Top 10: Best Premium Cars for Dog Owners in 2023
21st Jul 2023
Luxury cars that are dog-friendly
There are a number of considerations to make when buying a new vehicle, but dog owners have the added concern of finding a vehicle that is suitable for their dogs.
Although spaciousness is a huge factor, especially with larger dogs, it is not the only factor that defines the suitability of a vehicle for a canine companion. Dogs need to be able to easily access the boot, experience a comfortable journey, and some manufacturers even sell accessories aimed specifically at dogs such as boot liners, partitions, and ramps.
To assist with your search for a dog-friendly car, here are our top 10 cars for dog owners.
- Land Rover Discovery
- Audi Q5
- Mercedes-Benz GLE
- Aston Martin DBX
- Jaguar F-PACE
- MINI Countryman
- Land Rover Defender
- Mercedes-Benz A-Class
- Tesla Model 3
- Jaguar XF Sportbrake
Land Rover Discovery
The Land Rover Discovery has long been a go-to choice for owners with larger dogs, and with good reason. The Discovery boasts a split-folding rear tailgate that is perfect for medium to larger sized dogs to hop on to.
The Discovery has seven seats, however, if your dog is travelling in the boot the two rear seats can be folded down to provide extra space. The boot is 1,411mm wide and 854mm high; enough space for larger breeds such as a Great Dane or a Bernese Mountain Dog.
There are numerous storage compartments located around the cabin and rear for securing belongings. A panoramic sunroof is also available, allowing maximum light and air into the cabin to keep your dog comfortable on long journeys.
Land Rover also have a large range of pet packs available including the Pet Loadspace Protection Pack, Pet Transportation Pack, Pet Rear Seat Protection Pack and the Pet Care and Access Pack. These packs include accessories such as partitions, loadspace liners and ramps.
Search Land Rover Discovery Offers
Audi Q5
Proving to be one of the German marque's best-selling models, the Audi Q5 is a spacious and comfortable luxurious SUV.
An enormous boot, with a luggage capacity ranging from 550 to 610 litres, and standard features such as powered tailgate operation make the Q5 a real hit for dog owners.
Dogs the size of Labradors will be able to appreciate a pleasant journey with plenty of space, whilst owners can relax in the sumptuous interior with class-leading acoustics.
Some used examples may feature air suspension, which was available as an option from new, enabling the car to be lowered; making it easier for dogs to jump in and out of the boot without injuring themselves.
A sporty, performance model is also available; badged the SQ5. Powered by a 336bhp 3.0-litre V6 TDI engine, the SQ5 features quattro all-wheel drive and can complete the 0 to 62mph sprint in a mere 5.1 seconds.
Mercedes-Benz GLE
Typical of a Mercedes-Benz car, the GLE offers an elegant and luxurious interior as well as plenty of choice when it comes to powertrains.
Spacious and practical, the large, stylish SUV is available with five or seven seats, and you can choose from a range of engines too. There are petrol and diesel engines available, as well as mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid options, and two powerful, performance-focused AMG variants; the GLE 53 4MATIC+ and the GLE 63 S 4MATIC+.
Across the range, the boot capacity is an outstanding 630 litres; ample room for a few small dogs or a couple of larger breeds. However, if you go for the PHEV version, the loadspace is reduced to 490 litres.
You can also purchase the Mercedes-Benz genuine car products: dog pack, to keep your car looking and feeling brand-new; even when you are a dog owner.
Search Mercedes-Benz GLE Offers
Aston Martin DBX
A dream come true for sports car fans who are in need of added practicality, the Aston Martin DBX is the British brand's first SUV with sports car levels of performance.
Powered by an almighty V8 petrol engine with an intoxicating 542bhp, the DBX offers a sensuous driving experience with an interior that seamlessly blends elegance with durability.
Practicality is another strong attribute for the luxurious SUV, boasting 632 litres of boot space. A narrow load sill and broad aperture makes the boot even more suitable for large breeds of dog.
Aston Martin cater well for dog owners and have developed accessories such as a dog bed, portable washer, dog accessory kit and a dog partition; to enhance the experience for your pet and protect the car's interior.
Search Aston Martin DBX Offers
Jaguar F-PACE
The Jaguar F-PACE boasts an incredibly large boot space with a width of 1,091mm and a height of 751mm, ensuring a comfortable journey for one or two Labrador Retrievers.
Another benefit of the F-PACE is the reversible boot floor that is carpeted on one side and rubberised on the other; removing any concerns of muddy paws and dog hairs. Furthermore, the luxury SUV's tailgate benefits from optional power opening and closing functions as well as gesture control, enabling hands-free operation.
Four pet packs including the Pet Luggage Compartment Protection Pack, Pet Transportation Pack, Pet Care and Access Pack and the Pet Rear Seat Protection Pack can be purchased to accessorise the F-PACE so it is fully prepared for transporting four-legged friends in comfort, whilst protecting the car.
MINI Countryman
A slightly smaller addition to the list, compared with the other large SUVs, is the MINI Countryman. Still, the Countryman boasts 1,390 litres of boot space with the rear seats folded and a decent 450 litres as standard – plenty of room for a dog to fit in as well as passengers.
Coming with a range of engines to choose from including plug-in hybrid variants, and a high-performing John Cooper Works edition that produces a whopping 306bhp, there will be an option for everyone.
There are also plenty of MINI Accessories including dog guards that can be incredibly useful for when you are travelling with pets.
Land Rover Defender
Available as the 3-door 90, the 5-door 110, or the larger 8-seater 130, the new Land Rover Defender is perfectly suited for either the countryside or urban areas.
Although the 90 has a decent loadspace capacity of 397 litres, the length behind the second row of seats is only 460mm (the Discovery has a length of 1,101mm); meaning you will struggle to fit larger breeds of dogs in the boot, unless they are puppies (pictured).
Opt for the 110, however, and you will have access to 916 litres of space without the third row of seats; plenty of room for fully grown Labradors or other large working breeds.
The largest 130 option can get you up to 1,232 litres with the third row folded, giving you ample room for multiple dogs as well as passengers in the second row of seats.
There are plenty of Land Rover Accessories available to make the Defender even more suitable for canine companions, helping transport them safely whilst protecting the interior.
Search Land Rover Defender Offers
Mercedes-Benz A-Class
There is a clear trend in this article you may have noticed, so far we have only mentioned SUVs. However, you do not need to keep your search just within that segment. Some hatchbacks, such as the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, offer ample room in the boot for dogs.
Pictured above is actually the Mercedes-AMG A35 4MATIC Hatchback, which has a boot capacity of 370 litres, the same as the standard model A-Class Hatchback. The A 250 e, which is the PHEV model, has a slightly smaller boot due to hybrid technology but would still be able to accommodate a medium to large dog or two.
Choosing the hot hatchback model not only provides you with a larger boot, you also get much more performance. The 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine delivers just over 300bhp and enables an impressive 0 to 62mph time of just 4.7 seconds.
Search Mercedes-Benz A-Class Offers
Tesla Model 3
This fully-electric saloon is another great option for drivers that don't want the typical, larger SUV, but still want to travel with pets in tow.
Thanks to its all-electric powertrain, the Tesla Model 3 is also a highly efficient, environmentally-friendly alternative that also comes packed with state-of-the-art technology. This is a great option for those that do not want to sacrifice an ounce of luxury when driving with their dogs.
Tesla also offers a handy feature called 'Dog Mode' that allows you to set a temperature in the car to keep your pet comfortable if you need to pop out and run some errands. This feature is not available on all used models, so it is important to check the features and specifications before buying one.
Jaguar XF Sportbrake
'Sportbrake' is Jaguar's name for an estate, so essentially the Jaguar XF Sportbrake is the estate version of the XF Saloon.
You get the same luxurious interior and phenomenal driving experience that you would expect from the XF Saloon, with a much larger boot; allowing you to bring along your four-legged friends.
A couple of large breed dogs will be content in the generous 563-litre boot space on offer in the XF Sportbrake, increasing to 1,342 litres with the rear seats folded, and just like with the F-PACE; there are plenty of pet accessories available, too.
Search Jaguar XF Sportbrake Offers
Find the perfect dog-friendly car at Stratstone
Here are just some of the best premium and luxury cars for dogs and their owners, there are plenty more cars out there that are worth exploring.
If you have a certain style of car in mind we have plenty of other buying guides to help you find the ideal vehicle including Best Luxury and Premium Hybrid Cars, Best Small Luxury SUVs, and Best Used Luxury Estate Cars.
Alternatively, you can browse our extensive collection of premium and luxury new and used vehicles.
