ByMatthew MacConnell,
Contributor.
BYD Sealion 7
Us dog parents are barking mad about our four-legged family members. My dogs are rescues; they are anxious and fearful, but a car ride often settles them—probably because they know the park awaits at the journey’s end.
Travelling to said park means piling my Siberian Husky and Shepkita into my Mini. We’re a bit like a travelling circus, and smiles are often conjured as we debark (pun intended). But if luxury is important—and you don’t mind having mucky dog paws, vomit and saliva on your Beluga hide upholstery—what are your options?
Here’s my pick of the 5 great luxury SUVS for dog lovers:
Bentley the sheepdog at Goodwoof
In 2023, Bentley ‘raised the woof’ at Goodwood’s festival for dogs—known as Goodwoof— by showcasing a rare breed of Bentayga monikered ‘Bentley the sheepdog’.
The Bentley Bentayga’s 484-litre boot isn’t the biggest on this list, but most doggos will fit. Note that four-seat models only have 431 litres.
There’s a variety of aftermarket dog cages available and quilted boot liners. After all, Max the Great Dane requires comfort.
The Bentayga is priced from £169,385 ($207,050).
Aston Martin DBX 707
This monstrous SUV will accelerate from 0-62mph in 3.3 seconds and hit 193 mph if given enough room. The Aston Martin DBX707 can quickly become a vomit comet, so it’s probably worth not trying to achieve these numbers with your dog in the back.
Aston Martin offers the DBX707 with an array of dog goodies like a rear bumper protector to prevent scratch marks on the Podium Green paintwork, a dog partition, and even a branded dog bed.
Opt for the Pet Package, and you’ll get the partition, rear bumper protector, a dog accessory holder, and even a portable washer for mucky pups.
The DBX707 is priced from £205,000 ($256,086).
Land Rover Pet Ramp
Dogs will be fine in most Land Rovers, but the Range Rover Sport balances performance and practicality rather well. It also has an array of hybrid engines, meaning great efficiency.
The boot is gargantuan at 647 litres and has an electronic tailgate as standard. Clever air suspension means the load height can be dropped via buttons in the boot for smaller doggos.
Land Rover also offers its Pet Pack with the Sport. Buy this and you’ll get an access ramp, a portable rinse system, and a spill-resistant water bowl—Bone Appétit!
The Range Rover Sport is priced from £76,350 ($83,700).
BYD Sealion 7
U.S. folks will need to sit this one out for now. The recently launched BYD Sealion 7 has a generous dog cargo area and a ‘frunk’, so your dog won’t need to fend off the electric snake (charging cable) whenever a sharp corner arrives.
Sealion 7 humans can choose from three trim levels: Comfort, Design AWD, and Excellence AWD. Regardless of choice, the Sealion’s boot is bigger than those of a Hyundai Ioniq 5 or Kia EV6 and all versions have an adjustable boot floor.
The range-topper is the only version featuring a 91.3kWh battery and an official 311-mile range. Any trim below gets the 82.5kWh with an official 299 miles.
Rolls-Royce Cullinan II
A dog?! In a Rolls-Royce?! Indeed. The British luxury marque offers grain leather dog collars and leads—they even have a Spirit of Ecstasy charm.
Pop the Rolls-Royce Cullinan II’s trunk and you’ll notice a ‘no dogs’ sticker. This doesn’t mean dogs are banned under some odd manufacturer rule, but because a glass partition separates the rear seats and boot.
So, why is it on my list? The Cullinan II is the height of SUV luxury, and alongside the collar and lead, Rolls-Royce also offers a lambswool leather pet seat mat. Why put a well-behaved dog in the boot when they too can enjoy massaging seats?
Likewise, the Cullinan II’s suspension does a mighty job at ironing out the roughest road ruts while vault-like doors keep exterior noise at a minimum, meaning you’ll both be tranquil.
The Rolls-Royce Cullinan II is priced from £338,665 ($410,350). What more does a dog lover need?
