Buying the right car often comes with certain personal requirements that a specific model has to address. Whether it’s spacious interior, a powerful engine, or even something as vain as a slick-looking dashboard. We’ve all been there. We all want specific needs that can justify the money we spend on a new car. But what if one of those needs involves making our canine companions as relaxed and as comfortable as possible? Certainly, there are a lot of people who have dogs and want what’s best for them, including a comfortable car that they can enjoy as much as their two-legged companions. It’s easy to prioritize the needs of those who can verbally address those needs. It’s harder to do it when all you get is a bark and a cuddle. We’re down to try, though, so here are ten vehicles that we think are best-suited to address the needs of your four-legged besties.
Mercedes GLS-Class
Mercedes-Benz GLS - At a price approaching $70,000, it’s easy to look at the Mercedes-Benz GLS as excessive, especially if you have your pooches in mind. But this SUV isn’t just for your canine friends; it’s also for you. The Mercedes GLS as all the amenities you’d want in an SUV, It features a potent 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 engine that produces 362 horsepower.
Read our full review on the 2019 Mercedes GLS-Class
Subaru Outback
No list of best dogs for car owners is complete without mentioning the Subaru Outback. Arguably the most dog-friendly car in the market, the Outback checks all the boxes you need when you’re buying a car with your four-legged best friends in mind. The crossover’s low ride height means that it’ll be easy for your dog to get into and out of the Outback without so much as a minute hassle. Cloth seats come standard on lower trim, too, though there are options to upgrade for leather seats on the top trims. Either way, your dogs should find it comfortable inside the Outback, and even if they do leave hair on the seats and mud on the floor, it’s relatively easy to clean.
Read our full review on the 2020 Subaru Outback
Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
Most of this list is populated by crossovers and SUVs and for good reason. Generous interior space is one of the prerequisites of a vehicle that can qualify as one of the best cars for large dogs. But just because crossovers and SUVs get the love, that doesn’t mean it can’t be shared with minivans. Minivans may be a dying breed, but they’re still very useful under the right circumstances. Take the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, for example. It has a low floor, large rear hatches, and wide sliding side doors. In other words, they’re perfect vehicles for your dogs. You’re not going to worry about cargo space, too, when it comes to the Pacifica Hybrid.
Read our full review on the 2019 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
Land Rover Discovery Sport
The Land Rover Discovery Sport is one of the best cars for dog owners, though that distinction isn’t just about the Discovery Sport itself as it is all Land Rover models. See, Land Rover has what it calls Pet Packages, a range of accessories packages meant specifically for your pets. There’s the Pet Cargo Space Protection Package, which facilitates easy cleaning of the cargo area. Among the items featured in this package include the quilted cargo space liner, a spill-resistant pet bowl, and a full-height luggage partition divider that prevents your pet from laying waste to all the plush and quality materials in the interior of your Discovery
Read our full review on the 2018 Land Rover Discovery Sport
Kia Soul
The Kia Soul doesn’t have nearly the same amount of interior space and cargo volume as some of the bigger crossovers and SUVs in this list. But those crossovers and SUVs are considered the best cars for large dogs. What, then, do we have to suggest as the best cars for small dogs? For that, I present the Kia Soul. The Soul offers the same things for small dogs as the Pacifica minivan does for large dogs. There’s enough space in the Kia’s cabin to comfortably accommodate your Dachshunds, Shih Tzus, or Jack Russell terriers. Most of these breeds I mentioned are known to be shedders, but that’s not a problem for the Soul.
Read our full review on the 2020 Kia Soul
Volkswagen Atlas
Looking for an all-new model that can make both man and animal swoon? Take a stab at the all-new Volkswagen Atlas. VW’s new SUV has space, quality, and refinement that makes it suited as a dog-friendly ride. The Atlas’ spacious cargo area is just the start of it.
Read our full review on the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas
Jeep Wrangler
Dogs are inherently messy without meaning to. That’s why when you’re a dog-lover, you understand that you’re the one that has to clean up after the mess your pets create. What better quality to have in a car, then, than a completely washable interior, right? If that’s the case, the Jeep Wrangler is the car for you. The four-door Wrangler is probably the better option for interior space purposes, but the two-door isn’t tight inside anyway. It’s well-suited for animals, as well, especially if you’re the type who wants to bring them with you to the outdoors.
Read our full review on the 2018 Jeep Wrangler
Subaru Ascent
There are two Subarus on this list, and, if I’m being honest, this whole list could be made up entirely of Subarus. That’s how dog-friendly the Japanese automaker is, both in reputation and in real life. It says a lot that Subie’s newest SUV, the Ascent, can seat up to eight in people in three rows and still has enough room behind the third-row seats to blow away many of its rivals.
Read our full review on the 2019 Subaru Ascent