Dogs are man’s best friend – and woman’s as well. And there’s nothing better than taking your buddy with you when it’s time to be out and about.
But not every car is exactly convenient to take your dog in. Some are just not very practical while others would break the bank.
Subaru Forester
The Best Cars For Dogs
We recently had the opportunity to ask over 300 (342 to be exact) avid dog hikers what cars they preferred for their dogs.
Here’s how they voted:
Now let’s take a closer look…
#1 2020 Subaru Forester
#2 2020 Jeep Wrangler
Your dog will be ready to go on an adventure with you in this! Because Jeep’s are built for adventure, you won’t have to worry about your dog getting the interior dirty. Not only is the interior completely washable, it was designed to get dirty. You can remove the carpet for easy cleaning. It even includes built-in drains in the floor. If you have a dirty dog or will be in the mud, this is an excellent choice. Take the stress out of traveling with your pet when you can clean your easier than ever before.
# 3 2019 Subaru Outback
This is one of the cars we own for traveling with our dogs, and it’s been absolutely great.
It’s low to the ground with plenty of cargo space for dogs and large windows to extra view. This vehicle features a huge array of safety assists with the most unique being the reverse automatic braking system. This feature will brake the vehicle if a dog or child runs behind you while you are backing up in reverse. Great for station wagon lovers as well as dog lovers.
#4 2010 Honda Element
For a long time now the Honda Element has been a favorite of dog owners everywhere.
Here’s what one person we interviewed had to say:
“You can put the crate on the floor, perfect position in the back. Also both back seats come out if you need more room. The vehicle has unique doors that open outwardly ( think out swinging French doors) so you have tons of room to put gear in from the side not just the back. They stopped making them in 2011 but you can probably get a very good used one. I have read that they are bringing them back in 2019 but not sure how much they will have changed them.”
#5 2020 Toyota 4Runner
#6 2020 Jeep Cherokee
#7 2020 Subaru Crosstrek
#8 2020 Toyota Rav4
#9 2020 Honda CRV
#10 2014/2015 Nissan Xterra
This is the first of two vehicles on the list that was discontinued, but that dog owners still absolutely love.
A few more great picks
Here were some of the others mentioned (along with the number of votes they received) that aren’t included in the chart above. We didn’t include any vehicles that only received 1 vote.
| Vehicle | # of Votes |
| Toyota FJ Cruiser | 9 |
| Ford F-150 | 8 |
| Chevy Tahoe | 6 |
| Honda Fit | 5 |
| Jeep Renegade | 5 |
| Mazda CX5 | 5 |
| Ford Explorer | 4 |
| Jeep Liberty | 3 |
| Jeep Compass | 2 |
What features should you (and your dog) look for?
So what makes a car something that you’ll want to take friendly fido in?
Let’s take a look at some of the most important features you should look for when looking to purchase a vehicle.
Dog Durability
Dogs can be hard on surfaces! From nails puncturing seats and scratching glass to the regular dirt from their morning run.
You want something that will stand up to everything that your dog throws at it.
Based on my experience vinyl is going to be the absolute easiest thing to clean, then leather, then cloth.
The only problem is a lot of people don’t like how vinyl look and opt for leather. No matter what any salesman tells you, leather is not scratch resistant.
In many cases a car seat is going to be a must if you’re concerned with preserving your seats.
Easy to Clean
When you’re looking for a new vehicle, you’re going to want something that is easy to clean. In fact, the easier the better.
Because dogs love to drool, shed and share all their love AND their dirt. The easier that your vehicle is to clean, the more you’ll enjoy driving it around.
Size
The size of the vehicle that will work best for you will depend on you, the size of your family and the size of your dog.
People with three full size fur babies will need a different size vehicle than those with a teacup poodle.
Any vehicle that you consider should be large enough to fit all the members of your family (including your dog) and possibly even a crate or kennel if you plan on long trips where you’ll need to keep your dog confined.
Comfort
If you are comfortable in the car, then your dog will be comfortable in the car.
Many vehicles offer additional heating and cooling vents for the second or third row of seating as well as the cargo area.
Tinted windows can also be important features to keep your dog cool while driving.
Which dog car is best for you?
When it comes down to it, the best car for you is the best car for your dog.
A few simple tips to remember, the bigger the dog, the bigger car you’ll need.
If you are unsure if your crate will fit, measure it or take it with you to the dealership. Better to know if advance!
Don’t forget to look for rear climate vents, rear tinting and the height of the rear ceiling.
With a little research, you’ll have a great car for you and your dog for years to come.
Better listen to him and sign up below!
As someone with 5 large special needs dogs, I’m shocked my Chrysler Pacifica/Town and Country don’t appear on this list! The stow and go seating, moving 2 back rows into floorboard for perfectly flat surface, low-to-the-ground (versus so many with very little ‘headroom’ when back seats fold forard), built-in vacuum, excellent venting and sun shades are just a few features we adore. I had a Town and Country before, tried a Honda Odyssey and broke my lease early to get back to the Chrysler, this time, Pacifica. Perfect for our 80# 3-legged dog, our 17-yr-old chow, our front-leg handicapped 70# dog and more!
Charlotte,
It’s great to hear from someone with the experience you’ve had. We’ll look into your recommendation!
I was surprised too that there was not at least one minivan on the list. I’ve always had 2 dogs (Golden Retrievers) over the past many years. The best dog vehicles for me are Chrysler/Dodge vans. I’ve had 3 in a row. So much room for dog crates and everything else. Sure, I’d love a sportier vehicle but my dogs’ safety is more important to me. I’m currently considering a Toyota Sienna for my next one.
Yes.I want two large crates in our vehicle so I go for the Toyota Sienna twice in a row.
I have the 2020 Subaru Forester Sport, I purchased to travel with my search and rescue dog in training. 2019-2020 Subaru’s with power rear hatch have a power drain when the hatch is open. Your battery will be dead in as little as 5 hours. Forget camping overnight with the hatch open, or leaving the hatch open so your dog in a kennel can get fresh air. Subaru knew about this issue last year, but has done nothing, nor has it published a warning to vehicle owners. Some have created a work around of pulling a fuse and putting a carabiner in the hatch. I would rate the newer Subaru’s as low as possible because of this, despite their dog friendly advertising.
My hatch on my 2015 Forester has quit working (you have to hold it open to get anything in or out) every winter here in Fairbanks when the temp. drops. Just had it fixed AGAIN! The seats come apart at the seams and they blamed my dogs-even where it is fraying on my seat. So much for dog friendly. I’m looking for a different SUV that might actually be dog friendly despite how much I love how my Subarus (this is my 3rd and the first with these problems) hold the road in the winter.
I have a 2016 jeep grand cherokee, the floor mat was ok but the dog hair is uncontrollable up the sides and the backs of the 2nd row seats and even the floor. Is there any car that just has NO carpet in the cargo so we can clean it up and still put groceries in their when not using it for pet travel. i have tried cloth covers but they rip with a 95lb lab. weather tech just doesnt really go up the sides far enough. I am stumped!!
I’m on my 3rd Subaru. The old ones held up to my dogs wonderfully, but my 2015 Forrester’s interior is awful and I’m finding out the company knows. When I complained my car was maybe a year old and I was told that it was “normal wear and tear” from the dogs. I’m ready for a new car, I love the way my Subarus hold the road here in Fairbanks but I will not buy another one.
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