While in the car, dogs like moving and playing, but they also need your undivided attention and a little bit of space to stretch their legs. Pets need room to roam, but they can also be a handful.
When choosing a pet-friendly vehicle, look for it to have ample cargo space and a foldable back seat.
With a family of 4 and a giant breed dog, you need a 3-row SUV. But with a small dog, a 2-row midsize SUV will be fine.
Here are some family SUV options with dog-friendly features that you can choose from right now.
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Hyundai Palisade
The Hyundai Palisade comes with a smart design and most of the necessary amenities to accommodate your family. It’s also great for dog owners because it has 3 rows of seating and cargo space that can hold up to 33.3 cubic feet.
The Palisade has access to a standard rear seat that converts into a flatbed for your large dog. For your small dog, you have the option of adding an extension with an extra seat for up to 8-inches of legroom.
The vehicle is fit for both children and dogs inside the cab. It has a sports-inspired design paired with ample legroom to keep your family comfortable.
All of its seats are wrapped in leather, and it comes with plenty of storage space for you to store all of your pet’s essentials.
Honda Pilot
Packed with premium features, the Honda Pilot SUV is designed to accommodate your family and dog’s needs. It comes with 3 rows of seating that can hold up to 8 passengers at a time. In terms of cargo space, it comes with up to 32.5 cubic feet of storage space for you to use as you please.
To keep your dog safe and secure, it has a 4-point safety restraint that you can hook onto your pet’s harness.
The driver seat also comes with 5-point driver’s seatbelts and they are adjustable to fit any size of the body.
To keep your family entertained, it comes with a console-mounted video system that can play DVDs, carry other items, and operate a GPS system. In terms of storage space in the back, you can have a total of 88.6 cubic feet for your family’s necessities.
Toyota Highlander
This Toyota SUV comes with a reliable engine, which can help you and your family reach your next destination in no time. It also comes with amazing features that enable it to be loaded with safety features for the driver and passengers.
The Highlander comes with all-wheel drive as an option, which gives you the ability to drive in any condition. It also has active anti-lock brakes (ABS) and traction control that work in tandem to give you an edge in dangerous situations.
The Highlander has great features for children and dog owners since it has an electronic stability control (ESC) feature. This brings about the stop-start technology that is set to keep the vehicle from spinning out on you.
Your dog can also stay safe in the back seat with the steering wheel controls that are mounted on the console.
Kia Telluride
The Telluride is one of the best SUV options for dog owners because it has plenty of storage space and a smart cargo system.
It comes with a large rear door that can support up to 8-inches extensions to hold a dog crate. This feature is great for you if you own a larger breed of dog.
What’s great about this model is that it also has high seating capacity and cargo space. You can fit up to 7 people and nearly 50.8 cubic feet of cargo before it goes up to the roof.
The safety features that this vehicle has are another reason why you should be interested in buying it. In addition to electronic stability control and traction control, the vehicle also has side airbags and active front headrests that protect your neck from being hurt in a crash.
The Telluride also comes with cruise control, which allows you to maintain a safe distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you.
Chevrolet Traverse
This 3-row SUV has many features that will fit your budget and the needs of your family. One of the main reasons why you should get this car is due to its many safety features.
With a total of 10 airbags, you can be sure that your family and dog are well protected in the event of an accident.
In addition to this, it comes with traction and stability control for both wet and dry surfaces. It also has a driver alert system that will allow you to keep your eyes on the road without being distracted.
For dog owners, it comes with a foldable seat for comfort and safety for your pet.
Subaru Forester
With a lot of storage space and a safe, reliable engine, this Subaru SUV is great for your family and dog. It also has a foldable second-row seat that will accommodate pets up to 100 pounds.
Both the driver and front passenger seats come with heating functions to keep everyone’s comfort at a high level.
The vehicle comes with an anti-lock braking system (ABS) to ensure that you have an edge in any weather condition.
The keyless entry system also allows you to enter and exit the vehicle with ease.
The Subaru Forester has all the necessary features for your dog’s safety as well. You can hook up a harness to the tether hook in the cargo area and your pet will be secured in his seat.
Honda CR-V
One of the reasons why you should get this Honda SUV is that it has an AWD system and a nice engine. It also comes with a great cabin and exterior design. The interior makes for a cosy ride for both your passengers and your dog.
Best SUV for Family of 4 and a Small Dogs
The vehicle comes with an intuitive design that allows you to operate all of its controls without having to worry about hitting buttons by mistake.
This feature is great for dog owners since they don’t want to accidentally turn on the air conditioning when they reach into the back seat.
Kia Sorento
This Kia SUV is an affordable option for you and your family. It comes with a spacious interior, which makes it fit for confident passengers and enthusiasts alike.
In addition to this, the vehicle comes with premium safety features that give you and your dog an edge in any incident.
In terms of storage, you can get up to 31 cubic feet of cargo space and up to 64 cubic feet in the back.
Subaru Ascent
The Subaru Ascent is an SUV that is known for its safety features. It comes with a total of 8 airbags to give you and your family an edge in any accident.
It also comes with a rear-cross traffic alert, which is great for when you are backing up and backing into a parking space.
In terms of storage, it has a total of 71 cubic feet of cargo space in the rear seats. This means that you will have plenty of room to move around your things without having to worry about weight limitations.
Ford Explorer
With a lot of space in the cabin and an impressive engine, this Ford Explorer makes for an excellent SUV for your family and dog. In addition to this, it has a lot of safety features that will keep your family safe from any accident.
These safety features include 6 airbags, active headrests, and a brake-based traction control system.
Whether you are making a trip to the beach or have a long trip ahead, you will have all of the necessary safety features with which to travel in comfort.
Mitsubishi Outlander
If you are looking for the best SUV for your family and dog, the Mitsubishi Outlander is a great option. It comes with plenty of safety features that will keep you and your family safe in case of an accident.
For dog owners, it has a cargo divider that can be adjusted in order to create extra space in the back seat if needed. In addition to this, it also has two ISOFIX child seat mounts as well as two side handles, which makes it more convenient to carry your dog around during travel.
Final Words
After reading this guide, you should have a good idea of which SUV is the best for your family and dog.
Each of these cars has a lot of great safety features that will keep your family and dog well-protected during any type of trip. It also has plenty of space to support your needs during travel as well as cargo space for all of your things.
All of these cars are also affordable and have an excellent reputation for reliability. To get more information about it, you can start reading reviews about each of them.
