Best cars for dogs - and dog owners

The Skoda Superb Estate tops this list thanks to its class-leading practicality, handy accessories and value for money. Our reigning Estate Car of the Year has a vast 660-litre boot, with a wide opening which means you should have no trouble piling in all manner of pet paraphernalia.

Like the Skoda Fabia, the Superb Estate is available with Skoda’s Pet Pack, which furnishes you with the essentials. Unlike some of the other brands featured on this list, though, Skoda doesn’t offer a dedicated pet carrier. However, we expect most dog owners will already have one to hand, which should easily fit in the back of the enormous Superb Estate. An all-new Skoda Superb Estate – with an even bigger boot – is due to go on sale early next year.

Read our in-depth Skoda Superb Estate review

If you’re looking for a dog-friendly electric car, the Tesla Model Y is our pick of the litter. Its ‘Dog Mode’ allows you to turn on the air-con when you park up, keeping your pets cool if you have to leave them unattended for a short period of time. The Model Y also benefits from a big boot, but a lack of official accessories means you’ll want to make sure that you’ve got a pet carrier to keep your dog safe and secure.

For those who rarely travel with more than one (human) passenger, Tesla does offer a Pet Liner for the rear seats of the Model Y. This protects the seats and acts as a barrier between the front and rear, reducing the likelihood of your furry friend causing a distraction.

Read our in-depth Tesla Model Y review

The enormous size and boxy proportions of our 2023 Car of the Year – the Volkswagen ID Buzz – make it an excellent contender for a dog-owning family. Its boot is even bigger than that of the Skoda Superb Estate, and the Buzz’s rear seats slide and recline, allowing you to find the best balance between passenger and dog space. Upgrading to Style trim gets you Volkswagen’s Multi-flex board – a false boot floor which creates a space below the main boot area for storing smaller items.

Volkswagen doesn’t offer any dog-specific accessories with the ID Buzz, but you shouldn’t have any trouble fitting a pet carrier in it, and its low boot floor means most dogs should be able to hop in with ease.

Read our in-depth VW ID Buzz review

Despite being the cheapest seven-seater on the market, the Dacia Jogger is practical, versatile and pleasant to drive. As a car for transporting canine companions, it appeals in much the same way as the Volkswagen ID Buzz – its square shape and low boot floor make loading and unloading dogs a doddle.

The rearmost seats can be removed entirely to create enough space for most dogs to stretch out, while pop-out rear windows offer a supply of fresh air. As is the case with the Buzz, owners will want to ensure they’ve got a suitable dog carrier or harness to maximise safety.

Read our in-depth Dacia Jogger review

The Land Rover Defender 110 offers all the practicality you’d expect from a larger SUV, thanks to its boxy shape and rugged, go-anywhere heritage. Its off-road ability will surely appeal to outdoorsy dog parents, while the smooth ride makes on-road driving a relaxing affair.

Optional air suspension means you can lower the boot floor to make loading dogs in easier, although Land Rover also offers a ramp to help larger breeds climb up. The ramp is one of a wide range of accessories that you can get with the Defender, including dog guards, boot liners, a branded pet carrier and even a spill resistant water bowl to help your pooch stay hydrated on a long journey.

Read our in-depth Land Rover Defender review

As with the other Skodas on this list, impressive practicality combined with the convenience of the Pet Pack makes the Skoda Enyaq a tempting option for dog owners. There’s plenty of room in the front and the rear for even the tallest of people, while canine passengers will have room to stretch out inside the Enyaq’s cavernous boot.

The Enyaq benefits from being comfortable and easy to drive, too, and our favourite version (dubbed 80 Loft) can officially manage up to 339 miles on a full charge. Unfortunately, the Enyaq misses out on the Tesla Model Y’s extremely handy Dog Mode.

Read our in-depth Skoda Enyaq review

The Kia Sportage’s spacious and well built interior was a key reason we named it our Family SUV of the Year. Of course, all of this space makes it great for dogs, too. Available accessories for the Sportage include a boot liner and a dog guard, and its large, square boot should be able to swallow a dog carrier without any fuss.

Entry-level versions of the Sportage represent excellent value for money, while upgrading to 3 trim gets you loads of extra kit including heated front and rear seats. A word of warning to owners of tall dogs: mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid Sportages have noticeably shallower boots than non-hybrid and regular hybrid versions.

Read our in-depth Kia Sportage review

If you’re in the market for an electric estate car, your options are very limited. Fortunately, the decent range, comfy ride and low price of the MG5 make it quite a compelling car, while its square proportions mean it can make particular sense for dog owners.

You can brake much more smoothly in the MG5 than you can in similarly priced electric rivals such as the Peugeot e-208, and the regenerative braking system, which recharges the battery as you slow down, is well judged. This is ideal for a dog, because it reduces the likelihood of being jostled about while slowing down.

However, MG doesn’t sell any dog-related accessories for the 5, and boot space falls well short of the best petrol-powered estate cars.

Read our in-depth MG5 review

If you like the look of the ID Buzz, but don’t want to make the switch to an electric car, the equally enormous Volkswagen Multivan might be the MPV for you. It’s available in petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid variants, the latter offering an official electric-only range of just over 30 miles, and a 0-62mph time of 9.0sec.

The Multivan also comes as a 7-seater, where the ID Buzz can only seat five (the long-wheelbase ID Buzz will be available with up to seven seats when it goes on sale in 2024). The Multivan’s rear seats can be slid and rearranged to divvy up the interior space, however a larger hound will still struggle for space with all seven seats in place. A lack of standard-fit rear air-con could make for a hot dog during summer months.

Read our in-depth Volkswagen Multivan review

Luxury cars and dogs don’t often go together well – muddy paws and pale leather seats are a bad combination. However, Land Rover offers the Range Rover Sport with a variety of accessories to help make looking after both car and dog that little bit easier.

Indeed, our Luxury Car of the Year is available with the same array of useful dog carrying kit as the Land Rover Defender, from dog guards to full boot liners to a portable shower for hosing your pet – and your wellies – down after a particularly muddy hike.

The Defender’s rugged quality might mean its interior fares better over the years, but that car can’t match the Range Rover Sport when it comes to cosseting its human occupants.

Read our in-depth Range Rover Sport review

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