The patter of tiny feet is often a trigger to change the hot-hatch for something a little more family-friendly. And the same is often true if that patter is made by paws, rather than human feet. It’s important that the hairiest member of the family is safe and comfortable, nobody wants their dog to become car-phobic after a bad experience on a long journey.
Finding the right car to transport the whole family, human and canine, can transform road trips from a nightmare to a fun event. But which vehicles make the grade? We’ve given it some serious thought and come up with five worth consideration.
01 VW Transporter
Let’s start with an oldie that’s also a goodie. As well as being just about the coolest thing that you can pull-up to the beach in, a 1970’s VW Transporter with a campervan conversion is perfect for travelling with a dog. For starters, you’ve never seen true joy until you see the look on a labrador’s face when he realises he’s headed to the seaside in a vehicle that has the capacity to cook food.
But possibly more importantly, there’s a good sized sliding door that make it easy for a dog to get in and out as well as plenty of floor space for them to stretch out on during the journey.
One word of warning though, you may need to put a barrier between the front seats to prevent your dog wandering up front and getting in the way as you drive.
02 Mini Clubman
Scaling back the size from the VW Transporter, the Mini Clubman is the estate version of the reborn popular classic. It’s got the looks for about town while the twin side-hinged rear doors and low sill make it easy for your dog to get in and out.
If you want to give your dog a bit more space than the 360-litre boot allows you can always fold the back seats down to increase the area to 1,250 litres. Further good news is that the relatively flat design to the rear doors and window mean your hound can look out without constantly banging his head.
03 Citroen Berlingo Multispace
It may look like Postman Pat’s preferred ride but the Berlingo Multispace is actually an enormously practical family car. The tailgate lifts to reveal a spacious boot with a low sill so your furry friend can get in and out easily. And once the tailgate closes it’s almost vertical, maximising the space available to your dog.
If you need more space, the trio of rear seats can be folded out of the way. If that’s not enough, you can remove them all together, but it’s a bit tricky and they’re heavy so it’s best avoided if possible.
It’s not the coolest car in the carpark, but just like the ocean, once you’re in you’ll love it.
04 Land Rover Discovery
If your idea of the perfect weekend is heading out into the wilds for a long walk with your four-legged friend then the Landcover Discovery could be the perfect vehicle to get you there and back. It’s not the cheapest vehicle to run but it can tackle terrain that renders other immobile.
There are also seven good-sized seats, with the back row folding down to create a massive boot area. Older dogs may not appreciate the high sill at the back, so you may need to lend a hand or carry a box to give a step up, but they’ll love the lounging space.
And despite the Discovery’s off-road heritage, it still cuts a dash in the city and creates a good impression in the office carpark.
05 VW Passat Estate
Upgrading to an estate car is a great way of gaining extra space for your pooch and the VW Passat Estate is a great choice, having one of the biggest boots around. The sill is also nice and low avoiding the need of an awkward leap to get in.
VW’s build quality is also high and the Passat estate is one of the best large family cars around - just don’t study those emission stats too closely *cough*.