- AAA picks the best vehicles for dogs.
- Cars that make the cut include the Volvo XC60, Kia Soul and Nissan Cube.
- Toyota Venza was also praised for its long list of pet accessories.
ORLANDO, Florida — It may be a dubious distinction, but AAA this week released its top vehicle picks for dog owners. The list includes the BMW 3 Series wagon, Honda Element, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Soul, Nissan Cube, Subaru Forester and Volvo XC60.
Other top picks include the Ford Escape Hybrid, Mazda 3, Mini Clubman and Toyota Venza.
Although one would think that a dog would be happy in anything from a Rolls-Royce to an old beater, AAA said it was thinking mainly of dog owners in this case. It made its choices based on "crash test ratings, safety features, fuel economy, ease of animal ingress and egress, cargo area size, availability of tie-down hooks and easy-to-clean interiors.
The Kia Soul was praised as a "good choice for transporting smaller and midsize breeds." The Nissan Cube has a "surprisingly roomy" interior that is good for "even larger breeds," AAA said in a statement.
The Toyota Venza has a long list of pet accessories that pleased AAA. They include an adjustable harness/booster seat pet restraint system, an adjustable pet barrier and a dog tether "to keep canines from jumping into the passenger area."
Inside Line says: Why some other vehicles didn't make the dog cut is a mystery to us. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
Add A Comment »
nicked says:
01:15 AM, 08/22/2010
Kia Soul, Nissan Cube Make List of Best Doggy Vehicles.
andy999 says:
11:44 AM, 08/21/2010
"KIA Soul, Nissan Cube Make List of Best Vehicles for Dogs . . . "
So, . . . I must have been asleep or something. Dogs started driving, when???
gmhl10 says:
06:13 AM, 08/21/2010
Well... I guess it's a good thing I don't own a dog. Then, I can actually care about buying a car without such ugliness.
bc1960 says:
11:50 PM, 08/20/2010
Dogs by nature live in undergound dens, which is why they enjoy sleeping in crates and dog houses and may like to lounge underneath the bed, tables, or other furniture. As long as they have enough room to turn around, which can be surprisingly little compared to their size, they can be content.
The Soul may be a crapmobile, but it has reasonable cargo space and is low enough to be easy to jump into for small or elderly dogs.
yellowperil says:
09:20 PM, 08/20/2010
Wind noise is awful in the Kia. How can a dog stand the sound?
sdryc says:
08:04 PM, 08/20/2010
Yeah... good "things" or news to the worst designed cars
davedutton12 says:
04:04 PM, 08/20/2010
Yeah, only a dog would love the Fugly design of these two abortions
davicho says:
03:38 PM, 08/20/2010
What happened to the actual vehicle that looks similar to the Cube and Soul that actually is equipped for doggies????
http://automobiles.honda.com/element/dog-accessories.aspx
ed124c says:
03:33 PM, 08/20/2010
The Kia Soul has a very small area behind the rear seat. I can't understand how it could possibly be a "dog friendly" car. Even the smallest dog is going to experience claustrophobia. And that can't be dog friendly.