Welcome to the second entry in our series looking at the best dog friendly cars currently for sale in the UK (and one we wish was for sale, but more on that later). Our first post covered the Audi Q8, but for now we turn our attention to the Nissan X-Trail. We believe Nissan’s flagship SUV has a number of nifty features that make it a superb option for pet owners. There’s also the option of a 7-seater, which adds to its appeal among those with larger families.
You’d certainly be forgiven for thinking it was little more than a slightly beefed-up Qashqai, but the X-Trail pre-dates the Qashqai line by a good 6 years. Introduced way back in 2000, it’s made a name for itself as a very accomplished family crossover SUV. We’re now into the third generation, which was released in 2013 and received a welcome facelift in 2017.
Why the Nissan X-Trail is one of the best dog friendly cars
The headline feature for many dog owners is the X-Trail’s so-called Active Ride Control. For a better ride, Nissan’s clever system uses the engine and brakes to automatically counteract road bumps. This is certainly something you’ll be thankful for if you opt for the 19-inch alloy wheels. From a dog owner’s perspective a smooth ride is exactly what you’re looking for, particularly if your pet isn’t a confident traveller.
Turning our attention to the rear, it’s 445-litre boot space provides the ideal spot for your pooch (or pooches) to rest their heads on the move. They’ve also got plenty of room to move about if they need to. However, if you’re concerned about them moving around too much, the Travall Guard is a great accessory. It will prevent them from getting into the front and offer you more space in the back should you need it. In addition to its large capacity boot, the X-Trail comes with a hands-free electronic tailgate as standard. Simply swipe your foot under the centre of the rear bumper and the boot will open itself, leaving you with two free hands to keep hold of a pair of excited dogs!
Finally, the Nissan comes with a 5-star Euro NCAP rating. This means it’s well-equipped with technology designed to avoid crashes and performs well overall in crash testing. As a result, you can rest assured of your family and pets’ safety on the road.
Great accessories for one of the best dog friendly cars
Travall has a wide range of accessories designed specifically for the X-Trail, guaranteed to help you enjoy the journey. All the Travall accessories are vehicle-specific, add an extra layer of protection, and assure exceptional quality.
The Travall Guard is the perfect accessory for the Nissan X-Trail. It provides a barrier between the boot and the rest of the vehicle, while complimenting its interior with a subtle grey, bite-resistant powder finish. Furthermore, because it’s vehicle-specific you don’t need to worry about making any modifications to your car. Teamed seamlessly with the guard, a Travall Divider offers an excellent boot organisation system, allowing you to separate two dogs into two distinct areas. Now you don’t need to worry about transporting a pair of fighting dogs, or keeping them away from precious cargo such as food shopping!
Additionally, the Travall Protector and Travall Liner provide essential dog-proofing for the X-Trail. Protect the rear bumper from scratches as your dog gets in and out with the Travall Protector and keep that paintwork immaculate. Meanwhile the liner will make cleaning the boot a breeze, as it can easily be removed and hosed down after particularly muddy dog walks.
Nissan X-Trail 4Dogs
Nissan knows the X-Trail is one of the best cars for dogs so has come up with a concept car. Some might say it’s over-the-top, but we’re of the opinion that a dog can never be spoilt too much.
We spoke about the Audi Q8’s kneeling capabilities in our last post, but the aptly named X-Trail 4Dogs takes this a step further. Nissan has actually gone so far as to install a sliding ramp up to the rear of the vehicle so your dog doesn’t have to strain itself with a jump after a long walk. Another one of its most notable features is the pull out 360-degree shower and hair dryer. This allows you to wash away all of the muck before they get on board. And, if your dog hates the feeling of being wet, you can dry his fur right there. Lastly, we couldn’t not talk about the dog cam feeding into the car’s infotainment system. Worry no more about what your dogs are doing in the back while you’re driving. You can now effortlessly keep an eye on them from the front seat.
We’ve not covered everything, but below is Nissan’s video showing off all of its awesome features. All of which undoubtedly leave it at the top of any list of best dog friendly cars, we just wish it wasn’t a concept!
