Motoring

The top five reasonably priced cars for dog owners revealed

Published

2 months ago

11th August 2022

Editor

Looking for a reasonably priced car that’s suitable for you and your dog?

There’s a lot to consider when choosing a car, from the size of the vehicle to the size of your budget – but if your dog will be a regular passenger, you’ll be thinking about what’s best for them too.

Swansea Bay News has joined forces with Compare the Market to reveal the most dog-friendly cars by looking at car features, including boot capacity and cabin noise, car prices and different dog sizes.

As well as getting the right car, drivers need to make sure pets are restrained while travelling, otherwise they could end up with a fine or even invalidate their car insurance.

Compare the Market also have some great research and tips on how to keep your dog safe and comfortable on the road.

**Audi A1** (Image: Vauxford / Wikimedia / Creative Commons 2.0)

The Audi A1 is the top reasonably priced car for smaller dogs (12 to 24 lbs)

For Border Terriers, Dachshunds, Pugs etc.

The Audi A1 comes out as the top reasonably priced car for small dogs due to its starting price of £20,840 and low cabin noise level of just 53.1 decibels (which is equivalent to a quiet conversation, or a quiet refrigerator). With a boot capacity of 335dm³ (which is also 335L or the size of two bathtubs), it provides plenty of space for smaller dogs to get comfortable.

The Seat Ibiza ranks as the second top affordable car for small dogs, with a slightly higher cabin noise of 56.1dB but lower starting cost of £17,755. The Seat Leon comes third, with cabin noise of 56.8dB and a starting price tag of £22,225.

Top rated reasonably priced cars for small dogs

Rank	Car model	Cabin noise per vehicle (decibels)	Boot capacity (dm³/litres)	Car width (mm)	Car Price (£)(starting cost)
1	Audi A1	53.1	335	1740	£20,840
2	Seat Ibiza	56.1	355	1780	£17,755
3	Seat Leon	56.8	325	1799	£22,225
4	Vauxhall Corsa	55.9	288	1765	£17,330
5	Honda Jazz	53.7	304	1694	£22,975

**Audi A3** (Image: M 93 / Wikimedia / Creative Commons 2.0)

Top rated mid-range to luxury priced cars for small dogs

Rank	Car model	Cabin noise per vehicle (decibels)	Boot capacity (dm3/litres)	Car width (mm)	Car Price (£)(starting cost)
1	Audi A3	56.8	330	1816	£26,070
2	Mini Clubman	56.8	360	1800	£27,015
3	Mazda 3	56.6	358	1795	£28,175
4	Audi TT	56.1	305	1832	£35,415
5	Toyota Prius – Plug-in Hybrid	58.8	359	1760	£27,099

***Ford Kuga*** *(Image: Vauxford / Wikimedia / Creative Commons 2.0)*

The Ford Kuga is the top reasonably priced car for larger dogs (24 to 99 lbs)

For Poodles, Spaniels, Whippets, Boxers, Greyhounds, Labradors, etc.

The Ford Kuga is the top reasonably priced option for medium to large dogs due to its starting price of £24,538, and decent boot capacity (443dm³) and width (1883mm). The Peugeot 2008 is the second top reasonably priced car for bigger dogs, with a slightly cheaper starting cost of £22,735 and lower cabin noise level (52dB). The Ford Mondeo is third in this category, offering a cheaper starting price of £22,417 and better boot capacity of 476.5dm³.

Top rated reasonably priced cars for medium to large dogs

Rank	Car model	Cabin noise per vehicle (decibels)	Boot capacity (dm³/litres)	Car width (mm)	Car Price (£)(starting cost)
1	Ford Kuga	54.5	443	1883	£24,538
2	Peugeot 2008	52	419.5	1770	£22,735
3	Ford Mondeo	57.1	476.5	1852	£22,417
4	Ford Focus	54.7	375	1825	£19,358
5	Nissan Juke	54.5	388	1800	£20,420

**Audi Q7** (Image: RL GNZLZ / Creative Commons 2.0)

Top rated mid-range to luxury priced cars for medium to large dogs

Rank	Car model	Cabin noise per vehicle (decibels)	Boot capacity (dm3/litres)	Car width (mm)	Car Price (£)(starting cost)
1	Audi Q7	51.7	757.5	1970	£58,435
2	Porsche Cayenne	52.1	707.5	1983	£63,700
3	Toyota RAV4	50.1	550	1855	£35,350
4	Land Rover Discovery Sport	55	541	1920	£34,480
5	Kia Sportage	55.6	591	1865	£27,250

**Kia Sportage** (Image: Alexander Migl / Wikimedia / Creative Commons 2.0)

Top 10 cars for dogs under a starting cost of £40,000

For those who can be a little more flexible with their budget but still want to find the top deals, here are the top 10 top dog-friendly cars, all under a starting car price of £40,000.

The Kia Sportage takes the top spot overall at a starting price of £27,250, followed by the Toyota RAV4 (£35,350) and the Ford Kuga (£24,538).

Rank	Car Model	Cabin noise per vehicle	Boot capacity (dm3)	Car width (mm)	Car Price (£) (starting cost)
1	Kia Sportage	55.6	591	1865	£27,250
2	Toyota RAV4	50.1	550	1855	£35,350
3	Ford Kuga	54.5	443	1883	£24,538
4	Land Rover Discovery Sport	55	541	1920	£34,480
5	Audi Q2	50.6	405	1794	£25,655
6	Ford Mondeo	57.1	476.5	1852	£22,417
7	Ford Focus	54.7	375	1825	£19,358
8	Ford Galaxy	54.6	500	1916	£33,667
9	Peugeot 2008	52	419.5	1770	£22,735
10	Mercedes b class	53	450	1796	£25,321

Julie Daniels, motor insurance expert at Compare the Market says: “As well as choosing the right car, drivers need to be aware of rules around travelling with animals. Driving with unrestrained dogs could result in a maximum fine of £5,000 and nine penalty points depending on the severity of the situation. It could also invalidate your car insurance. Suitable restraints include seat belt harnesses, pet carriers and dog cages”.

You can find the full research with more information on the top cars for dogs here: https://www.comparethemarket.com/car-insurance/content/best-cars-for-dogs/

(Lead image: Wald-Burger8 / Wikimedia / Creative Commons 2.0)