How to choose car with sufficient boot space for dog?

[FrogFrogFrogFrogFrog]

We're currently looking at replacing our car, and have in mind to get a dog in about 3-5 years. So ideally we'd like to buy a car that will suit said dog. But I've no idea how you know if the boot space is tall enough or wide enough.

We're hoping to have a golden retriever so having sufficient space for dog to be comfortable is important and not a given like it might be with smaller breeds like a pug.

Is there any sort of basic "boot must be this tall" metrics we can use for working this out?

Does anyone have a Nissan Juke or Qashqai with a retriever sized dog?

I would just go with an estate if you are going to get a big dog. I loved my VW passat estate.

We brought a t- roc for our lab.

We went around the car dealerships and just looked at them all, opening the boot before looking at the rest of the car.

It’s size but it’s also the drop into the boot. You ideally want a boot where it’s flat to get in and not an up and over a lip into the boot space. I’ve got a Toureag and the boot is huge but the Passat is another good suggestion as it’s smaller than the Touareg which is a bit of a tank and thirsty as hell- I inherited it but wouldn’t choose it.

If the car is going to be long term, it's also about boot height off the ground. Elderly dogs struggle to jump into the boot- you want to make it as easy as possible if you don't want to be lifting a muddy wet dog in for years.

What is it that makes an estate better than an SUV? Is it head height?

That's a great point. Probably not relevant for this car (assuming cars last something like 10 years and we don't get the dog for maybe 3 years from now, dog would be at most 7 years old when we replace this new car 🤔) but definitely worth considering as any dog can get injured. What about ramps?

Find one of the huge car dealership parks that they have now and wander about the different models with a tape measure.
When you find a model that has the attributes you want, go on-line and buy one.
Thats what we did to find my new car

What were you looking for in the boot? I can look at boots all day they all look much the same to me 🤣 If it's wide enough for hockey sticks and groceries it's good enough for us so far! But a dog is different and far less obliging than sports kit 😁

A lot of cars are devious with their dimensions. For example some SUV's look big but they are just a hatch on stilts. A juke is not a big car. It has a tiny boot and would not be sufficient for a dog.

An SUV could also cause issues for height. Large dogs are prone to hip issues and don't want to be jumping up and down.

I have an estate - a bmw 330e. I chose this over an evoque and a q3 for size and practicality.

My dog is a large dog (60kg and six foot in his back legs) and he cannot fit in a mini but does really well in a golf or above. He doesn't sit in the boot tho, he sits in the back seat like a passenger princess.

I went shopping once with someone who had a Juke, it was pretty crap to be honest and the boot was tiny. Really plasticky and cheap looking interior too. We had to put most of the shopping on the back seats as the boot filled so quickly.

I have 3 large dogs and a Mercedes E-Class Estate.

Work out the adult weight of the breed you would like, when looking at cars consider how often you want to be lifting that weight in and out of the boot, especially when covered in mud and wriggling about.

Thank you. Measure what, though? I can see boot dimensions online but I don't know how to calculate dog suitability from that.

Thank you @CommeUneVacheEspagnole and @JamSlaaaaag for Juke specific notes. That one's out then 😁

That's the best username I've ever seen

We have a Labrador retriever with a Qashqai and it has plenty of space. We got a rubber mat to fit in the exact boot space so that we can take it out and shake/ hose it off when she gets muddy or sandy. We then got a crate mattress and a fleece blanket and she's very comfortable and great in the car.

We recently bought a vw Tiguan and showed up at the dealers with a dog crate and paddle boards to test the boot. It all fitted (we have a cocker). My friend has a lab and he goes in the boot then they have a roof box.

i have realised the bit it a jump for our dog so imagine he’ll need a ramp when he gets older. An estate May have been more sensible but we also needed width for 3dc.

That’s very kind but I can’t take the credit. I’d never heard of a Jam Slag till I read someone on here talking about them! 😁

When looking for a car, the salesman got into the boot to show it was big enough for a lab 😂. We bought it - Suzuki a-cross.

Years ago, we once brought DHs tuba to a car dealer to test if it would fit in a Skoda fabia..

Excellent, thank you. How old is she and does she seem happy with the jump in?

The fitted wipeable mats/boot liner of the Nissan was part the reason we like them in the first place so I'm glad they have dog owner approval 😁

Oh I love this. I'm sure DW would be game for this method 😁🤣

@FrogFrogFrogFrogFrog

She's only 2 but she's been jumping in easily since a 6 month old puppy. There's been a couple of times we have had to lift her in/out when muddy but we kind of accept getting filthy is part of owning a dog! There will be a time when she'll probably be too old to jump in but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.

I wouldn’t go for anything with height, my elderly lab ended up with arthritis and it was bad enough getting her into a low estate. An SUV is fine when they’re young and sprightly, but awful when they get older.

We’ve got two labs and have a BMW 5 series estate, it’s a great size for them both and fairly low. Also absolutely excellent to drive too. Can’t fault it.

I have a Golden (a very large one) and have a Volvo XC40. TBH the boot is too small for him. My parents have a Volvo V90 and that’s about the right size

I have a Toyota Rav-4 and that's perfect for our Labrador. Previously we had a Volvo XC60 and that was slightly larger. An SUV will be higher off the ground and have more headroom, but the boot will not be as long as an estate.

Most estates are flat going into the boot, SUV's have a lip that a dog would have to jump over to get in/out

Also, estate cars are lower to the ground, again kinder to your dog

Estates all day long for a dog