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Can you recommend a dog friendly car?

A friend of mine is looking for a replacement for his Land Rover Defender. The car must be dog friendly and comfortable. He lives in Jersey, so it must also be suitable for short trips.

Ideally, he wants a car that allows the rear seats to be folded flat and a dog guard fitted between the diver compartment and load deck. He would prefer the height of a 4x4, but an estate would be OK. Any suggestions?

Asked on 20 July 2013 by AndyJersey

Answered by Honest John
A diesel with a DPF is no good for the short runs at less than 40mph on an island nine miles by five.

Manufacturer dog guards usually fit between the rear seat back and the load area. He would need to buy a special one to fit between the driving compartment and the load deck with the rear seats folded down.

Then, to get the dog out of the crumple zone, he would have to fit a second dog guard where the raised seatbacks would normally be.

His best bet is a Honda Jazz 1.4i or a Honda Civic 1.8i in which the rear seat squabs lift up and the dog can be safely transported in a cage on the floor of the centre of the car.
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