Best cars for dog owners

Looking for a car that'll make your pooch feel pampered? Then look no further than this list of the best cars for dog owners.

The cars on this list all have the kind of boot that your four-legged friend dreams of. These cars' large boot openings mean they're easy to climb into, with no tall lip for your hound to leap over. Once in, they'll have plenty of space to stretch out. 

We have also chosen car that will appeal to you, the owner. You'll find everything here from bargain machines that give you lots for your money, to go-anywhere SUVs, large and comfortable family cars and posh estates that are great to drive and will cut a dash down the doggy day care car park.

There's something to suit every taste and budget, so read on for our guide to the best cars for dog owners.

1. BMW 5 Series Touring

Your dog will love it just as much as you do

If you're looking for a car that blends luxury, practicality, comfort and fun-driving into one awesome package, then you'll hit the jackpot with the BMW 5 Series Touring. The current one might not be as classically handsome as its predecessor, but the cooler estate body remains a rarer sight than the saloon. 

It's also a lot more practical. The boot lid opens electrically and it leaves a huge space for your dog to leap into, with no annoying lips for the animal to catch its paws on. Not only is the boot massive, it is also very practical, with hooks for your shopping and a 12V socket for a vacuum that'll make cleaning up after your hound that bit less of a pain. 

This well-rounded nature is also evident in the driving experience. The car's rear-wheel-drive chassis means it handles very well – you can also choose from xDrive four-wheel drive – and its suspension strikes an excellent balance between control and comfort. 

Getting one as a company car? There's also the BMW i5 Touring electric version that enjoys a super-low Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) rate. That makes up for the range being a bit more limited, now, with no diesel options and only one pure petrol, plus a couple of plug-in hybrids. If you're after more choice and want to save some money at the same time, the previous-generation version makes an excellent used buy. 

The older one also has a split tailgate so smaller items can be dropped in through the open rear window, without giving the dog a chance to make a bid for freedom. Given how plush the 5 Series is inside, however, you'd have to ask why any dog would even attempt to make a run for it. 

2. Skoda Superb Estate

Superb in name and nature

The Skoda Superb Estate is one of the best estate cars money can buy, and even better, you don't need a ridiculous amount of money to do so. It’s ideal for drivers who need a vehicle for dogs, but don’t want to pay through the nose. It’ll carry anything you need it to (within reason) and it’ll do it in a high level of comfort and with low fuel consumption.

A low boot lip means that it’ll be easy for dogs to jump in and out, even as they get older and once they’re inside, they’ll be able to enjoy a huge 690 litres of boot space. Skoda also offers a rear seat cover made especially for the Superb to both protect your rear seats and make life for your pooch that little bit nicer, and dog seatbelts to keep them safe should the worst happen.

When it comes to human passengers, there’s absolutely shedloads of legroom and headroom in the back for ultimate lounging capabilities. The ride quality is fantastic, meanwhile, with the suspension dealing effortlessly with poor quality roads and there's minimal noise in the cabin, too. There's a wide range of powertrains available in the Superb estate, including petrol, plug-in hybrid and – rare in this day and age – diesel.

3. Dacia Jogger

Seven-seater flexibility at a knock-down price

As a bargain seven-seater, the Dacia Jogger's main priority seems to be carrying around as many humans as possible for an incredibly low price. You can easily take out the third-row seats when needed, though, opening up a vast space for man's best friend to enjoy.

With those rear seats taken out, the Jogger offers a whopping 698-litre load space. You can simply fold them down, but they don't go completely flat and still take up quite a lot of room (it's not possible for them to 'disappear' into the floor as is possible with a big SUV), so it wouldn't be much fun for your canine passenger(s). Not to worry, as the sixth and seventh seats are quite light, so it's little bother removing them. 

Naturally, something has to give if you're selling a brand-new seven-seater for under £20,000 and sure enough, there are some compromises. The 1.0-litre engine isn't particularly powerful or refined, which you can solve by going for the hybrid version, but that's a lot more expensive. It also feels a little low-rent compared to some of the other cars on this list, but for a dog owner, that's not such a bad thing – you won't be as concerned with the additional associated wear and tear.

4. Land Rover Discovery

The premium pooch carrier

While it's true there are better luxury SUVs than the Land Rover Discovery when it comes to driving dynamics, few can beat it when it comes to practicality. That's because Land Rover’s seven-seater excels when it comes to space, comfort, off-roading and pure luxury. The British brand’s optional Pet Packs also mean you can pay extra for a full-height metal luggage partition and a rubber boot liner.

Of the various engines to choose, we recommend the entry-level 2.0-litre SD4 diesel. It isn’t quite as powerful as the bigger engines, but it doesn’t feel slower. It’s also more economical and it’s perky enough to keep you rolling along without too much trouble. The S and SE trim grades come with a decent amount of kit, but if you want a car like the Discovery to feel truly special then the HSE trim provides things like upgraded leather upholstery, adaptive cruise control, a hands-free powered tailgate, heated rear seats and a fixed panoramic roof.

With all seven seats up, the 258-litre boot is only big enough for a smaller dog. But we think most people will use the Discovery with the rearmost seats down most of the time. With five seats in place, there’s a whopping 1137 litres available, which will keep even the largest dogs happy.

5. Citroen Berlingo

Not the most glamorous, but extremely practical

If you want a hugely practical car at a reasonable price, the Citroen Berlingo is where you should put your money. It won’t woo you with sharp handling or stylish looks, but you will get luxurious levels of space without a premium price tag. 

The Berlingo is closely related to the Peugeot Rifter, Toyota Proace City Verso and Vauxhall Combo Life, so if you’re searching for a good MPV – vans with windows, basically – then it pays to look for the best deal on any of the three.

As you’d expect with a van-based car, the boot is gigantic at 775 litres, growing to 1050 litres still with five seats up (in the XL version). The tailgate is enormous, making it very easy for even the biggest dogs to leap in and get comfortable. But the hinged rear screen means you don’t have to open the whole door to give your pet water or the like, which is a big help when you’re backed up close to a wall, another car, etc.

The 130PS 1.5 BlueHDi diesel provides plenty of poke and the optional eight-speed automatic gearbox takes the pain out of long journeys and stop-go traffic. Flair trim is worth paying a little bit extra for because it adds reversing sensors that make it easier to get the big Citroen parked, plus proper electric rear windows.

6. Skoda Enyaq

Give your dog a more relaxing drive

Although it hasn't exactly been extensively researched, there's some evidence that points to dogs finding journeys in EVs more relaxing. That would make sense, given that they're generally quieter and can be driven around in a smoother fashion. 

Indeed, Skoda even borrowed TV vet Dr Scott Miller to perform a test using an Elroq, which appeared to suggest just that. We'd instead recommend the larger Skoda Enyaq instead, though. It's one of our favourite SUVs, offering the kind of practicality you're after as a dog owner, coupled with excellent value for money. 

Although the 85 models offer up to 354 miles of range, we reckon the Enyaq 60 is the pick of the bunch. There's also a Skoda Enyaq vRS, but it's not all that exciting, and you're probably not going to make full use of its 340PS with a canine passenger. 

7. Ford S-MAX

A car that makes you wish the MPV segment hadn't died off

The Ford S-Max isn’t the biggest car around – Bernese owners, look elsewhere – but it's an extremely practical MPV that won’t mean sacrificing driving pleasure for space. Although it can’t quite offer the space and practicality of the larger Ford Galaxy, the S-Max has better styling and handling. 

It seats seven, although the rearmost seats are only really suitable for kids. In seven-seat mode, the S-Max offers 285 litres of luggage space, which isn’t a whole lot. With the third row not in use, capacity increases to a cavernous 965 litres, with up to 2020 litres available in two-seat mode. 

That’s more than enough space for a dog or two, and the 150PS 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel engine blends performance and economy very well. We’d also suggest getting the entry-level Zetec trim level, which comes with a generous amount of kit.