As dog owners, we all know the importance of choosing the right car to suit us and our four-legged passengers. K9 Magazine takes to the road with our pick of the pet friendly automobiles on the market today…
How do you define a pet friendly car? Simple, you take a car, any car, road test it with your dog in the back, do a few laps round the block and return it back to the nice showroom person covered in dog hair and boxer saliva. Actually it’s not really like that, we are looking for comfort for our dog, ease of movement for our dog and safety and security is an important factor.
Choosing a Mini when you have a Great Dane may not be the best option but we have road tested these cars and with trusted canine, Jeremy Barkson in tow, here is what we thought.
LEXUS RX300
The new Lexus RX300, with its seamless blend of refinement and ruggedness, is as equally attuned to city driving as it is to the country and its roughest terrain. Which is an advantage when your dog demands that country walk you have been promising since early March.
On the outside, the distinctive and sleek shape creates a spirited image, and like all Lexi (yes that is the plural, ask Allan Partridge)’, the RX300 has been designed and engineered to be one of the quietest cars in its class: vibration, wind, road and engine noise are virtually non-existent. You will only probably hear your dog barking “are we there yet?”, “are we there yet?”, “are we there yet?”
Quite simply, with its Lexus luxury saloon performance, driving the RX300’s 3-litre V6 engine on or off road is so smooth, you could easily forget that you are actually driving a 4×4.
Having more than enough room for man’s best friend is one of the RX300’s big advantages. Space in the back is very flexible. You can fold either of the outer rear seats should you have a Labrador, or drop the middle rear seat for carrying an Afghan Hound. Alternatively, for a Great Dane, you can fold all the rear seats together and create a cavernous luggage floor. And when your hands are full with excited dogs, joyous at last because of their impending trip to the countryside, just press a button on the remote key and the powered rear door gently swings open.
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