Best Cars for Dogs

Here at Lease Fetcher, we like to think we know our cars pretty well. We know what you’re looking for when it comes to best-in-class comfort, slick styling and top-tier tech features.

But have you ever stopped to ask your loveable canine companion what it is that they are looking for in a new car?

It’s a lot more than just a big boot, we’ll tell you that.

Luckily, here at Lease Fetcher we have our very own canine car critic, that is, our mascot and Head of Barketing: Fetch.

Believe us, our resident puppy pundit has tried them all, and he’s not afraid to bark louder if the car isn’t up to his high standards.

We’ve got to hand it to him, he’s pretty meticulous: it took him a good few minutes of spinning around on the spot before he could finally get comfy in some of these cars.

Without further ado, here’s our round up of the best cars for dogs (and dog-owners)!

The Mercedes E-Class Estate is the perfect car for the refined driver and their pampered pooch.

This luxury car from Mercedes has heaps of space in the back, and the low lying boot and absence of load-lip make it easy for your furry friends to hop in and out with ease.

It’s incredibly comfortable, even without the optional air-suspension, but we’re sure they won’t complain if you add that in - fewer bumps for Fetch after all.

Fetch’s Final Verdict: 

“I have lots of space to stretch out my legs. It’s easy for me to jump in and out. Even my old friend Archie the Afghan managed it, and he is getting very old now...” 

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Skoda produces a lot of dog-friendly cars. The Skoda Octavia estate and Skoda Karoq are also great choices, but the Skoda Superb estate is our pick of the bunch. That’s because it is great value for money with excellent fuel economy and has one of the biggest boots on the market - without sacrificing space in the front and rear seats.

It’s a competent cruiser and will make for enjoyable trips on the motorway, with plenty of legroom in both the front seats and the rear. If you’ve got a big family (dogs included) then this is definitely one to consider.

Fetch’s Final Verdict: 

“I’ve never seen so much space in a boot. Wow. I could fit all of my friends in here”

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The Peugeot 308 estate matches the Skoda Superb estate in terms of sheer boot capacity, but it’s a little shorter and taller, so some large dogs may prefer standing tall rather than lying down. However, it doesn’t have quite as much leg room in the rear seats as the Superb Estate, making this option from Peugeot less comfortable for human occupants.

Fetch’s Final Verdict: 

“I don’t notice the extra head room but I think a greyhound would.”

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We know what you’re thinking, it’s a saloon. That means the boot is basically off-limits for your dog. Well, in truth, yes… the Model S or Model X would be a better option for your canine companion if you’ve got a big dog, or you’re not a fan of putting your dogs on the rear seats. But for a mid-sized mutt, there’s really nothing wrong with this car.

The Tesla Model 3 affordable electric car with one of the longest ranges - meaning you won’t have to keep stopping at a service station if you're taking your canine companion long distance.

Plus, the clever engineers at Tesla have recently added a ‘dog mode’ feature to all of their cars, including the Model S and Model X, via an update. This means you can leave your best friend in the car with the air-conditioning, and the screen will display a message to let other people know that your dogs are nice and comfortable.

Fetch’s Final Verdict: 

“Dog Mode keeps me cool, but also makes sure that others understand why I am barking. 

Sometimes people think ‘poor Fetch, he must be overheating in there'

‘Actually I have just seen a cat’”

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If you like to go off the beaten track (we’re sure that your dog does) the Land Rover Discovery is the perfect choice for you. Unlike many modern SUVs, you can actually take this one off-road.

Four-wheel drive and plenty of pulling power means this car can pull weights of up to three tonnes, giving your rottie a run for his money. With all 7 seats up, it’s tall enough to fit a Great Dane standing up in the boot and adults in every seat.

Electric seat folding makes it easy to collapse the third row and middle benches if you want to give your Saint Bernard the space it deserves. As you’d expect from Land Rover, there are plenty of luxury features such as climate control, heated seats and electronically adjustable seating.

So, if you're keen on a Land Rover lease deal for this fantastic model, let Lease Fetcher help you bag the best offer!

Fetch’s Final Verdict: 

“So many options for dogs. Spill-resistant water bowl? Yes please. Quilted boot liner? Thank you. Portable shower? Maybe not.” 

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The Ford S Max is one of the better 7 seaters on the market, offering a good mix of spaciousness, comfort, practicality and versatility. With all 7 seats up, the S Max by Ford doesn’t have a great amount of space in the boot, but rest assured, you can fold the seats down in as many as 32 different configurations, so you’ll be able to fit dogs of all shapes and sizes in with a little bit of adjustment.

The boot opening is also wide and low, so you should have no trouble loading up. It’s not the most luxurious car, and it doesn’t come with as much safety kit as standard, but it’s a reasonably priced people/puppy carrier nonetheless.

Fetch’s Final Verdict: 

“Oh boy. There’s nothing better than travelling with the whole family.” 

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If you’ve been looking at this list thinking ‘yeah, ok… but what about something fast?’ - don’t worry, we have just the car for you! The Audi RS4 Avant packs the performance of a supercar with all the practicality of an estate car.

This Audi has a twin-turbo V6 engine has a shockingly fast 0-62mph and it also looks delightfully sporty - on the front there’s a honeycombed grille, large front bumpers and big, aggressive-looking air-intakes. Muscular rear haunches, RS-style, oval tailpipes and a rear spoiler make this one of the coolest estate cars on offer. Dynamic ride control makes for a comfortable ride - fit for even pedigree pooches.

Fetch’s Final Verdict: 

“This car can go really fast. I’m pretty sure it is faster than a greyhound, and they’re pretty fast. The engine also makes a lot of noise, but I can make more...” 

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Ever wondered what the perfect car for our furry overlords would look like? The Nissan X-Trail 4Dogs is the answer. The load space is lined with quilted, wipe-clean material for extra comfort and has a built-in shower and hair dryer to clean and pamper your dog after a walk in the outdoors

A central screen lets your doggy know that you’re still there through a live video feed and you can even check on your pooch through the infotainment screen. Unfortunately this is still a concept car, but the standard Nissan X-Trail does a pretty good job when equipped with the ‘paw-pack’. It’ll convert your X-Trail’s boot space into a bespoke travel partition for your pups.

While the Nissan X-Trail Station Wagon's high ride height would ordinarily make it tougher sell for people with less agile dogs, a foldaway dog ramp should make it easier on their dog’s joints. There’s also a trunk liner, super soft dog bed and a seat back tidy to keep all your brushes and toys packed away neatly.

Fetch’s Final Verdict: 

“Cool concept car - I don’t know why the X-Trail 4Dogs isn’t in production yet!” 

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MCV, for those of you who are less familiar with this abbreviation, stands for ‘maximum capacity vehicle’. As you’d expect, that makes it an ideal choice for those with the mightiest of mutts, the greatest of Danes and the most sizable Saint Bernards.

But the other great thing about the Dacia Logan MCV, is the price. The word sophistication may not exactly spring to mind when you first sit inside this car, but if you need something cheap to run and easy to clean, then this option from Dacia the car for you!

Fetch’s Final Verdict: 

“You won’t find any creature comforts in this car, but at this price point it’s not to be sniffed at.” 

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While the Jeep Wrangler’s ride height may make it difficult for slightly older dogs to climb aboard, that’s nothing that a car dog ramp can’t fix. But if you’re an intrepid explorer with a daring doggo, this car is an absolute must. Why wind the window down when you can simply remove the roof for the ultimate ‘head out the window’ experience for you and your pup?

Fetch’s Final Verdict: 

“When we went for a drive with the roof off there were so many different scents - what a treat!”

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Summary

We hope you’ve enjoyed our best cars for dogs and dog lovers. While we tried to get a good mix of family cars, SUVs and estates with plenty of space for man’s best friend, there were, in the end, far more perfectly capable cars for canines than Fetch could wag his tail at.