If you’ve got a Labrador or similar size dog, what car do you drive?

[OompaLumpaLabrador]

I’m looking to change car to a model that will fit our ( smallish) Labrador in the back. Preferably with the option of splitting the boot since between dog space and grocery etc space ( although obviously said Labrador would prefer dog and food are stored together).

It’s our second car, so I’d rather not spend a fortune and I really don’t want anything too big. I currently have a Mini Cooper which I love.

Does anyone drive something that might work for us?

I used to put my 27kg mutt in the boot of my Smart Car for very short journeys but she wasn't impressed 😂

We've had a Kia Ceed estate, a couple of Landrover Freelanders and an Audi A1 since we've had her. She fit in the Audi ok for up to an hour or so, but for long journeys I dropped the seats as I felt she needed more room to stretch, but she could still turn, stand, lie down etc. She just preferred the Landrover!

how big is too big.. we have a Hyundai Tucson which is very comfortable with 2 medium sized dogs in the back.

Oh, and shopping just goes on the back seat away from the dog - same in any car for us. If you want to split the boot, the cage type things are very expensive.

Tucson’s are lovely but definitely too big! Our other car is an Outlander Ave feels huge to drive.

We have two and so have an estate. If you wanted to split the boot in half, and have half for the dog and keep the other half as boot space, an estate would work well. Until we got the second dog, I’d always driven small cars, but you soon get used to it and it doesn’t feel much bigger.

I've got a big labradoodle and he fits perfectly in the boot of my Mini Clubman. I used to have a Mini Cooper ,but the clubman is surprisingly roomy and a joy to drive!

We have a hyundai tucson with a lab and spaniel in the back (so a 23kg spaniel and 30kg lab) comfortably, but we also have a Toyota hilux for them.

I've got a mini Cooper and my 2 labs sit quite happily on the back seats.

A Skoda Karoq has back seats that can be removed , as well as folded down.

Another vote for an estate, we have two very large land and have a Skoda Octavia, not too big to park and loads of boot room, plus it isn't too high for the dogs to jump into.

Labs not land 🙄

We have two dogs - 1 is a lab. We have a Skoda Octavia estate. However, we have the Travall guard and divider for the boot. You can also by a tail gate to prevent dog jumping out in car parks. The travall systems are designed to fit the car you buy so you can split any boot. We also know a few people who have drilled their own holes to set the system up as 2/3 of the boot for the dog rather than 1/2.

I have a medium-sized Labrador and a Nissan Qashqai. Have also had a Toyota Verso and RAV4.

Posted too soon! The qashqai feels quite compact despite being a bit bigger than what you’ve mentioned.

I've got a qashqai. Had a mini when I originally got my lab, but he quickly grew out of the front seat, and I've got two children to keep in the back seats. He goes really well in the boot.

I have a Kia Rio hatchback - my 45lb dog fits in it nicely but I have to put groceries on the back seat.

I've got a hyundai ix35 and have a large dog, loads of space for him to lie down in the boot. Although now he is getting on a bit he can't jump in the boot so he's on the back seat.

@Lanymor

I've got a big labradoodle and he fits perfectly in the boot of my Mini Clubman. I used to have a Mini Cooper ,but the clubman is surprisingly roomy and a joy to drive!

Same car but I have a GR. won't be big enough for 2 dogs plus 3 adults and luggage though

Biggish lab and VW Golf. Fits boot perfectly but would have to put shopping on the back seat (or get it delivered )

Mini Countryman has lots of space for my 25 kg dog and a lot of other clobber. It’s also low enough for him to jump into at 13. He can’t manage DH’s Audi anymore.

I have a Fiat 500L and a Labrador sized dog fits anywhere really. Front footwell, back footwell, boot...
The back seats are on sliding rails to make more boot space or more passenger space.

We got a Nissan Juke. Then a few months later, a Labrador puppy. He’s now 6 months old, and already looking a tad squashed in there… so probably not a Juke Spudpup is going to have to take up yoga as we can’t currently afford a new car

We have a Ford Focus estate. It is not a huge estate, but the boot is low enough for our aging lab to still jump straight in and you can buy dog guards that split the back in two.

Thanks so much for the ideas. I’m trading in my trusty Cooper ( might need a valet given the hairs) and have just put a deposit down on a 2 year old Clubman

That's a great decision.
Relatives have two Labradors and they fit very well in the back of their Clubman.