Best Small 4wd

[KateAndDuke]

Hi all,

I currently have one weimaraner and a Mitsubishi Mirage to cart ourselves around in. Swishy is one way to describe it. I'm thinking in about a year I'll be adding another similar-sized dog to the family. I'll also be needing a newer larger car as my current one is on it's way out (and my needs mean I'm seriously growing out of it). I want something not too big, but big enough to throw two medium to large sized dogs in the back area (the boot section).

I like the look of the smaller (pseudo) 4WDs like the Rav4, new Mitsubishi ASX, Forester, etc. Does anyone have any suggestions? Some of the newer small 4WDs don't really have the room to put the dogs in the back due to the angle of the roof meaning there's a lack of head space.

So, what do people use for their dogs in the small 4WD range? Thanks!

[~*Shell*~]

I have a Nissan X-trail. It has the biggest boot of the "small" 4WDs and i love it. Lots of other DOLers have this car too.

I test drove the Rav4 (was no bigger inside than my old corolla hatchback), the forester (which was better than the rav4 but didn't have as much space and i didn't think it handled as well), the captiva (which my uncle told me not to buy and he works for holden!) and the honda CRV (again, didn't handle as well and wasn't as big) as well.

[RallyValley]

If you don't need 4 seats a Suzuki Ignis is great The back seats fold flat so there is heaps of room in the cargo area. :D

[Golden Rules]

Hi all,

I currently have one weimaraner and a Mitsubishi Mirage to cart ourselves around in. Swishy is one way to describe it. I'm thinking in about a year I'll be adding another similar-sized dog to the family. I'll also be needing a newer larger car as my current one is on it's way out (and my needs mean I'm seriously growing out of it). I want something not too big, but big enough to throw two medium to large sized dogs in the back area (the boot section).

I like the look of the smaller (pseudo) 4WDs like the Rav4, new Mitsubishi ASX, Forester, etc. Does anyone have any suggestions? Some of the newer small 4WDs don't really have the room to put the dogs in the back due to the angle of the roof meaning there's a lack of head space.

So, what do people use for their dogs in the small 4WD range? Thanks!

I looked at them all earlier this year for the very same reason you are asking the question.

There were only two that I found have an actual boot space big enough for two sitting dogs or one dog laying down (big dogs) and the only ones that came close were the Ford Escape and the Nissan X Trail.

All the others either had a smaller boot or a sloping back. Otherwise you have to move into the next market and go for something like a Toyota Kluger (my favourite! )

[JulesP]

I got an Xtrail as I liked the boot room. I liked the Hyundais but didn't like driving them. The Xtrail is one of the most common cars at my dog club I tried to open the wrong one the other day, embarrassing.

[Gemelo]

I love my Nissan X trail, My three big dogs fit in the back, and with the seat down, I can fit my 42 inch crate in, fully assembled. Havent tried with the seats up, but I still had to put four dogs in there!

Julesp - :D

[poodlefan]

X-Trails are hot on the ground at dog shows in this area too.

I had one for a week when my Magna was off the road (hit up the bum by a friend who was following me ) I really liked it.

A diesel one is on the short list for next car for me. :D

[minxy]

A Jeep Cherokee Renegade! I love, love, love this car.

[Lyla]

X trail here too. Fits my labs comfortably, and its plenty high enough for a taller dog to stand easily.

I have had my bulky big pram in the back and there was still room to fit a dog.

[Ravyk]

I'd suggest finding a decently running Holden Rodeo dual cab ute to test drive. I would never thought I'd like a dual cab ute [with canopy], but now we own one [1995 model], and it's the best car for dogs, trips and even city driving. It has a V4 so is very fuel efficient [OH travels 500ks for work a week and uses about $60 in petrol], but not the slowest thing on the road by a long shot. It's comfortable and easy to drive, and has plenty of room [my friend calls it my clown car, as I can stow a hell of a lot of stuff in it].

We also find it very safe when travelling away, as us and the dogs are separated from our camping gear/luggage.

[*Bones*]

Nissan X Trail. Jeep Cherokee, which is more expensive. Kia Sportage - same as Hyundai, superior handling and finish.

[Bulldust]

We have an older Honda CR-V and i can tell you we have nothing negative to say about it at all. We've only had to replace cosmetic things, like battery, tyres, windscreen, radiator... Its done things and gone places no small 4 cylinder should do/go, its pulled trailers full of cows, its done 100's of 1000's of km's with no servicing just an oil change here and there (and its run out of oil a couple times too ) its done hills many times, its gone through mud thats about a foot deep, its been run into by cows, kangaroo's, emu's... it just keeps on keeping on and im totally sold with the Honda's now.

[charli73]

I was looking at an Xtrail earlier this year too...

Ive been looking at a Jeep Cherokee too.....

Just drive a few and see which one you like.. pity you cant bring your dogs to the test drive

[Rileys mum]

It's funny that this post has come up as I am currently in the exact same position as the OP.

I've been looking at lots of vehicles. The x trails are lovely. I also found the older sportage had a huge boot area ( and is true 4wd with low range gears too which many of the newer small suv cars aren't) I'd also check out great wall. Their 4wd is awesome value and from perving on my friends it has a very spacious interiour. It leaves others for dead price wise and has everything, including a 4 star safety rating, that the others have plus more as standard.

Jeeps are great if u want offroad ability but are fuel guzzlers in the city. Also can be expensive to repair too.

The grand vitara is an awesome car to drive but lacks the huge interiour of the x trail I think.

I'll be personally looking at great wall. I'd love the new x trail but it's out of my budget

Keep in mind, as I said that most of the small SUVs aren't a true 4wd ( by that i mean having low range gears etc) Might not be relevent but who knows, u might decide to take it out bush one day and climb a tricky track

[kathq]

I love my Holden Rodeo dual cab. Can fit soooooo much in and the on the plus side with the grill across the back of the canopy I can take them swimming and not have wet, stinky dogs in the car with me on the way home

[kmaci]

We have just purchased a holded rodeo duel cab. My OH thinks its for us building our house but actually I want it for when I get my dogs

[Bully]

I want to upgrade my sedan soon and looking at most small 4WD's (haven't test driven any) have come to the conclusion that a Commodore or Falcon wagon have much more room in the back and are probably cheaper to fix if anything goes wrong.

[corvus]

We have a Forester, but don't transport crates. Just have the dogs on the back seat hammock with their seatbelts on. We can put them in the boot if they are particularly repulsive or if we're taking extra passengers. We like the Forester a lot. It's roomy for our needs, but there's only two of us and two dogs. We recently took it up through the centre and it did well on the dirt roads. It's not technically a 4wd, but we're not off-roaders, so why have one?

I used to drive Hilux and Rodeo dual cabs with canopies and they are awesome work horses and if I were buying an off-roader they would be high on the list. They are just unstoppable, serious vehicles. Not fun in the city, though. I never found them easy to park in parking lots. The Forester suits us well because we often take unsealed roads, but also often drive around town with it. We don't need a real 4wd, and the centre of gravity thing makes me uneasy. I don't like the new Foresters. They are too tall!

[dee lee]

We are waiting for our brand new Renault Koleos (hopefully getting it next week ).

We had it shortlisted with a Forrester but when we did the comparisons the Koleos had more interior and boot space, plus had much nicer detailing.

It has 6 airbags, built in window blinds, front and rear cup holders, a chilled gloevbox and HEAPS of hidden storage space- including under the floor.

For about $5k cheaper we thought it was much much better value.

A big thing for us was that it has no "hump" in the floor in front of the rear seats. We like this because the dog likes to lie down there most of the time under the kids' feet (she gets nervous in the car :p).

Plenty of room for her and a couple of mates in the boot though (GR don't you start!! ;) ;) ).

[KateAndDuke]

Great responses guys! I'd love to able to throw my dog in the back boot space so the passenger area doesn't suffer from chronic layers of fur, mud and sand! Also, I certainly don't intend on going off road with the car, so something more suited for the suburbs would be best. Looks like I have some test driving to do!

Yes, too bad I can't take the dog and 'test' that side as well . . .