Published by Gbaf News
Posted on June 8, 2018
8 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
The Mazda CX-5 has been named the best car for dogs by What Car? during Pet Appreciation Week (4–10 June).
The UK’s biggest automotive consumer brand, What Car? is known for its thorough road tests and reviews of new and used cars. But now it has paired its motoring expertise with the pet knowledge of real-life dog owners to find the very best car for our furry friends.
What Car?’s study considered a range of dog-friendly elements of cars – such as the size and accessibility of the boot, interior air-flow and the durability of upholsteries – but it was Mazda’s newest SUV that scored highest and got the final paw of approval.
The judging panel chose from a shortlist of six vehicles selected by What Car? using its own star ratings and a list of criteria that had been drawn up with the help of the canine experts at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. Each vehicle represented a different price-point category.
The six that made What Car?’s shortlist of the most dog-friendly cars were:
| Price-Point Category | Make | Model | Best deal on What Car? New Car Buying† |
| Less than £16,000 | Suzuki | Vitara 1.6 SZ4 | £15,004 |
| £16,000 – £19,999 | Skoda | Octavia Estate 1.4 TSI SE Technology | £19,198 |
| £20,000 – £24,999 | Mazda | CX-5 2.2d SE-L Nav | £24,368 |
| £25,000 – £29,999 | Skoda | Superb Estate 2.0 TDI SE L Executive DSG | £26,037 |
| £30,000 – £40,000 | Mercedes | E-Class Estate E220d SE | £35,782 |
| More than £40,000 | Land Rover | Discovery 3.0 TD6 HSE Auto | £59,234 |
Owners and their canine companions then came together for a day of testing in the sunshine at the Hitchin Priory Hotel, checking out the features of all of the contenders before making their decision on the overall winner.
To see What Car’s film from the testing day, visit: https://youtu.be/C4tRHa0pRbQ
Steve Huntingford, editor of What Car?, said: “There are more than 8.5 million dog owners in the UK*, and 99.9% of them consider their dog to be a member of their family**. It therefore seems only right that we should be taking our four-legged friends into consideration when choosing our cars.
“To find the best car for dogs, we carried out real-world testing with real dogs and real owners.
“Our panel of readers found the Mazda CX-5’s practical features, stylish yet solid interior and affordable pricing to be a winning combination. Not only can owners have a great-looking, great-driving car, they can also have one which gives everyone inside a safe and comfortable ride.”
Nathalie Ingham, Canine Behaviourist and Training Manager at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, said: “Road trips with your dog are part of the fun, whether that’s going cross-country on a weekend break or a short trip to the park. However, you need to make sure your dog is safe and feels secure in the car, so we would always recommend ensuring any new vehicle has the appropriate features to give your furry friend a pleasant travelling experience.
“Not all dogs enjoy travelling – just like humans, some can get frightened or even car sick, so it’s worth taking time to make sure your car is a familiar and cosy place for them to take a safe and enjoyable ride with you. You should always make sure there’s plenty of ventilation and never leave a dog in a hot car – the temperature inside can rise very quickly, even when it’s overcast.
“Remember you also need to comply with the Highway Code, which says that dogs need to be suitably restrained while driving so they don’t distract you or cause injury to you or themselves if you stop too quickly.”
Pet Appreciation Week runs from the 4–10 June.
To take advantage of the latest deals on the six price-point winning dog-friendly cars, visit https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/
The Mazda CX-5 has been named the best car for dogs by What Car? during Pet Appreciation Week (4–10 June).
The UK’s biggest automotive consumer brand, What Car? is known for its thorough road tests and reviews of new and used cars. But now it has paired its motoring expertise with the pet knowledge of real-life dog owners to find the very best car for our furry friends.
What Car?’s study considered a range of dog-friendly elements of cars – such as the size and accessibility of the boot, interior air-flow and the durability of upholsteries – but it was Mazda’s newest SUV that scored highest and got the final paw of approval.
The judging panel chose from a shortlist of six vehicles selected by What Car? using its own star ratings and a list of criteria that had been drawn up with the help of the canine experts at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. Each vehicle represented a different price-point category.
The six that made What Car?’s shortlist of the most dog-friendly cars were:
| Price-Point Category | Make | Model | Best deal on What Car? New Car Buying† |
| Less than £16,000 | Suzuki | Vitara 1.6 SZ4 | £15,004 |
| £16,000 – £19,999 | Skoda | Octavia Estate 1.4 TSI SE Technology | £19,198 |
| £20,000 – £24,999 | Mazda | CX-5 2.2d SE-L Nav | £24,368 |
| £25,000 – £29,999 | Skoda | Superb Estate 2.0 TDI SE L Executive DSG | £26,037 |
| £30,000 – £40,000 | Mercedes | E-Class Estate E220d SE | £35,782 |
| More than £40,000 | Land Rover | Discovery 3.0 TD6 HSE Auto | £59,234 |
Owners and their canine companions then came together for a day of testing in the sunshine at the Hitchin Priory Hotel, checking out the features of all of the contenders before making their decision on the overall winner.
To see What Car’s film from the testing day, visit: https://youtu.be/C4tRHa0pRbQ
Steve Huntingford, editor of What Car?, said: “There are more than 8.5 million dog owners in the UK*, and 99.9% of them consider their dog to be a member of their family**. It therefore seems only right that we should be taking our four-legged friends into consideration when choosing our cars.
“To find the best car for dogs, we carried out real-world testing with real dogs and real owners.
“Our panel of readers found the Mazda CX-5’s practical features, stylish yet solid interior and affordable pricing to be a winning combination. Not only can owners have a great-looking, great-driving car, they can also have one which gives everyone inside a safe and comfortable ride.”
Nathalie Ingham, Canine Behaviourist and Training Manager at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, said: “Road trips with your dog are part of the fun, whether that’s going cross-country on a weekend break or a short trip to the park. However, you need to make sure your dog is safe and feels secure in the car, so we would always recommend ensuring any new vehicle has the appropriate features to give your furry friend a pleasant travelling experience.
“Not all dogs enjoy travelling – just like humans, some can get frightened or even car sick, so it’s worth taking time to make sure your car is a familiar and cosy place for them to take a safe and enjoyable ride with you. You should always make sure there’s plenty of ventilation and never leave a dog in a hot car – the temperature inside can rise very quickly, even when it’s overcast.
“Remember you also need to comply with the Highway Code, which says that dogs need to be suitably restrained while driving so they don’t distract you or cause injury to you or themselves if you stop too quickly.”
Pet Appreciation Week runs from the 4–10 June.
To take advantage of the latest deals on the six price-point winning dog-friendly cars, visit https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/
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