- Dodge Journey: To ensure the safety of drivers, passengers and pets, all gear should be secure when driving, and the Journey offers in-floor storage bins that elegantly achieve this objective. Sadly, many pets are injured by drivers who unknowingly run them over while reversing — the Journey offers a rearview camera that helps drivers avoid this tragedy. Other available features include an in-dash cooler that can be used to store beverages, medicine or pet food; an LED rechargeable flashlight; and steering-wheel-mounted controls (useful in lessening driver distraction).
- Ford Flex: Larger dogs and their crates will be comfortable in the roomy Flex; the crossover offers ample legroom and wide door openings for easy ingress and egress. Other pluses include a refrigerated console and five-star crash test scores.
- GMC Acadia: Tri-zone climate control is available in the Acadia. This feature is important in SUVs, station wagons and minivans; it helps monitor temperature in the rear of the vehicle, thus ensuring that pets secured in back aren’t exposed to extreme heat. The Acadia also offers a direct link to poison control via its OnStar feature (many animals are injured each year from ingesting potential pet poisons like antifreeze, chocolate and tea), along with rear fold-flat seats that accommodate travel for larger pets and their crates.
- Hyundai Tucson: Turn to the Tucson for pet-safe available features like automatic climate control and fold-flat rear seats. This Hyundai also offers remote keyless entry (helpful if your hands are full managing a dog on a leash) as well as privacy glass that helps keep temperatures cool in back.
- Jeep Liberty: The Jeep brand offers specialized pet travel gear, including crates, carriers and a ramp. The ramp is useful for larger dogs, as well as older and/or arthritic pets. This gear may be used with the Liberty and all vehicles in the Jeep lineup. Other useful Liberty features include a split-folding rear seat and available keyless entry.
- Kia Borrego: Full-length side curtain airbags with rollover sensors can keep both pets and their owners safe, and they’re offered in the Borrego. The SUV also offers a back-up warning system and rear camera display.
- Mazda Mazda 5: Three words: sliding rear doors! The Mazda 5 offers easy-access dual sliding rear doors with a one-touch walk-in feature. These doors simplify pet access, and make it a breeze to secure them. The minivan is also notable for having earned five-star crash test scores and for having side curtain airbags in all three rows. Its low cargo floor facilitates easy pet access, and the Mazda 5 also has tethers and anchors in both the second and third rows — helpful since pet safety seats need to be secured in the same way as a child’s.
- Mitsubishi Outlander: Side airbags, five-star crash test ratings and steering-wheel-mounted auxiliary controls are all part of the Outlander’s arsenal of available offerings. The SUV also boasts fold-flat seating and stowable third-row seats (both of which increase the amount of room available for larger pets), as well as more than a dozen storage compartments for your gear and your pet’s.
- Subaru Tribeca: Pet owners will appreciate the Tribeca’s five-star crash test scores, steering-wheel-mounted auxiliary controls and rear back-up camera.
- Volvo XC70: The XC70 is available with a Volvo-designed pet barrier. This is not a one-size-fits-all system with suction cups and Velcro — this is the real deal. Many pet barrier systems are not designed to remain in place during an accident; this system — crash tested by Volvo — has been created to remain intact in a collision. The barrier may be installed by the dealer, and is bolted securely into the vehicle. Another great feature is the XC70′s blind spot warning system. A pet in back can sometimes impede visibility — as a result, any safety feature that helps with blind spots is a big plus.
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