Top 10 Pet-Safe Vehicles

Ever thought how dangerous an unrestrained pet is in a moving car? Did you know that a 35 pound dog can also become a 2700 pound projectile in 35mph crash? As rising numbers of pet owners take to the roads with animals in tow, we have joined forces to reveal the top 10 pet safe vehicles. These days, more pets as compared to before travelling in vehicles; sadly, though, most drivers aren’t taking the steps necessary to ensure that this travel is safe both for their pets as well as for them. Many of these animals ride unrestrained, increasing risk of fatality or pet injury during an accident. The animals aren’t the only ones at risk: If you have an accident at 35 mph while toting your 60-pound unrestrained dog, your pet is capable of causing impact of up to 2,700 pounds, slamming into windshield, passenger or seat.

Bark Buckle Up is committed to informing pet owners about dangers of unrestrained pet travel. The firm tracks thoroughly data regarding pet safety, and works with fire departments and police as well as general public for promoting safe pet travel. In an effort for reducing unnecessary injury and death to human occupants and pets in vehicles, we have selected top ten best vehicles of United States based on criteria of which ones are best suited for transporting you and your animal companion in safety. Features include fold down rear seats, storage compartments, pet barriers, wide access doors and adequate climate control.

Dodge Journey

Dodge showed up late to the midsize crossover sport utility vehicle class, at last entering the marketplace with Dodge Journey. However, the company, which created a minivan, has some party tricks of its own. Dodge has proven track record of producing vehicle, which can transform quickly from cargo hauler to people mover with minimal fuss. As a crossover sport utility vehicle with comfortable seating for seven passengers, the Dodge Journey is designed and engineered to appeal to families seeking something versatile, but also more elegant as compared to minivan.

The Dodge Journey is available in Express, Mainstreet, Crew, R/T and Lux trim levels. The entry level Express model comes with 2.4 liter four-cylinder engine rated at 173 horsepower, which is teamed up with four-speed automatic transmission. Notable features include USB/iPod connectivity and touchscreen interface. All other models are powered by 3.6 liter V6 that makes 283 hp. A six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift control is standard, as is the front-wheel drive.

Beside typical features added as you progress through trim levels, the Crew model adds tri-zone automatic climate control and sliding and reclining 60/40 split second row seat, while the Mainstreet gets firmer suspension. The R/T is almost similar except for unique interior and exterior trim, while the high performance Lux gets heated front seats, leather upholstery, Bluetooth, navigation system and rearview camera. Many of upper trim features can also be added to supporting trims along with 50/50-split third-row seat, sunroof, rearseat entertainment system and built-in child booster seats.

Ford Flex

Ford’s first attempt at this admired new automotive niche was Freestyle/Taurus X, a practical wagon-like vehicle, which offered plenty of interior passenger space while being slightly less unwieldy than larger competitors. Unfortunately, the descriptor wagonlike has become as appealing to Americans as communist-like.

Enter the Ford Flex that basically takes this same wagonlike platform but places it in boxy hipster package. It is a formula, which worked well with compact hatchbacks and Scion, and by adding a small number of Mini-inspired design touches such as white roof and blacked-out roof pillars. The Ford Flex is perhaps the coolest choice among seven-passenger crossovers. Conveniently, it also happens to work in fine fashion as a family vehicle with its comfortable ride, roomy cabin, pleasant driving dynamics and excellent build quality.

The Ford Flex is a crossover wagon that offers comfortable seating capacity for seven passengers with its boxy body engineered for maximizing interior volume and style. Although it gets unique touches such as grooved door panels, company’s signature three-bar chrome grille, Mini-like contrasting roof colors for providing a unique sense of fashion and brushed aluminium accented tailgate on Limited trim. Interesting features include Sync voice command electronics system and four-panel Vista sunroof that give Flex both fun and practical features not found on its rivals.

The Ford Flex comes in four different trim levels. The base SE is available only with front-wheel drive system and gets rear climate controls, 18-inch wheels, six-speaker CD stereo and power driver seat. The midlevel SEL is offered with front-wheel drive or all wheel drive system and gets dual-zone automatic climate control, upgraded 18-inch wheels, heated front seats, 12-speaker stereo with satellite radio and Sync electronics interface of Ford.

The Ford Flex Limited features xenon headlights, 19-inch wheels, power adjustable pedals, power liftgate, perforated leather upholstery, driver memory functions and touchscreen navigation system with voice recognition, real time traffic information and reverse camera and interior mood lighting. Many of these features are offered as options on SEL. The range topping Titanium gets unique black chrome exterior styling accents, unique cabin trim including microfiber suede seat inserts and 20-inch chrome wheels. Flex option highlights include four-panel Vista sunroof, second-row captain’s chairs, rearseat entertainment system and keyless ignition/entry.

GMC Acadia

Like its platform mates from Saturn, Buick and Chevrolet, the three-row GMC Acadia offers an enviable combination of cargo space and comfort with decent performance. It also offers compliant ride, spacious comfortable seats on all three rows, cavernous cargo space and top crash test scores. The Acadia is a full size crossover sport utility vehicle, which is available in four trims: SLE, base SL, SLT-2 and SLT-1.

The SL comes with front and rear air conditioning, 18-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, full power accessories, six-speaker CD/MP3 stereo system with satellite radio and OnStar telematics. The SLE gets power liftgate, foglamps, leather wrapped steering wheel, remote ignition, auto dimming rearview mirror, partial power front seats, rear parking sensors, backup camera with small rearview mirror integrated display and Bluetooth.

The SLT-1 gets heated mirrors, 19-inch wheels, tri-zone automatic climate control, variable assist steering system, leather upholstery, rear audio controls and headphone jacks, 10-speaker Bose stereo with USB audio jack and heated front seats. The top of the line SLT-2 comes with power folding heated mirrors with driver side auto dimming, 20-inch chrome wheels, additional power adjustments for front seats (four-way passenger and eight-way driver), perforated leather upholstery, Towing Preparation package and driver memory functions.

Hyundai Tucson

When Hyundai Tucson was launched for 2005 model year, it symbolized the company’s first entry in long-established small sport utility vehicle segment. Though company’s car-based Santa Fe sport-ute has often been combined in this class because of its budget price tag and has always been midsize in its exterior dimensions. The first-generation Tucson became company’s official entry level SUV, and offered favourable combination of characteristics, including long list of standard equipment, terrific warranty and available V6 engine. Nevertheless, the Tucson looked rather dowdy and had decidedly low-budget feel to inside and never really registered in people’s minds as mainstream option.

The 2nd generation Hyundai Tucson arrived for 2010 with slick interior to match and sharp exterior styling. There is no V6 option, but current four-cylinder is more powerful as compared to old-cylinder while being more efficient than old base four. On the whole, the present Tucson is considerably more capable and interesting vehicle than before.

Jeep Liberty

The Jeep Liberty is a successor to one of original compact sport utility vehicles of United States, the Cherokee. An evolutionary departure from that earlier, more conventional sport utility design, Liberty gets high roof line, aggressive, flared wheel arches and large greenhouse. True to its capable, tough Jeep off-road lineage, the Liberty was engineered to actually venture off road, a trait not shared by many of its car-based, lighter weight sport utility competitors. It does so confidently with its exceptional suspension travel and articulation and steep approach and departure angles. Fused with solid axle rear and independent front suspension and rack and pinion steering, the Liberty works best for those who are in the market looking for versatile, go-anywhere sport utility vehicle and plan to take advantage of its all-terrain prowess on occasion.

Kia Borrego

For those who are looking for towing capacity and utility of body on frame sport utility vehicle, the Kia Borrego provides solid performance, more luxurious appointments and respectable fuel economy as compared to rivals. It also offers powerful engine choices, quiet ride, high towing capacity and decent fuel economy from V8 engine. The Borrego is a midsize sport utility vehicle, which is available in EX and LX trim levels. The LX comes equipped with roof rails, 17 inch alloy wheels, incorporated tow hitch, backup warning system, full power accessories, air-conditioning, tilt and telescoping steering column, six-speaker audio system with satellite radio, CD/MP3 player, auxiliary jack and USB port and cruise control.

Stepping up to EX V6 trim gets heated outside mirrors, foglights, four-way power passenger seat, eight-way power driver seat, dual-zone automatic climate control and steering column mounted audio controls. The V8 models of Borrego are also available in same EX and LX variants and are similar in terms of feature, but come standard with 18-inch wheels. All wheel drive models are equipped similarly and have windshield de-icer.

In terms of options, there is a Convenience Package that adds power driver seat and leather seating. Two additional option packages, Premium and Luxury, are offered exclusively on EX. The Luxury Package adds leather upholstery, chrome wheels, memory function for driver seat, heated front seats and power tilt/telescoping steering column, while the Premium Package gets sunroof, running boards, rear air conditioning controls, rear backup camera and 10-speaker Infinity audio system. Additional features include voice activated navigation and rearseat DVD entertainment system.

The Kia Borrego offers two different engine choices; the 3.8 liter V6 engine, which is good for churning out 276 horsepower with 267 pound feet of torque and 4.6 liter V8 that generates 337 horsepower and 323 pound feet of torque. Both powerplants are paired with rear wheel drive or four-wheel drive system. The six-cylinder models are teamed up with five-speed automatic transmission, while V8 models with six-speed automatic. The maximum towing capacity of Borrego is 5000 pounds for V6 and best-in class 7500 pounds for V8.

Mazda 5

Compact minivans have been quite famous for decades in Japan and Europe, where families find them useful to deal with limited parking, high fuel prices and narrow streets. Import manufacturing company’s attempts to bring these space wagons to American shores in early 1990s were largely ineffective, because Americans were more interested in large minivans and modern sport utility vehicles. Nevertheless, with increasing fuel prices and some buyers looking for downsizing from larger vehicles, Mazda decided that the truly “mini” minivan might again have an opportunity with American consumers.

The result is Mazda 5 compact minivan. It is drastically smaller as compared to other minivans in the market and provides six-passenger capacity with sporty handling and looks, Mazda is known for. For shoppers seeking an affordable, relatively fuel-efficient family transportation, which is easy to maneuver in traffic and snap to park, Mazda 5 is a wonderful choice.

Mitsubishi Outlander

For young families who aren’t willing to compromise style for versatility, the Mitsubishi Outlander is a compelling choice for small crossover sport utility vehicle. It offers agile handling, lengthy warranty, sporty styling, wide spectrum of feature, useful liftgate or tailgate design and high safety scores. The Mitsubishi Outlander is a small crossover sport utility vehicle, which is offered in four trim levels: SE, ES, GT and XLS. The ES comes equipped with four-cylinder engine, air-conditioning, 16-inch steel wheels, cruise control, six-speaker CD stereo, reclining rear seats and full power accessories. The optional Convenience package gets heated sideview mirrors, alloy wheels, leather wrapped steering wheel, roof rails, steering wheel audio controls, auxiliary audio jack and Bluetooth.

The Mitsubishi Outlander SE adds 18 inch wheels, fabric sport seats, remote keyless ignition and entry, turn signal mirrors, six-disc CD changer, steering wheel mounted paddle shifters and foglights. The XLS comes with 3.0 liter V6 engine with all the above features along with third-row seat, Fuse hands-free link system, chrome accents in cabin, voice activated Bluetooth phone connectivity and automatic climate control. The GT adds all these equipments and comes with exterior chrome trim, xenon headlights, rain sensing windshield wipers, aluminium pedals, satellite radio and premium Rockford Fosgate sound system.

Subaru Tribeca

A midsize crossover sport utility vehicle, the Subaru Tribeca offers comfortable seating capacity for seven passengers and comes with tri-zone automatic climate control, 18 inch alloy wheels, heated power front seats, tilt steering wheel, cruise control, full power accessories, seven-inch display screen, keyless entry and six-speaker CD/MP3 sound system with auxiliary input jack.

Volvo XC70

The Volvo XC70 is a five-passenger wagon with front and rear foglights, 16-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, heated mirrors, 40/20/40 split rearseat, two-zone automatic climate control, tilt and telescoping steering wheel, eight-way power driver seat with memory functions, auto dimming rearview mirror, neoprene-like Tricotec upholstery, eight-speaker stereo with auxiliary audio jack, iPod/USB audio interface and CD player and Bluetooth. The Premium package gets leather upholstery, sunroof, wood trim and eight-way power passenger seat. 17-inch alloy wheels are standalone option.

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