Pet-Friendly (And Not-So-Pet Friendly) Rides

IF YOU’RE ANYTHING LIKE ME AND MY PARTNER, PETS are a very important part of your life. There’s just something about our furry friends, which in our case is six puppies of various sizes and shapes that make life better. However, having that many paws around the house means a need for a vehicle that can carry at least a couple of them. Check out a few vehicles that are pet friendly … and a few that are perhaps not.

First up is the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander. Mitsubishi might not be the first vehicle that comes to mind when you’re looking at midsize SUVs, but the Outlander might surprise you. Let’s face it, when you have your four-legged friends riding around with you, there should be a balance between style, luxury, and ruggedness. The Mitsubishi Outlander 2.4 SE S-AWC is one of the few SUVs with seven-passenger seating standard while having two different engine options and an available feature set we’ve all come to expect. At a base price of around $26K, the Outlander won’t break the bank. With cloth seats standard and a touchscreen entertainment system (with available navigation unit), our pets can ride in comfort and you can ride with peace of mind.

Another vehicle that’s well positioned for the pets in your family is the 2015 Ford F-150. Getting into a pickup truck isn’t as inexpensive as some CUV and SUVs on the market, but the versatility can be worth the extra money spent. In the base form, the 2015 Ford F-150 XL Super Crew with the all-new 2.7-Liter EcoBoost V6 has everything the pet lover needs while providing the durability our furry friends demand. For about $35K, the F-150 Super Crew can be optioned with the necessities like power windows as well as familiar options like SYNC by Microsoft. The cloth interior will handle the paws, while the vinyl floor covering will prevent stains and make it easier to clean after a full day at the muddy dog park. With your pets covered, I’d like to turn your attention to the available, and all-new, 2.7-Liter EcoBoost V6. This engine added to the lineup boasts 325-hp, start-stop technology, and torque close to that found in the 5.0-Liter V8. Fuel economy details haven’t been released, but it’s expected to push the F-150 into the class leader position.

Now for a vehicle that might not be so pet friendly … but you be the judge. The 2015 Infiniti QX60 (once called the JX35) is a mid-size SUV that seats seven passengers and offers all the luxury appointments you’d expect from the high-end Infiniti brand. The All-Wheel Drive QX60 tips the scales at about $56K with technology, touring, and premium packages. With a leather interior and soft-touch appointments throughout, the QX70 is great for four passengers and still comfortable for five. If you leave the third row folded down, you can easily carry your four-legged friends and the short pile carpet will provide a fair amount of durability. Opt for a rear cargo mat and you can have your pets and sink into luxury, too. However, the soft leather textiles are not going to stand up well to dog paws and toenails, so we recommend keeping them off the seating surfaces. The QX60 is on the borderline on the pet-friendly meter.

As for the non-pet friendly vehicles, the list can be quite long. Some that come to mind include the Mazda Miata, Corvette Stingray, BMW M4, Kia K900 and, well, really any sports car or luxury car without a cargo area. Unless you’re Elle Woods and your tiny dog is used to purse-sized seating.