A Low, Flat Cargo Floor
A load height under about 30 inches lets most dogs step or hop in without a ramp, and a flat floor keeps a crate stable and stops it sliding in turns.
Pet-Friendly Vehicles · Buyer's Guide
Best Cars for Pet Owners
The right car keeps your dog secure, swallows a crate, shrugs off hair and mud, and wipes clean in minutes. These are the vehicles that do all four, and every one is a car you can shop online today.
7-day no-questions return +
Free CARFAX included +
100% online with Clicklane +
15 service centers +
The Short Answer
The best all-around car for pet owners is the Subaru Outback
It pairs a low, flat cargo floor that a dog can jump into with standard all-wheel drive, easy-clean surfaces, and a huge aftermarket of cargo liners and barriers. For big dogs or multiple crates, the Honda CR-V and Kia Telluride give you a wider, taller hold, and for the biggest hauls the Toyota Sienna turns into a flat, washable room on wheels.
Our Method
How We Ranked These Cars
Most car guides rate a vehicle by how it treats the driver. This one rates it by how it treats the passenger in the back who sheds, drools, tracks in mud, and cannot buckle a seatbelt. A car that is perfect for a commuter can be a daily frustration for someone traveling with a dog or two, and the gap shows up in the details: whether a crate actually fits, whether the cargo floor is low enough for an aging dog to reach, and whether the interior cleans up or holds onto hair for the life of the car.
So we ranked these picks on the things that matter once a pet becomes a regular passenger. Cargo shape and volume come first, because a listed number means nothing if the opening is too narrow for a crate. Load height matters next, since a lower floor is safer for large and senior dogs and easier on your back. Then come interior materials that resist hair and moisture, a layout that lets you anchor a harness or barrier for safety, and the climate control and door design that keep an animal comfortable and contained. Ground clearance and all-wheel drive round it out for owners who head to trailheads, lakes, and campsites.
Every vehicle here can be bought entirely online through Clicklane, with a free vehicle history report and a 7-day return window. That week matters for a pet owner more than most, because the only real test of a car is loading your own dog and crate into it on your own driveway.
Before You Shop
What Makes a Car Genuinely Pet-Friendly
It helps to know what you are looking for before you compare models. A few features separate a car that merely has space from one that is built for life with animals.
Wipe-Clean Surfaces
Cloth traps hair and odor. Leatherette or a rubberized cargo liner sheds both, and a car with removable rear-seat covers is far easier to keep fresh.
Anchor Points
Cargo tie-downs and rear-seat LATCH anchors let you secure a crash-tested harness, crate, or barrier, which is the single most important safety step for a dog in a car.
Rear Climate and Airflow
Second-row vents or a rear climate zone keep an animal comfortable on long drives, and rear windows that open partway give airflow without an escape route.
A Wide, Square Opening
Two cars can list the same cargo volume yet fit very different crates. A tall, square hatch opening is what actually decides whether a large kennel slides in.
Ground Clearance and AWD
For owners who reach trailheads and boat ramps, extra clearance and all-wheel drive turn a muddy pull-off into an easy stop rather than a stuck afternoon.
The Ranking
Nine Cars Built for Life With Pets
Ordered by all-around value for an owner traveling with animals. Each shop button opens live Nalley inventory filtered to that vehicle.
1Best Overall
Subaru Outback
The Outback is the default answer for a reason. It has the low load height of a wagon rather than a tall SUV, so even a large or senior dog can hop into the cargo area, and standard all-wheel drive plus real ground clearance make it as comfortable at a muddy trailhead as in a parking garage. The durable interior takes abuse well, and the aftermarket for Outback cargo liners, seat covers, and barriers is deeper than for almost any other car.
Best for: one to two medium or large dogsStrength: low floor, standard AWD
Shop Outback →
2Best Compact SUV
Honda CR-V
The CR-V pairs a wide, square cargo opening with a genuinely flat floor when the rear seats fold, which is exactly the shape a large crate needs. It is easy to clean, comfortable on long drives, and Honda's reliability record means it holds up to years of muddy paws and cargo loading. For most families with one big dog or two medium ones, it hits the sweet spot of space, running cost, and easy access.
Best for: a large crate or two medium dogsStrength: square opening, easy clean
Shop CR-V →
3Best for Big Dogs
Kia Telluride
When you need serious room, the Telluride delivers. Fold the third row and the cargo hold swallows the largest kennels, and the wide tailgate opening makes loading them simple. The interior feels upscale for the money, wipes down easily, and the second row gives you a comfortable, anchored spot for a harnessed dog on shorter trips. It is the pick for owners with multiple large dogs or a crate that defeats a compact SUV.
Best for: multiple large dogs or oversized cratesStrength: cavernous, upscale hold
Shop Telluride →
4Best Minivan
Toyota Sienna
Do not overlook the minivan. Fold or remove the rear seats and the Sienna becomes a flat, washable room you can secure two or three crates in with space to spare, and its sliding doors make loading in a tight spot far easier than a swing door. It now comes only as a hybrid, so all that space does not cost a fortune in fuel. For breeders, multi-dog households, and long road trips, nothing else on this list carries more with less fuss.
Best for: multiple crates and long road tripsStrength: flat floor, sliding doors
Shop Sienna →
5Best Value SUV
Hyundai Tucson
The Tucson gives budget-minded owners most of what makes the CR-V great at a friendlier price. The cargo area is wide and easy to load, the rear seats fold nearly flat, and the tall roofline gives a medium crate the height it needs. Hyundai's long warranty is a real safety net for a car that will see plenty of mud and hair, which makes the Tucson a smart pick for a first pet-hauler.
Best for: one dog and a medium crate on a budgetStrength: value, long warranty
Shop Tucson →
6Best Three-Row Value
Honda Pilot
The Pilot is the Telluride's practical rival and a superb dog hauler in its own right. The third row folds into a deep, flat well, the second row can be configured for a secured dog beside the kids, and the interior is built to take abuse. It is the choice for a growing family that needs to carry both people and pets on the same trip without choosing between them.
Best for: families carrying kids and dogs togetherStrength: flexible three-row layout
Shop Pilot →
7Best for Small Pets
Toyota RAV4
Not every pet is a large dog. For owners of small breeds, cats, or a single medium dog, the RAV4 is right-sized and efficient. The cargo area handles a small or medium crate easily, the rear seats anchor a booster or harness for a lap-sized dog, and the RAV4's reliability and resale make it a car that stays valuable through years of pet duty. A hybrid version is available for owners who want to cut fuel cost.
Best for: small breeds, cats, or one medium dogStrength: right-sized, efficient
Shop RAV4 →
8Best Rugged Pick
Subaru Forester
The Forester takes the Outback formula and adds a taller roof and a boxier cargo hold, which suits a taller crate or a dog that prefers to stand. Standard all-wheel drive and excellent visibility make it a natural for owners who spend weekends on trails, and the durable, easy-clean cabin handles the aftermath without complaint. It is the pick for the active, outdoorsy pet household.
Best for: active owners and taller cratesStrength: boxy hold, trail-ready
Shop Forester →
9Best All-Around Value
Certified Pre-Owned SUV
If you would rather shop by value than by badge, a certified pre-owned SUV is often the smartest move of all. You let the first owner absorb the steepest depreciation, you inherit a car that has passed a full inspection and carries a warranty, and you keep your buy-in low so you have more room to spend on cargo liners, barriers, and a good harness. Browse the certified pool, filter by body style, and pick the one whose cargo hold fits your crate.
Best for: owners who want space for lessStrength: lowest depreciation hit
Shop certified pre-owned SUVs →
Safety First
How to Keep a Pet Safe in the Car
The right car is only half the job. An unsecured animal is a danger to itself and to everyone in the vehicle, since a loose pet can distract the driver and becomes a projectile in a sudden stop. The safest setups are a crash-tested crate anchored to the cargo tie-downs, or a crash-tested harness clipped to a seatbelt or LATCH anchor in the second row. A cargo barrier adds a second layer of protection by keeping a dog out of the cabin, and a waterproof liner protects your resale value while it protects the interior.
A few habits matter as much as the gear. Never let a dog ride with its head out the window, where debris and sudden braking cause injuries. Never leave any animal in a parked car in warm weather, where the interior heats to dangerous levels within minutes. And on long trips, plan stops the way you would for a child, with water and a short walk every couple of hours. A car chosen with these needs in mind makes every one of these habits easier to keep.
Why Nalley
Why Buy Your Pet-Friendly Car Online With Nalley
The only real way to know a car fits your dog and crate is to load them into it. Buying through Nalley online gives you that chance on your own driveway, along with protections that matter more when an animal is a daily passenger.
7-Day Return
Load your crate, take your dog on a real trip, and see how the car handles the hair and the mud. If it does not fit your life, Nalley picks it up for a full refund.
Free CARFAX
Every vehicle includes its history report up front, so a car with a hidden past never becomes the one carrying your family and your pets.
Instant Trade Value
Get a guaranteed offer on your current car in minutes and roll the value into a roomier one, hair and all.
15 Service Centers
Muddy trips and heavy cargo loads wear a car. Factory-certified service across metro Atlanta keeps yours ready for the next adventure.
Common Questions
Pet-Friendly Car Buying FAQs
What is the best car for pet owners?
The Subaru Outback is the best all-around choice, because it combines a low, flat cargo floor that a dog can jump into with standard all-wheel drive, easy-clean surfaces, and a huge aftermarket of liners and barriers. Choose the Honda CR-V or Kia Telluride if you need a taller, wider hold for a big crate or multiple dogs, or the Toyota Sienna if you carry several crates and take long road trips.
What is the best SUV for a large dog?For a single large dog, the Honda CR-V offers a wide, square cargo opening and a flat load floor that fits most large crates. For multiple large dogs or oversized kennels, step up to the Kia Telluride or Honda Pilot, which open up far more room with the third row folded. What matters most is the shape of the tailgate opening, not just the listed cargo volume, so measure your crate before you shop.
How do I keep my dog safe in the car?The safest options are a crash-tested crate anchored to the cargo tie-downs, or a crash-tested harness clipped to a seatbelt or LATCH anchor in the second row. Both keep an animal from becoming a projectile in a sudden stop and prevent it from distracting the driver. A cargo barrier adds protection by keeping a dog out of the cabin. Look for a car with strong anchor points and second-row LATCH anchors so you can secure your setup properly.
What features make a car good for pets?Look for a low load height under about 30 inches so a dog can step in easily, a flat and square cargo floor that fits a crate, wipe-clean surfaces such as leatherette or a rubberized liner, anchor points for a harness or barrier, and rear climate vents to keep an animal comfortable. For owners who reach trails and lakes, all-wheel drive and extra ground clearance are worth prioritizing.
Are leather or cloth seats better for pets?Leather or leatherette is easier to live with for pet owners, because it wipes clean and does not trap hair or odor the way cloth does. Cloth holds onto fur and moisture and is much harder to fully clean. If you find a car you love with cloth seats, a set of washable, waterproof seat covers and a cargo liner solves most of the problem and protects your resale value.
Will a dog crate fit in the car I want?Measure your crate's height, width, and length, then compare it against the vehicle's cargo opening rather than its total volume. Two cars with the same listed cargo space can fit very different crates depending on the shape of the tailgate opening and how flat the folded seats sit. The safest approach is to load your actual crate into the car before you commit, which Nalley's 7-day return window lets you do at home.
Should I buy new or certified pre-owned for a pet hauler?For most pet owners, certified pre-owned is the smarter financial move. A car that will see mud, hair, and heavy cargo loads takes wear regardless of age, so letting the first owner absorb the steepest depreciation keeps more money in your pocket for liners, barriers, and a good harness. A certified pre-owned SUV has already passed a full inspection and carries a warranty, so you get the space you need with a lower buy-in.
Can I buy a pet-friendly car entirely online through Nalley?Yes. You can shop the inventory, get an instant trade value, structure your payment, and complete the purchase online with Clicklane, then choose delivery or dealership pickup. Every vehicle includes a free CARFAX report and a 7-day, no-questions-asked return policy, so you can load your crate and your dog and confirm the car fits your life before you fully commit.
Find Your Match
Find the Car Your Whole Family Fits Into
Shop pet-ready SUVs and wagons, get an instant offer on your current car, and complete the whole purchase online. Then load the crate and hit the road.