The days of the dog jumping in the back of the pickup are gone for most pet owners, many of whom go to great lengths to keep their pets safe.
The folks at Edmunds.com have a list of the best "pet-friendly" cars.
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Dodge Journey. Edmunds says a rearview camera and plenty of storage for items that could fly around and injure your pet put this SUV on the list.
Ford Flex. The crossover offers ample legroom and wide door openings for easy ingress and egress. Other pluses include a refrigerated console.
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.
Hyundai Tucson. 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.
KIA Soul. The Soul comes standard with side curtain airbags that can keep both two-legged and four-legged passengers safe in the event of a collision. This Kia is also available with rear privacy glass that can help keep your pets cool when they're lounging in the back.
MAZDA 5. Three words: sliding rear doors! 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. 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 steering-wheel-mounted auxiliary controls and rear back-up camera, says Edmunds.com
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.