Best Cars for Dogs: How to Pick One That Actually Fits Your Dog

The five numbers that actually matter

Cargo volume is the number everyone quotes and the least useful one on the sheet, because it is measured to the roof. A tall, narrow space and a low, flat space can list the same cubic feet and behave completely differently with a crate in them.

• Load height: pavement to cargo floor. Under roughly 30 inches keeps a big or older dog jumping in without help.
• Floor shape: flat and square beats sloped and tapered every time.
• Cargo depth behind the second row — measure it with the seats up, the way you'll drive.
• Opening width at the tailgate: a crate has to pass through, not just sit inside.
• Rear airflow: dedicated rear vents or a third climate zone, because a cargo-area dog sits farthest from the front vents.

Measure the dog and the crate first

Shop in this order: measure the crate (or the dog standing and lying down), then shop for a car that swallows it. Doing it the other way around is how people end up returning a crate or driving with a dog loose in the back seat.

Bring a tape measure and, if you can, the actual crate to the test drive. Any dealer worth working with will let you set it in the back.

• Crate length, width and height — plus about two inches of clearance.
• Your dog's standing shoulder height for back-seat riders.
• Whether a ramp is in your future, and what angle the tailgate allows.

Body styles, ranked by how well they take a dog

Once you stop shopping badges and start shopping shapes, the ranking gets pretty stable across brands and model years.

• Minivan: lowest step-in height, flattest floor, widest opening. Unbeatable for two large dogs, and usually cheaper used than an equivalent SUV.
• Two-row midsize SUV: the best all-round answer — boxy tailgate, deep cargo well, reasonable load height.
• Wagon or hatchback: low load height and a square opening in a smaller, cheaper, thriftier package. Great for one medium dog.
• Compact crossover: plenty for one small or medium dog, cheapest to insure and fuel.
• Three-row SUV with the third row folded: often worse than a two-row, because the folded floor isn't level.
• Pickup: fine with a proper cab setup, poor if the dog rides in the bed. We don't recommend the bed.
• Coupe or sedan with a trunk: back seat only, and the seat needs a hammock and a harness.

Check rear climate on the test drive, not the brochure

This is the step almost nobody does and it takes ninety seconds. Run the air conditioning on max, then put your hand where the dog will actually ride. In a lot of crossovers the cargo area is measurably warmer than the front row, which matters in an Inland Empire or High Desert summer.

Rear vents in the second row are good. A third climate zone with its own controls is better. A cargo area with no airflow at all is a real strike against an otherwise good car.

Materials, options and accessories worth paying for

For a dog owner, a few options genuinely pay for themselves — and they cost far less ordered with the car than repaired later.

• Leatherette or leather over cloth if your dog sheds, swims or gets muddy.
• A factory cargo liner and all-weather mats, both far cheaper than replacing carpet.
• A power tailgate you can open with a leash in each hand.
• Tint, which lowers cabin temperature and glare — we work with tint shops for exactly this reason.
• Cargo tie-down anchors strong enough to actually restrain a crate.
• Skip: aftermarket seat covers that block side airbags, and any dealer 'pet package' that's a $40 mat with a $400 price.

Safety: how a dog should ride

A loose dog is a projectile in a crash and a distraction before one. Both of those are fixable for less than the cost of a tank of gas.

• A crash-tested crate secured to the cargo anchors is the safest option.
• A harness that attaches to a seat belt is the next best, in a back seat only.
• Never a front seat with an active airbag, and never the open bed of a truck.
• Never leave a dog in a parked car in California heat, tint or no tint.

What this costs to own, not just to buy

Dog-related ownership costs are small individually and real in aggregate. Budget for them up front so they don't turn into a reason to skip maintenance later.

• More frequent interior detailing, and cabin air filters sooner than the manual suggests.
• Tires and brakes on a heavier vehicle, if you size up for the dog.
• Insurance differences between two similar SUVs — quote the exact year, make and model before you buy.