more room for canine associates, Mat critiques the very best of the very best woof-worthy wheels:
Our prime dog-friendly vehicles are:
- Skoda Superb Estate
- Skoda Enyaq
- Land Rover Defender
- Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer
- Toyota Corolla Touring Sports
- BMW 5 Series Touring
- VW ID Buzz
- Hyundai Ioniq 5
- Volvo EX90
- BMW M3 Touring
1. Skoda Superb Estate
- 660-litre boot capability with rear seats up
- Huge 1,950-litre boot capability with rear seats down
- Large boot opening
- Well-equipped as commonplace
“If you’re in search of a snug, roomy property, the Skoda Superb is the GOAT. Or ought to that be prime canine? Either approach, its 660-litre boot signifies that even Great Danes and Saint Bernards shouldn’t have any hassle stretching out.
“What’s extra, the Superb Estate has a wide-opening boot that sits low to the bottom, making it simpler to climb out and in. There’s a slight lip should you don’t get the adjustable boot ground, but it surely’s nothing insurmountable.
“The soft suspension means that not only is it pleasant to drive, your pup won’t be jostled and jiggled about too much in the back. Lower-spec models represent the best value, and mean you won’t get dog hair on any fancy upholstery.”
2. Skoda Enyaq
- 585 litres of boot house with the seats up
- 1,710 litres with the seats folded
- Affordable, practical electrical SUV
- Range of over 300 miles
“Sticking with Skoda for a second, as a result of should you’re pondering the Superb Estate sounds nice, however you’d want an electrical car, then Skoda has one other choice to tempt you.
“The Enyaq has one of many greatest boots of any electrical household automobile. It’s crushed by the Tesla Model Y, however that has a really sloped rear roof that’s not significantly dog-friendly. The Skoda has a blockier rear finish meaning your canine may have a lot of headroom. The draw back is that there’s a little bit of a lip to leap over.
“There’s little sacrifice for human passengers, either, as the cabin is spacious and comfortable. And with most versions having an official range in excess of 300 miles, the world is your dog park.”
3. Land Rover Defender
- 786-litre boot within the 110 mannequin
- 1,094-litre boot within the 130 mannequin
- Over 2,000 litres of seats down house within the 130
- Loads of off-road capacity
“By their very nature, canine walks are inclined to take place within the wild outside. So what might be higher for attending to the very best spots than probably the greatest off-roaders within the business?
“The Land Rover Defender has an enormous boot – should you keep away from the three-door 90 mannequin. Go for the 110 and you’ve got 786 litres of house, or the stretched 130, which has greater than 1,000 litres even with the second row of seats in place. Your canine will suppose it’s moved to a mansion.
“Although the cabin is posher than Defenders of old, it still has the rugged appeal of a proper workhorse 4×4 in the boot, so you don’t have to worry about getting mud out of fancy carpets.”
4. Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer
- 608 litres with the seats up
- 1,634 litres of seats down house
- Plug-in hybrid is a bit much less spacious
- Rare electrical property
“The latest Vauxhall Astra is a good-looking factor, but it surely’s removed from kind over perform because it comes with a usefully massive 608-litre boot, or a cavernous 1,634 litres should you fold the rear seats down.
“What’s more, it’s available with a plug-in hybrid (which reduces boot capacity a bit, but not enough that Fido will notice) to keep running costs low. And even more interesting is that, while electric estates are rather rare, the Astra Sports Tourer will soon be offered as an EV.”
5. Toyota Corolla Touring Sports
- 581-litre boot capability with rear seats up
- Comfortable trip high quality will preserve your canine pleased
- Large boot opening with flat load bay
- 2.0-litre mannequin provides some further zip
“Electric vehicles have their advantages, however they don’t swimsuit everybody. However, in relation to carrying your pets in an eco-friendly approach, there are worse methods to do it than within the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports hybrid.
“While it isn’t as spacious as some similarly-sized estates, the Toyota’s 581-litre boot remains to be loads large enough for carrying dogs about – which is spectacular when you think about the hybrid battery packs are mounted beneath the boot ground.
“Disappointingly, there aren’t many additional storage spots in the boot you can stow smaller dog items in, though the Touring Sports’ boot does have one handy feature: its adjustable floor is reversible and has a rubber lining on its second side, which is easier to wipe down and keep clean than the carpeted surface on the other side.”
6. BMW 5 Series Touring
- 570-litre boot capability with rear seats up
- 1,700-litre boot capability with rear seats down
- Flat load bay
- Efficient plug-in hybrid choice
“There are a number of premium estates which can be worthy of your consideration. The Audi A6 and Mercedes E-Class Estate, for instance. But probably the greatest is the BMW 5 Series Touring. It’s only a nice all-rounder, being practical, good inside and good to drive.
“The flat load bay that’s flush with the low load lip is an added bonus, and all vehicles include a retractable baggage web meaning you don’t want to put in a partition accent to maintain your canine out of the passenger cabin.
“The car’s smooth ride helps keep your pet comfy on long journeys, too, though the stiffer suspension on M Sport models means this spec of 5 Series Touring is a bit bumpier over rougher roads. The SE trim does without the sporty suspension and the hybrid engine offers plenty of performance without a huge fuel bill. This would be our choice.”
7. VW ID Buzz
- Huge 1,121 litres of boot house
- Loads of house for different issues
- Range of 258 miles
- Looks implausible
“If the BMW 5 Series Touring is a bit too run of the mill for you, why not strive one thing fully completely different. The Volkswagen ID Buzz is an actual head-turner because of its quirky retro-inspired styling.
“But extra importantly, it’s additionally ridiculously spacious inside. We’re speaking a couple of humongous 1,121-litre boot. That’s so massive you could possibly suit your canine within the again and nonetheless have room for stuff for a weekend away.
“The official range is 258 miles, but our tests put that figure at more like 215 miles in the real world. Still, that should be more than enough to get you to your favourite walking spot and back.”
8. Hyundai Ioniq 5
- 527 litres within the boot
- 1,587 litres with the again seats down
- Wide boot with no load lip
- Nearly 300 miles from a cost
“If you need an eye catching electrical automobile, however you’re prepared to sacrifice some house in trade for extra vary, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is an effective choice. The lengthy vary mannequin will get 298 miles per cost in official assessments, and though its boot is about half the scale of the ID Buzz, it ought to nonetheless be large enough for all however essentially the most large of mongrels.
“What makes the Hyundai stand out, though, is that you can use the battery to charge and run other electrical items. It means that you can use the car to bring the dog and the family on a weekend away, then use it to keep things like camping equipment and e-bikes working.”
9. Volvo EX90
- 650 litres of boot house
- 310 litres even in seven-seat mode
- State-of-the-art security tech
- 364-mile vary
“Want your canine to journey in model? The Volvo EX90 is an excellent shout. Its 650-litre boot must be large enough for many, however even when you’ve got it in seven-seat mode, the 310 litres on provide might be sufficient for a small pooch.
“If safety is your key concern, then the EX90 is perfect. It’s covered in cameras, radar and lidar to build a picture of the world around you, so it can help avoid – or at least mitigate the outcome of – a crash.”
10. BMW M3 Touring
- 500 litres of seats up house
- 1,510 litres with the seats down
- No load lip
- Wild efficiency
“While the concept of shopping for a 510hp canine wagon would possibly sound ludicrous, the M3 Touring would truly make a succesful companion.
“Sure, the 500-litre boot isn’t the largest on the market, and the stiff trip would possibly irritate your Alsation, however you’ll have simply as a lot enjoyable driving to your walk as your canine may have when you’re there.
“There’s no load lip either, so getting in and out is much easier. And if you need to fold the rear seats down, there are handy electronic switches so you don’t need to reach past a slobbering dog that thinks you’re after a post-walk cuddle.”
Buy your subsequent automobile (and promote your old one) with carwow
Found the right dog-friendly automobile? Then check out the latest provides in your most well-liked mannequin by way of carwow.
Need to promote your present automobile first? Our community of trusted sellers will come to you with their finest provides. There’s no have to haggle or negotiate and you may evaluate your provides in a single place with out even having to go away your home.
