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The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Best cars for dog owners: In the market for a used motor? Pick with your pooch in mind with models starting from £5K
WOOF WAGON Best cars for dog owners: In the market for a used motor? Pick with your pooch in mind with models starting from £5K DOGS are as much a part of the family as kids. So, when you get a new pet you might need to upgrade your car to make sure they're comfy. Advertisement 1 Picking the right car is probably harder for a pet than children as dogs come in all shapes and sizes, and there is plenty to factor in. If you've got a big dog, you'll want a big car with a decent-sized boot so it can move around on any journeys. Dogs also get travel sick, so choose a motor with a smooth ride - plus ensure the area you're stowing your pet is well ventilated. Look for cars with anchor points in the boot, plus child locks to stop your mutt making a run for it - those that can be fitted with a dog guard are also worth looking at. Advertisement And make sure you also pick a car that doesn't have a high load lip in the boot if your dog is only small. If they can't leap up easily, you probably want to look elsewhere. Here's six of the best used cars with prices starting at just £3,299. Mazda CX-5 While the Mazda's SUV might not have room for seven people, it has plenty of boot space for man's best friend. Advertisement It's one of the best value large SUV's on the market, and is as practical as it is stylish. Perfect for any adventure, you can easily pack in the whole family along with your pup and have room to spare. There are models available on Sun Motors starting from £4,499. Skoda Superb Estate Advertisement Skoda is not to be overlooked when it comes to dog-friendly cars. The Superb Estate gives you space and practicality at excellent value. Your back can rest easy as the low loading sill allows your pooch to hop into the back with little effort. The 660-litre capacity is perhaps the biggest selling point and there's an added bonus of a four-wheel drive for rural explorers and adventure-seekers. You can find used models on Sun Motors starting from £5,795. Advertisement Kia Sportage The most popular family SUV from the South Korean manufacturer, the Sportage is most attractive for its interior space. Dog owners can add a trunk sill protector to prevent scratches while their pet enjoys the giant boot. And the simplistic motor tends to hold its value better than most in its category. Advertisement There are used models currently available on Sun Motors from just £3,989. Find Your Next Car by What You Can Actually Afford Sun Motors has created the UK's First Finance-First Marketplace *Finance Powered by DSG Finance who are a Credit Broker Not A Lender. Representative 21.6%. Your rate may differ depending on individual circumstances You can check in less than 60 seconds if you are eligible for financing, and then search for your dream used car within your monthly budget. Here's how... Soft credit check , with no impact on your score , with no impact on your score 60-second decision , get a real finance decision in less than a minute , get a real finance decision in less than a minute Instant match , only see cars that fit your real budget , only see cars that fit your real budget AI-powered help, get tailored advice, suggestions, and instant answers from an AI advisor called Theo Find out what you can afford in just 60 seconds here. Dacia Logan MCV Don't let the price of this addition from Dacia fool you, the load area and boot space of this budget option rivals that of a car three or four times the price, with 573 litres of space. The overall equipment may seem fairly basic and the black and grey plastics may not be the most pleasing on the eye, but on a practical level, the ample space and easy to clean interior make this a perfect choice for dog owners on a tight budget. Advertisement Find used models on Sun Motors starting from £3,299. Skoda Karoq One of the most comfortable drives from Skoda, the Karoq is an update on their Yeti model. It comes with a range of features, and offers a touch of luxury for a great price. Advertisement A luggage compartment mat and partition net screen can also be added for your dog. Find used models on Sun Motors from £7,495. Citroen C4 Cactus With a somewhat less quirky design than previous versions of the Cactus, Citroen has still managed to create a small family car that delivers when it comes to safety and comfort. Advertisement The unique rear window design will give dog owners peace of mind as they hinge outwards rather than slide down, meaning owners no longer need to worry about their poodles getting their head stuck out the window. Find used models from £3,495.
Irish Examiner
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
What car is best for towing in Ireland? A 2025 guide to petrol, diesel and electric options
Towing is something that thousands of Irish motorists need to do each year. Whether it be for a caravan, a boat or something between the two, towing with your car can unlock a whole new range of adventures and pursuits. Likewise, for businesses, towing can sometimes make a difference. Here, we're going to check out some of the very best tow cars available today. Skoda Superb Estate Skoda Superb Estate. Skoda's Superb Estate has been a longtime tow car favourite and the latest model looks to continue this. Inside, you'll find a smart and well-appointed cabin with lots of equipment regardless of which specification you opt for. Skoda's handy 'Smart Dials' allow quick and easy changes of settings such as fan speed and audio volume, too. But importantly, it's got the right skills when it comes to towing, too. It has an outright towing capacity of 2,000kg when equipped with a 2.0-litre diesel engine, while that engine means that the Superb never feels out of puff. Kia Sorento Kia Sorento. Similar to the Superb Estate, Kia's Sorento has routinely proven to be a big-hitter tow car. The comfortable seven-seater offers a lot of space inside, while Kia's seven-year warranty is a great addition for those who want some added peace of mind. Its maximum tow weight of 2,500kg is impressive, while the 2.2-litre diesel engine provides enough performance to easily climb steeper inclines. Volvo V90 Volvo V90. There was a lot of outcry when Volvo first decided that it would no longer sell its popular estate cars in Ireland, but that decision was quickly reversed to bring both the smaller V60 and this car – the V90 – back to dealerships. The V90 is a popular option among those who need to tow, while its spacious boot means it's got plenty of space to offer too. Opt for the current T6 and you'll get a maximum towing capacity of 2,500kg, while high-res cameras can help out when parking. Nissan X-Trail Nissan X-Trail. The X-Trail could be seen as the adventure-ready sister to the popular Qashqai, with this five- or seven-seater's versatility and spaciousness being key plus-points. It's also available with Nissan's clever e4orce all-wheel-drive technology, which will come in particularly useful when you need to start towing. It's got a respectable maximum tow weight of 1,800kg, too, which means it should be able to handle most towing jobs. Kia EV9 Kia EV9. You may not think that an electric car would be able to handle the demands of towing, but the EV9 goes against this. It's the largest EV that Kia currently makes and, courtesy of a dual motor setup, it's an electric vehicle with a lot of performance to offer. It has a maximum tow weight of 2,500kg, so it'll be suitable for all types of tasks. While the 561km headline range is impressive, you'll likely get significantly lower than this when towing – so it's worth bearing in mind. Volkswagen ID.7 GTX Volkswagen ID.7. Another electric tow car option is the Volkswagen ID.7. It's one of the brand's latest EVs and brings with it a well-finished interior with lots of the latest technology. When you're not towing, the ID.7 also offers a refined driving experience with minimal wind and road noise. Opt for the dual-motor GTX version and you'll get a maximum towing capacity of 1,200kg, too, which is ideal for smaller caravans and boats. It's more than the 1,000kg capacity you'll get from the non-GTX version, too. Volkswagen Touareg The Touareg was Volkswagen's first premium SUV and from the very start, it's a car which has proven its ability to tow. Famously, back in 2006, a V10 diesel-powered Touareg was used to tow a Boeing 747 simply to showcase the car's towing abilities. But even if you want to tow something a little more ordinary, the latest Touareg is more than up to the challenge. It's got a maximum towing capacity of 3,500kg. Read More Essential electric vehicle tips for Irish road trips and motorway driving
