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The best car for dog lovers? It's Elemental
published 12/31/2007 | View all articles from this day
Based on factors such as cargo capacity, cargo space usability and ease of cleaning, the Pet Connection’s DogCars.com Web site named the Honda Element as 2007’s top car for dog lovers. The DogCars.com team also picked the Suzuki Forenza wagon as the best overall value.
The boxy Element is as good a dog car as could possibly be imagined. From its versatile cargo space to easy-clean interior — which, contrary to common belief, cannot be hosed out — is a near-perfect vehicle for dog-loving drivers.
In addition, the DogCars.com team noted four vehicles to watch in 2008: The all-new Toyota Scion xB, Volvo XC70, Dodge Grand Caravan and Buick Enclave. In the “green” category, DogCars.com marks the 2008 Ford Escape hybrid as worth a test drive for dog lovers who want a cleaner ride.
Surveys show about half of all pet owners consider the comfort of their dogs when buying a new car — and 65 percent take their pets on errands. That means the dog-loving car buyer is a serious niche market that carmakers ignore at their peril.
Other top picks for 2007 include:
* Best Luxury SUV: Land Rover Range Rover * Best Midsized: SUV: Volkswagen Touareg and Volvo XC90 (tie) * Best Small-Sized SUV: Mitsubishi Outlander * Best Sporty Wagon/Hatchback: Mazda Speed3 * Best Pickup Truck: Ford F-150 * Best Minivan: Dodge Grand Caravan * Best Hatchback: Honda Fit Sport
The selections were based on weeklong trials with a variety of vehicles.
(The Pet Connection’s DogCars.com Web site offers reviews of SUVs, wagons, minivans and more with an eye from how well they suit the needs of dog lovers.)
All information copyright 2009 by Dr. Marty Becker and Gina Spadafori.
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