Companion animals are often more than just your best friend who speaks a language you can’t understand. Your favorite animal is a member of your family, and you might even treat them with greater care than you would some people. This might even extend to your car. You need to bring your baby somewhere; what car are you putting them in?
This question is relevant to me right now because next week, I will be assisting many other auto writers in rescuing what will probably be more than two dozen abandoned beagles. We’ll be using large crossovers and SUVs for the job. Don’t worry, you’ll read about this in full later this week!
The easy answer to this question could be a pickup truck. Look, I have cornfields less than a mile from my apartment and fully rural America not far from there. I’ve seen old trucks running down the road with dogs in their beds, either in crates or loose. Alternatively, you can put your furry friend into the back of a giant SUV, work van, or minivan. But to me, I like finding the smallest vehicle that can still safely transport my adorable friends.
My wife, Sheryl, and I used to have an adorable little rescue chihuahua named Malort. We got him when he was near the end of his life – he had gray fur! – but we made sure those final days were a total blast. Malort got to ride in everything from a Chevy HHR and a Dodge Grand Caravan to my Nova Bus RTS-06 transit bus and my Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI.
I think his favorite vehicle was the bus. He deeply enjoyed the bus because he was able to walk the entire length of the unit, sniff everything, and then pee into the rear door. It made me laugh that he basically took himself for walks while I drove.
Second to the bus was probably the Touareg V10 TDI. When Malort wasn’t running around, he loved eating, relaxing, and sleeping. Malort definitely loved the cushy seats and soft ride of the Treg. He spent most of the drive home in his doggie bed, watching the world go by.
After Malort’s passing, Sheryl and I had one pet remaining, a green-cheeked conure named Kathryn Janeway. She was later joined by a second conure named Tuvok. Janeway’s first-ever car ride was in Sheryl’s 2010 Toyota Prius; Janeway’s travel cage was a somewhat tight fit in the backseat, but the car worked just fine to carry her. She didn’t seem to care too much about the hybrid ‘Yota.
Later, Janeway and Tuvok got to ride in Wanda, the 2001 BMW E39 wagon that we got from our daydreaming designer, The Bishop. I was surprised to find that the birds loved this car. Janeway loved playing in the leather, and on a sufficiently long trip, she’d sleep rather quietly, which was something she never did in the loud-ish Prius.
Our next pet car was a 2012 Scion iQ, and it was a struggle. Getting the birds into the iQ requires turning their cage 90 degrees, shoving them through the tailgate, and then turning the cage upright again. It was rough and messy, but it worked. The birds hated the iQ the most. Often, they bumped their heads into each other as the car hit potholes. This caused little birdy shouting matches.
The Autopian’s Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet, however, turned out to be a surprisingly good bird carrier. I cannot load the birds inside when the roof is up, but the solution to that is easy. All I have to do is open the roof slightly, slide the birds in, then close the roof. Genius!
I think my answer to this question would be a transit bus, a motorhome, or a wagon. What about you? What’s your perfect pet car?
Top graphic image: Mercedes Streeter
2nd Gen CR-V. We had two Labs that loved to roll around on dead sea life and would happily hop up into the back and get their hosing down/shower in the front yard after a trip to the beach.
Goofy dogs. They even liked hopping into the back for a trip to the vet. They liked going to the vet. Every dog I have had since then has had to be dragged or lifted into the car for a trip to the vet. Or even a groomer.
Honda Element, naturally.
It’s gotta be a wagon for me. I have a Saab 9-5 estate which is perfect for animal carrying. Low & flat tailgate threshold, factory accessories for converting the boot area into a dog/cargo area (luggage/dog guard that secures into the roof and rear seats, moulded rubber mat to protect floor). Factory tiedowns so you can secure a cage to the car and so your beloved pet won’t be thrown around in corners (or even worse, a crash). A lot of dogs struggle to jump up into the high thresholds of SUVs, the wagon is perfectly suited to this kind of task.
First gen Volvo XC90, my current daily. Mainly because it’s huge in back with the second and third rows folded down, and there’s a split tailgate. I’ve had five dogs in mine at once (wish I had a pic). The only downside is that it’s higher off the ground than a regular station wagon, so older/lame dogs must be lifted into/out of it.
Ora Funky Cat
I think it really depends on the size of the dog. I have my two huskies and the 2018 Outback I got has been perfect for those two. But any larger breed than that, I’m thinking you need a van.
Any 2-seater convertible. I’m defining “best” by the number of thumbs ups and “aww”s you get, not by practicality.
It’s a late response, and I’m sure one that’s been repeated, but for our bigger dogs the minivan is the best. We leave the back seats folded flat into the floor, put a waterproof blanket down, and they can have the entire back end of the van. We also take them around town in a CR-V, which is fine for shorter trips, but is harder for long distances or weekend excursions. We have ~70lb and ~45lb golden doodles.
Worst choice was when we just had the 70lb guy and our previous little dog (~15lb mutt), I’d take them in my Mini Clubman from time to time. The big dog completely filled the space behind the seats.
Even if the hoseability of the interior is a myth, the answer is still and probably always will be the Honda Element.
Element is good, yea, but the height of the deck can be a challenge for older dogs. We had an element for a lot of years, but as the dogs got older we had to lift them into the car.