Best cars for dog owners 2026

• Best cars for dog owners 2026
• Best cars for dogs
• How to choose the right car for your dog
• From affordable hatchbacks to off-road SUVs

These are some of the best cars for dog owners - featuring big boots, easy access, and cabins you can keep clean.

All dogs are different and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to ferrying your beloved pet.

But there are some key features dog owners demand, chief among those being a spacious and robust cargo area and simple ways to keep your pooch safe.

You’ll want to explore some of the dedicated canine accessories available from manufacturers, such as boot liners, guards, cages, and even portable pet cleaners.

This Select Car Leasing run-down covers vehicles with traditional petrol or diesel engines and fully electric powertrains.

Ford Tourneo Courier

The Ford Tourneo Courier is an outdoorsy MPV based on the Ford Transit Courier van.

Like its van sibling, with the Tourneo Courier you get a low load height at the back and a huge 570-litre boot that expands to 2,162 litres of luggage space with the rear seats folded flat.

Petrol and electric powertrains are available while ‘Active’ models get rugged plastic wheel arch mouldings to protect against scuffs and scrapes when you venture into the great outdoors with your four-legged friend.

Also consider: VW ID. Buzz, Dacia Dogger.

Citroen Berlingo

The versatile Citroen Berlingo is another van-derived MPV that boasts a cavernous boot and a very low boot lip, which makes it easy for dogs to hop in the back.

You’ve got a choice of petrol, diesel and electric powertrains - the latter of which offers a range in excess of 200 miles between charges.

For dogs more comfortable on the rear seats rather than in the boot, the Berlingo has sliding side doors on both sides for easy access.

Also consider: Peugeot Rifter, Vauxhall Combo Life

Skoda Octavia Estate

Skoda is a manufacturer that has long catered for dog owners and has partnerships with the likes of Crufts, Borrow My Doggy and charity Dogs for Good.

The Octavia Estate is a prime example of a Skoda designed with pets in mind. A large boot measures up to 640 litres while you also get a low load height and low boot lip, which is perfect for dogs with stiffer joints that might struggle to climb aboard.

Skoda also offers Pet Packs, which include a dog guard, rear boot protector and a double-sided boot mat. Petrol and diesel engines are available.

Also consider: Skoda Superb Estate, Skoda Enyaq

Honda Jazz

The Honda Jazz doesn’t have the largest luggage area in the class but what it lacks in overall space it makes up for with a wide boot opening and low, almost flat boot lip, which makes doggy loading a doddle.

The Jazz also features ‘Magic Seats’ which can fold completely flat, increasing the luggage space to 1,205 litres. The rear seats also lift up, which creates room in the back for a dog bed - perfect if your canine friend isn’t comfortable travelling in the boot.

Honda’s dedicated accessories include a foldable boot mat that covers the sill to prevent scratches and an anti-slip boot tray to trap dirt.

Also consider: Skoda Fabia, Ford Puma.

Volvo XC60

The Volvo XC60 boasts a low boot load height for this particular class of SUVs and no significant load lip, which is handy for loading both animals and dog crates.

A large boot measures up to 482 litres and has a wide opening while all Volvos are exceptionally safe, which will offer peace of mind to those transporting furry friends.

All-wheel drive is a given and you can choose from petrol and plug-in hybrid engines.

A range of optional pet packs are also available, including a protective steel grille and an all-weather boot compartment mat.

Also consider: Skoda Kodiaq, Kia Sportage.

Land Rover Discovery Sport

The Land Rover Discovery Sport sits a rung down from the larger and more expensive Discovery but still offers everything a dog owner might crave.

While it’s offered with 7 seats, the 5-seater is better for pooches as you get a gargantuan 780 litres of luggage space, combined with a relatively low load height and virtually nothing in the way of a boot lip.

A range of Land Rover doggy accessories are available, from spill-resistant bowls to a portable rinsing system. The Extended Pet Pack even brings a foldable pet carrier and quilted loadspace liner. Choose from frugal diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains.

Also consider: Nissan X-Trail, VW Tiguan.

Subaru Forester

Subaru is synonymous with adventures in the great outdoors and if you’re heading off the beaten track on your road trip with Rover then the Forester is a sensible choice.

The Forester takes the best bits of an SUV and an estate to offer a large 508-litre boot that sits low to the floor and has a flat load space - ideal for sliding crates and beds inside.

All versions of the Forester are all-wheel drive and feature an ‘X-MODE’ all-terrain system with Hill Descent Control - handy for those who love mountain walkies.

Subaru also recently partnered with BBC Countryfile Magazine Dog of the Year and says its vehicles are designed to offer safety, comfort, and versatility for drivers, passengers and their four-legged friends alike.

Also consider: Toyota RAV4, Isuzu D-Max pick-up.

How to choose the best car for your dog - 6 things to consider

Consider the boot lip, not just boot size

It goes without saying that cars with the biggest boots in their class are often brilliant vehicles for transporting your dog.

But you also need to consider the boot lip - the raised edge at the entrance of a car’s boot that you have to lift items over when loading or unloading.

A pronounced boot lip makes it trickier to slide in crates or beds and might also make it hard for Fido to jump inside.

Some cars also offer adjustable boot floors, which allows you to raise or lower the boot bed depending on your needs.

Check out these cars with a low or flat boot lip: Volvo XC60, VW ID.4.

Load height

Painful joint issues are a common problem among many dogs, with around 200,000 pooches treated for osteoarthritis each year in the UK.

Besides the size of a car’s boot, or its boot lip height, you also need to assess its load height - ie, how far off the ground the boot opening is.

Low-slung estates and some van-derived MPVs have the advantage here compared with higher-riding SUVs.

A low load height means your dog may be able to hop in the back without help, or a ramp, and it might just ease the lower backs of motorists with larger, heavier dog breeds.

Check out these cars with a low load height: Skoda Superb Estate, Ford Tourneo Courier

Versatile seat layouts

With smaller hatchbacks and crossovers, the boot alone may not be large enough to comfortably accommodate your dog.

In these scenarios, you might need to fold the rear seats down to create a safe space where your dog can still be suitably restrained.

Try to find a car where the rear seats fold down perfectly flat, particularly if you’re using a crate. Other cars have more versatile seating options.

The Honda Jazz, for example, has so-called ‘Magic Seats’ which lift up and backwards to create room in the rear of the cabin for a dog bed - perfect if your canine friend isn’t happy travelling in the boot.

The Renault Captur, meanwhile, has a sliding rear bench of seats that creates more boot space when needed.

Check out these cars with versatile seats: Honda Jazz, Toyota Corolla Estate.

Explore pet-friendly manufacturers

Some car manufacturers are more attuned with dogs than others.

Skoda, for example, has partnered with Crufts, Borrow My Doggy and the charity Dogs for Good while also offering dedicated, optional ‘Pet Packs’.

Those packs include dog guards, rear boot protectors, and rubberised mats.

Volvo also offers specialist dog products for its cars, including a steel grille and all-weather boot liner.

Land Rover’s Extended Pet Pack, meanwhile, brings creature comforts like a foldable pet carrier and quilted loadspace liner.

Check out these cars from pet-friendly manufacturers: Skoda Octavia Estate, Land Rover Discovery Sport.

All-wheel drive capabilities

For many dog owners, ‘walkies’ means journeys to the great outdoors.

And if you regularly take your canine companion off the beaten track, a vehicle with all-wheel drive capabilities might offer more assurance, even if you’re just parking up in muddy car parks.

Many affordable, compact cars still give you the choice of 4x4, including the likes of the Suzuki Swift and Toyota Yaris Cross.

Check out these cars with all-wheel drive: Subaru Forester, Dacia Duster.

Consider electric

Recent research by Skoda suggests that dogs actually prefer being an electric car than one with a traditional engine.

It’s all down to the way EVs deliver a quiet and smooth ride quality with the absence of abrupt gear changes, says the science.

The Skoda test showed a dog in an EV had a lower heart rate than when riding in a petrol or diesel car - which could indicate lower stress level.

You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to EVs suitable for dogs, with the Skoda Enyaq a leading contender.

Check out these other best EVs for dogs: Kia EV6, VW ID. Buzz.

Enjoyed this? Read our latest news

• BMW i3 will go the distance with 559-mile range
• Moody blacked out Jaecoo 7 joins line-up
• MG launches its first 7-seater!
• UK pothole crisis laid bare by new Select Car Leasing study
• New Musso EV - must-have pick-up of the year?

Where To Next?

What is car leasing? Read our car leasing explainer.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to our newsletter.

Looking for a great leasing deal? Check out our incredible range of special offers.

Read our latest reviews and find the right model for you.

Want to know more about leasing? Take a look at our comprehensive leasing guides.

Interested in everything motoring? Why not catch up on all the latest car leasing news.