Best Cars for Dog Owners: Top Picks for 2025
Your dog is part of the family, and they deserve the best. When it comes to car choices, that includes safety, comfort, and practicality for your four-legged friend. Fortunately, there are plenty of excellent cars on the market for both people and pooches. Our expert road testers have rounded up the top cars for dog owners, considering everything from boot space to ease of cleaning.
Practicality is key. You’ll also want a car that’s enjoyable to drive. Here are some top models, ranging from superminis to fully electric SUVs, that cater to both drivers and dogs alike. All the cars below come highly recommended, thanks to their practicality, driving characteristics, and overall value. These are all good buys, but their advantages especially shine when improving life with a dog.
Our experts have chosen cars with large and accessible boot areas, models that offer useful accessories, and are easy to clean. Any models with bumpy rides or poor refinement were dismissed. Based on all of these factors, we have compiled the following list of the best cars for dog owners, in descending order:
- Skoda Octavia Estate
Estate cars don’t get much more sensible or suitable for almost any use than the Skoda Octavia Estate. Its relative simplicity and durability make it ideal for dog transport, too. While the cabin quality is good enough for humans—rivaling more expensive cars from premium brands—it also feels tough and robust enough to handle whatever your dog may throw at it.
A dog’s safety is paramount, so Skoda’s optional ‘dog seat belt’ will be an appealing extra for many owners. However, it can only be used on the rear seat, so it would be paired perfectly with the back seat protection cover option. Boasting 640 liters of boot capacity, the Octavia will easily accommodate a couple of dogs and their accessories. Plus, with its robust reputation, the Octavia is a popular buy on the used market, which helps when it’s time to trade it in.
- Dacia Duster
Large, straightforward, robust, and affordable, the Dacia Duster is appealing whether you have a dog or not, particularly with prices starting under £19,000 – less than dozens of far less practical vehicles. The Duster is one of the least expensive new cars in the UK, and with 594 liters of boot space, increasing to 1,696 liters with the rear seats folded down, there’s plenty of room for your canine companion, too.
While the low price does mean limited luxury, this is an advantage for dog owners. You won’t need to worry so much about plush materials being ruined by claws and mud, as the materials in the Duster are designed for heavy use.
- Skoda Elroq
Best for running costs
The Enyaq was a strong effort for Skoda’s first EV, but the Elroq takes the great bits of its sister car and adds some further improvements. It’s a bit smaller than its older sibling, but the Elroq provides plenty of space for passengers, both human and canine. You’ll venture quite far to enjoy some truly scenic dog walks, with the smallest 52kWh (usable) battery claiming up to 232 miles of range on a single charge.
Skoda’s own research suggests that dogs prefer electric cars, too, which should help your furry best friend be as comfortable as possible. Our testers found the Skoda Elroq to be exceptionally pleasant, ensuring long-distance trips are relaxing. The interior feels good and sturdy, and should hold up well against muddy paws and claws. You may want to cover some of the more colourful upholstery to play it safe!
- Land Rover Defender
It was often said that you could hose out the interior of the original Land Rover Defender if you were brave enough. However, we definitely don’t recommend doing that with the new model. While the Defender’s cabin is still relatively washable compared to that of a new Range Rover, pointing a hose at the dashboard will probably result in soggy electronics and an awkward call to your dealer.
Even so, the modern Defender maintains the off-road capability and toughness of its predecessor. There’s plenty of room in the back, and you can take your dog walking in remote and rough terrain. You can even choose from Land Rover pet accessories, including a ramp to help your four-legged friend scale the boot floor, several cabin dividers, a folding pet carrier, and a portable rinse system.
- Dacia Jogger
Best value for money
It only takes a look at the Dacia Jogger to grasp how spacious it is inside. Its unusual design combines a small van, estate car, SUV, and MPV. This gives you a choice of up to seven seats or 1,807 liters of cargo space. The great part? A starting price of less than £19,000.
This low cost becomes obvious when you sit inside the Jogger, due to the abundance of low-cost plastics. However, these feel well put together. You won’t be overly worried about protecting the cabin when carrying a four-legged passenger. Even if it is budget-focused, it has a decent amount of standard kit, like air-conditioning, cruise control, and rear parking sensors.
- Citroen E-Berlingo
The Citroen Berlingo comes in two forms: a van or a van-based MPV. This means lots of space inside. Both humans and larger dogs will have room to spare, and the van-style rear doors make access easier.
Opt for the pure-electric E-Berlingo and you’ll benefit from reduced running costs, tax savings, and exemption from emissions-based charges. Battery range is 213 miles from a full charge, which should be enough for daily tasks and occasional longer trips.
- Mercedes E-Class Estate
If you want to transport your pet in luxury, there are few better options than the Mercedes E-Class Estate. Long a favorite of the country set, the E-Class Estate is particularly adept on long journeys. It offers excellent interior quality, a smooth ride, and excellent refinement.
There’s an optional fold-out sill-protecting mat to protect your E-Class from claws, and the boot can close automatically once the dogs are out. At 615 liters, the boot is larger than the Skoda Superb’s. With a range of punchy yet smooth engines, the E-Class Estate will get you and your dog to your destination composed and on time.
- Skoda Superb Estate
There are many dog-friendly Skodas, and the Superb Estate is our third pick. It focuses on comfort over performance and boasts a huge 690 liters of cargo room for your dog to stretch out in. The interior quality is up to the standards of even pedigree pooches, and there’s loads of equipment in the cabin. There’s also a range of loadspace accessories to make the boot area more practical.
You can even make it easy for your dog to leap in and out with a low load bay. If your hands are full, the optional powered tailgate will come in handy.
- Honda Jazz
The Honda Jazz is the smallest car on this list, but don’t let that fool you. This car has a dog-friendly party piece. Cleverly engineered ‘Magic Seats’ in the rear make the Honda Jazz one of the most practical superminis on the market. Either the seat backs can be folded flat, or you can fold up the bases entirely.
This means taller items—or dogs—can fit in the gap between the front and rear seats with surprising ease, allowing your dog to have space outside of the boot alone. The latest Jazz is only available as a hybrid, offering reasonable running costs, thanks to over 60 MPG.
- Ford Tourneo Connect
Best for interior space
If you have a particularly large dog, you might be tempted to buy a van. Before you do, consider a van-based MPV that offers a blend of passenger and cargo-carrying capability. The Ford Tourneo Connect is one of our expert road testers’ preferred van-based MPVs. Sharing components with the Volkswagen Caddy, this is cheaper to buy and boasts more impressive standard equipment.
Fold down the rearmost seats, and your dog will have a generous 2,556 liters of space (rising to 3,105 liters in the long-wheelbase model). The Tourneo Connect’s low loading lip makes boarding a breeze.
