Latest News
2025 Buick Enclave vs Honda Pilot
Pet owners rejoice! We have found the best cars for dogs. Large or small dogs, here are the best options and accessories for your dog.
We Want Only the Best for Our Dogs
Dog parents are more prevalent than ever. I would know, I am one. We want the best food, the best care, and the best treats for our dogs, but what about the best car? Sure, any car will work for a dog if you just open the window for them, although there are some that make trips to the dog park much easier. We found some vehicle options that come with nifty dog related features, easy to clean interiors, pet-oriented accessories, and plenty of room for a dog and its treats or toys. Here’s our list of the best dog friendly cars of 2021!
Toyota Sienna
The 2021 Toyota Sienna is fully redesigned and has some nice features for you and your dog. There are rear sunshades for hot summer days, an available multizone climate control, and Driver Easy Speak to tell the dogs in the back to share the branch they found. Minivans are lower to the ground, so older dogs or small dogs will have an easier time getting into the vehicle. Plus, you won’t have to fumble around with leashes and handbags when moving your dog in or out of the vehicle, as the Sienna has powered sliding doors and rear liftgate.
The Sienna had a lot of promise when it was initially announced with a vacuum cleaner and a working fridge, but those ideas got scrapped before production. There’s also the drawback of the second row only being able to be pushed forward to create more puppy room rather than be folded or removed. Available dog friendly accessories include a tri-fold cargo liner and all-weather floor mats, but with the missing promised features, the Sienna is out shined by the rest of the list.
Subaru Crosstrek
Subaru loves pets, and I’m not just talking about their charitable donations to pet shelters or their Make A Dog’s Day adoption celebrations (those are very nice though). The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek has standard all-wheel drive and just enough ground clearance to comfortably wander into the wilderness with your tail wagging buddy. The great outdoors can get your dog pretty dirty, but Subaru has you covered with their optional water-repellent and more durable cloth seats available on the Sport trim.
If even that isn’t going to be quite enough for your active pooch, Subaru offers a machine washable rear seat cover, all-weather floor liners, and a rear seatback protector for when the seats are down. Still not sold? What if I told you there’s an entire Subaru branded lineup of collars, leashes, dog toys, and more? Well, there is one so your dog can accessorize to match your ride.
Chrysler Pacifica
The Pacifica typically lags behind in the minivan segment when compared to the Sienna or Odyssey, but they do pretty well when it comes to being a dog friendly car. The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica comes with second and third row Stow ‘n Go seats for more space, multizone climate control, the rear passenger viewing FamCAM to keep an eye on the dogs, and a self-proclaimed best-in-class built-in vacuum powered by RIDGID for those puppy messes when out and about.
The power-sliding doors and low ride height of the minivan are helpful for aging or small dogs. The Pacifica’s cabin is also pretty quiet, which can help those pups that frighten easily. Chrysler also does well with accessorizing the Pacifica to better suit a dog family. It has available all-weather floor mats, a full-length cargo liner, and even a branded folding pet kennel so that small dogs can still have their own space when riding with children.
Honda Odyssey
The 2022 Honda Odyssey just released, but the option you’ll want is last year’s model. 2021 was the last Odyssey model to come with the HondaVAC, a built-in vacuum for cleaning up grass and dirt your puppy may drag in. Otherwise, both model years still carry exceptional dog features like multizone climate control, second and third row fold flat seats, rear sunshades, power sliding doors, hands-free power tailgate, and not only CabinTalk but CabinWatch as well.
With both of Honda’s rear passenger talking and watching technologies, you can see why that mischievous pup got so quiet and tell them to stop eating their leash. The Honda Odyssey also offers dog friendly accessories like a trifold rear cargo mat, second and third row seat covers, and all-season floor mats. All this capability in an accessible minivan form really makes it a multi-dog family must have.
Subaru Outback
We’re done with the minivans and back with another Subaru. With all their emphasis on loving dogs, we have to include at least a second option for dog friendly cars. The 2021 Subaru Outback offers the same standard all-wheel drive and ground clearance from the Crosstrek, but in a more powerful and larger form. That larger space means more room for more dogs, which is always a bonus. The Outback also has the available water-repellant upholstery found in the Onyx Edition.
What’s different from the Crosstrek is that the Outback offers a hands-free power liftgate in the rear, so loading up an active pup with your hands full is a breeze. As for accessories, you’ll notice the similar machine washable rear seat cover, all-weather floor liners, and a rear cargo tray, but the Outback also gains an available cargo gate separator and rear sunshades. Don’t forget about the Subaru branded dog merchandise either to really complete the package.
Jeep Wrangler
The Jeep Wrangler goes hand in hand with outdoor adventure, and dogs make for great adventure companions. The 2021 Jeep Wrangler comes standard with a 4×4 drivetrain and off-road oriented suspension, so diving into the middle of nature with your dog is a breeze. Being that Jeeps are known for getting down and dirty, the Jeep Wrangler makes clean up a super simple thanks to a weather-resistant removable carpet and floor drain valves. You can basically run a hose across the Wrangler’s floor to clean up any mud or puppy accidents from a recent outing.
Forget about having to roll the window down with a Wrangler, you can just pop the roof off and remove the doors so the dogs can feel the wind on their face even if they sit in the middle (just be sure to have them strapped in with a harness). Jeep also has plenty of extra accessories to fit your dog parent lifestyle. Theres all-weather floor mats and rear cargo tray, MOLLE bags that can be strapped inside to fill with dog essentials, a foldable Jeep branded pet kennel, an elastic net pet partition, and there’s even a rear hatch attachable pop-up tent for when you’re camping out with your buddy. There’s also loads of dog-oriented aftermarket accessories specific to the Wrangler too.
Tesla Model X
While the Tesla Model X isn’t necessarily the best option for getting out and into the depths of nature, it does make for a great dog friendly car in the city. It offers plenty of space in the back, the rear Falcon Wing doors and liftgate open and close automatically making loading and unloading dogs easier, and it has a tech offering we hope to see more of in other cars as dog lovers. Tesla’s Dog Mode allows owners to safely leave their doggy companion in the car knowing that the car will keep them in a cool climate and notify passersby that the dog is being kept comfortable and safe until their owner is back.
The Tesla Model X comes with synthetic leather seats, so dog hair or other related messes should be an easy clean up. There are also helpful accessories like multiple all-weather floor liners and cargo mats as well as rear sunshades for the Falcon Wing doors and the liftgate. If the tech gimmicks and accessories aren’t selling you on the Model X, keep in mind that it received a 5-star safety rating in every category from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. So, any thoughts about you and your dog’s safety can be put at ease.
Audi Q5
The Q5 is already one of Audi’s best-selling vehicles, but it’s also one of their most dog friendly vehicles too. The 2021 Audi Q5 comes standard with easily cleanable leather seating and provides plenty of room inside with the seats up or down in the rear. Audi also offers their very own dog harness accessory in various sizes so that your dog can be safely and quickly attached to the rear seat with ease.
Audi has even more dog related accessories available for the Q5 though. There are multiple all-weather cargo trays and mats, all-weather floor mats, Guard Mats floor liners, a rear seat protector, and a loading sill protective mat to protect the rear bumper from scratches as your dog enters through the trunk. Plus, if you’re all about dog accessories to match your ride, Audi has the Road Dog collection featuring collars, leashes, and more to match your pup with your Audi.
Volvo XC60
Volvo is another brand that loves dogs, as they work with the Petfinder Foundation which supports animal shelters and rescue groups to help get animals adopted by a loving family. They also offer pet insurance through Liberty Mutual Insurance to help with any sudden issue that may arise with your family dog. As for a dog friendly vehicle from them, the 2021 Volvo XC60 is a luxury SUV that creates a calm, safe, and enjoyable ride for your furry best friend.
The XC60 has plenty of cargo space (especially with the rear seats folded down), a hands-free liftgate, and available easy to clean leather seating. Volvo also has you covered when it comes to dog-oriented accessories. They offer compatible dog safety harnesses, cargo liners, rubber floor mats, a fashionable dog carrier, and a rear splitting dog gate.
Land Rover Defender 110
Land Rover offers not just a dog friendly car, but what could be considered the ultimate dog vehicle. The 2022 Land Rover Defender 110 is already a luxurious overland vehicle, but Land Rover provides plenty of options and accessories to really outfit it to be one of the most dog friendly cars. The Defender 110 is the largest variation of the model line (until the 130 comes out), so it offers the most cargo room for you and your pet. The cargo area and the backs of the folding rear seats are made with a durable plastic, there are multiple leather options for easy cleaning, and Land Rover even offers a front bench seat option so your dog can easily sit up front with you.
The Defender already has tons of accessories for cargo boxes, roof rails, ladders, attachable tents, and more to make your vehicle one of a kind, but Land Rover also offers multiple pet packs with dog-centric accessories. The Pet Load Space Protection Pack includes a quilted cargo space liner, a full-height rear partition, and a spill-resistant water bowl. The Pet Transportation Pack includes a foldable pet carrier, a spill-resistant bowl, and a cargo space rubber mat. Then the Pet Car and Access Pack includes the quilted cargo space liner, full-height rear partition, a pet access ramp, and a portable rinse system. The pet access ramp is unique for allowing dogs with a bad vertical to easily enter and exit the vehicle, while the portable rinse system allows owners to quickly wash their muddy pup after a day of fun. All these special dog accessories can be bought separately, so you can configure your dog hauler in any way you choose.
