Dog owners know the joys and challenges of taking their pets on car trips. Whether it’s for a family adventure or simply a visit to the vet, finding a vehicle that offers dog-friendly features is an important consideration.
The experts at AxleGeeks, a motors research site that’s part of the Graphiq network, came up with a list of the best cars for dog owners. We did this by targeting 2016 models that offered dog-friendly features such as cargo tie-downs, rear air conditioning, underseat storage, vinyl flooring and a vinyl or rubber cargo area.
From there, we ranked each model based on its Dog-Friendliness Score, or a raw count of dog-friendly features out of five options, and sorted them from worst to best.
Note: In the event of a tie, the cheaper vehicle was ranked higher.
#10. 2016 Chevrolet Traverse LS
Dog-Friendliness Score: 2
Dog-Friendly Features: Cargo Tie-Downs, Rear A/C
The Chevrolet Traverse comes with a class-leading 116.3 cubic feet of cargo space, making it the perfect vehicle for dog owners with larger breeds. However, its drawbacks include its high price and lack of vinyl floor coverings.
#9. 2016 Ford Explorer
Dog-Friendliness Score: 2
Dog-Friendly Features: Cargo Tie-Downs, Rear A/C
This SUV features rear air conditioning to keep your dog cool. However, its cargo space of 81.7 cubic feet results in significantly less space relative to comparable models like the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse, which provides nearly double the storage.
#8. 2016 GMC Acadia SL
Dog-Friendliness Score: 2
Dog-Friendly Features: Cargo Tie-Downs, Rear A/C
The 2016 GMC Acadia SL has great features like cargo tie-downs and rear air conditioning. Still, it lacks other amenities such as underseat storage, and its starting price of $30,975 leaves it out of reach for those on a budget.
#7. 2016 Dodge Journey Crossroad Plus
Dog-Friendliness Score: 2
Dog-Friendly Features: Cargo Tie-Downs, Underseat Storage
With 67.6 cubic feet of cargo room and underseat storage, this SUV has plenty of room to store your dog’s items. Its lone disadvantage is its leather-trimmed seating, which could be susceptible to damage inflicted by claws and paws without proper seat protectors.
#6. 2016 Jeep Cherokee Altitude
Dog-Friendliness Score: 2
Dog-Friendly Features: Cargo Tie-Downs, Underseat Storage
This limited-edition model features durable seating surfaces, smooth handling and the Jeep Brand Cargo Management System, making it the perfect adventure vehicle for families with dogs.
#5. 2016 Chevrolet Trax LT
Dog-Friendliness Score: 2
Dog-Friendly Features: Cargo Tie-Downs, Underseat Storage
Its cargo capacity of 48.4 cubic feet makes it the least generous in storage relative to other models on the list. It makes up for this deficiency in its low price and dog-friendly offerings like cargo tie-downs and underseat storage.
#4. 2016 Honda Fit EX
Dog-Friendliness Score: 2
Dog-Friendly Features: Cargo Tie-Downs, Underseat Storage
The 2016 Honda Fit EX is the total package: It’s fuel efficient, it has 52.7 cubic feet of cargo space and its $17,800 starting price is suitable for most budgets.
#3. 2016 Honda Odyssey LX
Dog-Friendliness Score: 3
Dog-Friendly Features: Cargo Tie-Downs, Rear A/C, Underseat Storage
This minivan offers the most storage of all dog-friendly models with 148.5 cubic feet of cargo room. Its main detriment is its high price, as other minivans like the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan SE are more reasonably priced.
#2. 2016 Ford Transit Connect Wagon XL
Dog-Friendliness Score: 3
Dog-Friendly Features: Cargo Tie-Downs, Rear A/C, Vinyl Floor Coverings
While this minivan isn’t as spacious as the 2016 Honda Odyssey LX, it is more affordable. In addition, the 2016 Ford Transit Connect Wagon features Rear LiftGate, giving your dog easier access into the vehicle.
#1. 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan SE
Dog-Friendliness Score: 3
Dog-Friendly Features: Vinyl/Rubber Cargo Area, Rear A/C, Underseat Storage
The 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan SE is the best model for dog owners due to its affordability, spacious interior and dog-friendly equipment such as rear air conditioning, underseat storage and a durable, pet-resistant cargo area.