Car experts discover ‘best’ vehicle if you have a dog

In 2024, a dataset by UK Pet Food revealed there were 13.5million dogs being kept as pets in the UK, and that 36 percent of households had a dog. With there being over 30million registered cars in the UK, there are a lot of drivers who may also have a dog to take with them on the road.

With that in mind, a group of car experts have discovered the best car to own if you have a pooch in tow. The experts come courtesy of Auto Express,who have searched through the best cars on sale in the UK to find out the top choice for a dog owning driver.

In the end, they settled on a product from VW-owned Czech company Skoda and their Octavia Estate. Priced at around £28,000, the Skoda’s estate silohouette means there isn’t much of a lip for dogs to jump into if they’re placed in the back of the car.

What’s more, there’s a special feature to make the dog more secure and reassure the owner. The experts explained: “While the cabin’s quality is good enough for humans…it also feels tough and robust enough to cope with all your dog can throw at it.

“Skoda’s ‘dog seat belt’ will be an appealing optional extra for many, but it can only be used on the rear seat, so it would be a sensible idea to couple it with the optional backseat protection cover. With 640 litres of boot capacity, the Octavia Estate will easily accommodate a couple of dogs and their accessories.”

However, the Skoda wasn’t a runway winner, with a car costing nearly £10,000 less coming in a close second, in the form of the £18,900 Dacia Duster.

On this particular model, the testers remarked: “While the low price does come at the cost of luxury, this can actually be an advantage for a dog owner – you won’t be spending your whole time worrying about the interior being trashed by canine claws and mud, because the materials in the Duster should be hard-wearing.”

In third place was another Skoda, this time the electric Elroq. Whilst in the past, the idea of an electric car for dog owners may have been questionable due to the limitations of range, the experts said there are no worries here.

They said: “It’s a bit smaller than its older sibling, but the Elroq still provides plenty of space for human and canine passengers.

“You’ll be able to venture quite a way to enjoy some truly scenic dog walks, too, because even the smallest…battery provides up to 232 miles of range on a single charge.”

Speaking in greater detail about why they had chosen the cars they had, automotive journalist Shane Wilkinson said: “Just like your human passengers, your four legged friend also deserves to travel in comfort.

“We’ve chosen cars with large, easily accessible boot areas, and prioritised those that are clean to clean and have useful accessories.”

Whilst the car may be right for the owner, several experts have also provided some tips on how to keep your dog calm on the move, including why electric cars may be better for their mental health.

Speaking about the benefits, for example, of an electric Elroq over its petrol rivals Dr Scott Miller told the Express: “Battery electric cars provide a smoother and more calming experience. The lack of mechanical moving parts, reduced vibrations and noise, and the spacious interiors of EVs create a soothing environment for dogs.”