Lap up our list of best cars for dogs

Few of us would argue that we’re are a nation of dog lovers. Over 8.5 million of our furry friends live in the UK, and almost a quarter of households share their homes with at least one dog. They also share our cars, so we thought we’d check out some of the best cars for dogs on offer at Stoneacre.

So, where to start. Well, just like cars, dogs come in all shapes, sizes, colours and personalities. If you currently share your life with a small bundle of cuddles…sorry, a small dog…then pretty much any sized car will suit you and your pooch. That’s why, for the purpose of this blog, I’ve looked at things from the point of view of a large dog.

Before we begin, here are a few of the essentials you’ll need to tick off if you’re looking for dog-friendly cars.

So, that’s the quick check-list out of the way and it still leaves a whopping choice available. To help, we’ve taken a look at the fantastic range of dog-friendly cars offered by the brands available throughout the Stoneacre network.

Fiat Panda

The Fiat Panda is an excellent choice for dog owners due to its practicality, versatility, and compact size.

With its spacious interior and clever design, the Panda provides ample room for your furry friend to comfortably sit, lie down, or move around during car rides.

The low-loading sill and wide-opening rear doors make it easy for dogs of all sizes to enter and exit the vehicle effortlessly.

Additionally, the Panda’s compact dimensions make it manoeuvrable in urban environments and perfect for navigating narrow streets or finding parking spaces near parks or dog-friendly destinations.

Its fuel efficiency ensures that you can take your canine companion on longer trips without worrying about excessive fuel costs. Whether it’s a quick visit to the vet or an exciting adventure to the countryside, the Fiat Panda offers the convenience and reliability that dog owners seek in a car.

Peugeot Rifter

Billed as the ‘ideal choice for drivers with big families’ the Peugeot Rifter certainly sounds like it ticks all the right boxes; especially if your family is made up of furry chums.

Very similar to Citroen’s Berlingo, the Peugeot Rifter comes equipped with an easy-to-load boot and enough room to make your dogs feel relaxed and comfortable during the journey. If that’s not enough, you can always triple the space available by folding down or even removing some of the seven seats, with underfloor storage in the second row. This will give you as much as 1414 litres (when the seats are down) – almost enough room to let the dogs go ‘walkies’ without even leaving the car.

Ford Puma

As long as you don’t tell your dog this is named after a cat, I’m sure they’re going to have a blast riding in the Ford Puma.

The Puma’s size, and even its shape, makes it one of the most dog-friendly cars and we think it might have been designed by a dog owner. It’s certainly big enough to cope with a couple of bigger beasts – through experimentation (one of us actually has this car and big doggos) we actually can confirm at least 2 large dogs or 3 medium-sized puppers will fit in.

With over 450-litres of space in the boot for additional storage, the Puma has a special feature allowing you to clip the boot floor vertically against the rear seats – giving you more room for your dogs to sit in.

What do we love the most? The Ford ‘MegaBox’ located in the boot has a special plug to help you keep the contents of dirty paws and sloppy chops contained by hosing them away after your walkies.

Jeep Wrangler

Let’s face it, we could have selected any model from Jeep’s great range and it would have been perfect for you and your dogs. Jeeps are designed and built for the outdoors, and so are dogs! Sounds like a perfect match.

Opting for a 4-door, rather than the all-new 2-door Wrangler, the Wrangler is perhaps Jeep’s most ‘traditional’ model and is definitely built for any challenge.  It can deal with the toughest terrain and the toughest of dogs too. So if you need a car that’s built to handle everything you and your pack can throw at it – whatever the weather, whatever the environment – check out Jeep’s Wrangler.

SEAT Tarraco

The SEAT Tarraco is well big! Its sheer size makes it the perfect car for drivers with dogs to transport and certainly a contender in our best cars for dogs list; something SEAT has now recognised. This SUV offers a boastful boot size with underfloor storage – a great necessity if taking with you blankets, bowls and everything that your pampered pooch needs on their day trip.

Meanwhile, if you require a dog crate and even guards – there are a number of accessories out there to support the Tarraco. Overall, this is a very stylish car, that even your dog will think you’re cool.

Peugeot 3008 SUV

Previously voted as European Car of The Year, we’re guessing it might score top marks from the continent’s tail-waggers too. The SUV’s split tailgate makes it really easy to get your dog in and out, plus the smooth handling and quiet drive, particularly from the 3008’s hybrid engine, means there’s far less noise to disturb or alarm any nervous four-legged passengers.

Nissan Qashqai

As we’ve already pointed out, a quarter of all UK families now have at least one dog. So it should come as no surprise that one of the best-selling family cars is a big hit with dog owners too.

Many choose the Nissan Qashqai for the practicality and large boot that is a huge 430-litres, but it also looks great. We’d say this is a good SUV for larger breeds – or a whole hoard of puppies if you’re dog-mad like me! Plus, with comfortable seating and built-in climate control, you can certainly keep your dog feeling settled and happy during most journeys.

Volvo V60

Volvo’s mid-size V60 is naturally big on safety features, so you and your dog will certainly feel secure. Tie-downs in the rear make it easy to secure any pet carrier and there’s climate control features in the back too, so it’ll certainly be a comfortable ride whatever the conditions outside. Add a fold-down cargo rack in the back, and it’s easy to see why this is a really popular choice from our dog-friendly cars.

So there you have it, ten of the very best walkie-wonderous, doggie-delightful, pooch-perfect and four-legged-fantastic cars we could find – all available to check out, test drive and lap-up at Stoneacre right now. Fetch yourself down to your nearest branch for a closer look at our best cars for dogs. You’d be barking mad not to…sorry, I couldn’t resist that.

Once you’ve chosen your dog-friendly car, make sure you equip it with everything you need to keep your dog safe and your car in good condition. This includes boot mats, dog guards, seat protectors, sun shades, even handy air-fresheners to keep those outdoor odours at bay.