Polestar currently only offers a single true serial production model – the Polestar 2 which is a decent car for dog owners if your dog is not overly large. Because the car comes with a sloped roofline chances are that your dog is not going to have the largest amount of space up top, but this is only an issue for the largest breeds out there.
Polestar was keen to address dog-loving customers so they came up with lots of specific componentry such as dedicated trunk liners, hammocks, and mounting points within the luggage space which should make it easier to secure your dog in place.
If you are not often using your rear seats you can lower them down to create lots of space for even the largest dog breeds out there. Another benefit of the Polestar 2 is that it also offers some trunk space in the front which means that you might be able to pack some of your luggage up front and leave the trunk space for your dog.
No matter what you do you need to make sure to be extra careful while traveling with a dog inside the car. Always use specific, well-tested dog-friendly components which should make you, your car, and your dog safe in everyday situations.
Interior and cargo space of the Polestar 2
The most important quality of a dog-friendly car is lots of space. As such, you need to buy a car that can easily fit you, your passengers, and the dog in a comfortable manner. The Polestar 2 comes with 14.3 cubic feet of trunk space behind the rear seats which is not exactly class-leading, but it should be enough for smaller to mid-size breeds.
The rear seats can fold 60/40 which can vastly increase the space. With the rear seats folded down, you can easily accommodate even multiple dogs or even large dogs. The greatest issue with the Polestar 2 is the sloping roofline which means that your dog might not have sufficient headspace.
As previously mentioned, the Polestar 2 also comes with a front trunk space, but it only packs 1.2 cubic feet which means that it’s not enough for a weekend getaway. The hatchbacks opening is beneficial for dogs as the load lip is rather shallow thus manageable even for older dogs.
All in all, the Polestar 2 can accommodate smaller to mid-size dogs without any issues. However, if you own multiple dogs or a larger dog, you should focus your attention on boxy SUVs, estates, and minivans.
Polestar 2 on-road sophistication and comfort
Dogs can often get sick while traveling inside a car which means that you should also focus your attention towards getting a quiet and smooth car. The good news is that the Polestar 2 is one of the most comfortable non-luxury EVs on the market, but the bad news is that it is an EV.
Polestar has made sure to tailor the driving experience of the Polestar 2 with a definite focus towards comfort, even with the Performance Pack model. That being said, if you want to maximize your comfort you should opt for a non-Performance Pack model with Polestar-branded tires.
There are a few instances where Polestar 2 owners complained about their dogs becoming sick if you use the one-pedal mode. This means maximizing regenerative braking in order to be as efficient as possible, but this also means that the driving experience is not as smooth as it otherwise would be with an ICE car.
How to transport dogs inside a car safely and comfortably
There are a few different ways how one can transport a dog inside a car safely and comfortably depending on how far you are going, the type of car you own, and the type of dog you own. If you own a smaller dog, you should put it inside a crate and buckle the crate down as intended by the manufacturer.
Travel harnesses are also a useful tool if your dog is not too nervous or if you are not traveling long distances. A carrier or a trunk gate are also useful options if you own larger dogs because they can’t fit on the rear seats or a smaller crate.
Be sure to include lots of stops if you are traveling long distances to enable your dog to rest and stretch its legs every two hours max. Dogs can get sick or nervous while inside a car for too long so make sure to include lots of toys and treats to make the experience a lot more fun.
If your dog is too nervous to travel inside a car try to ease into it. Start with shorter, slower drives and build it up from there.
FAQ Section
Which cars are best for dogs?
If you are someone who loves traveling with your four-legged best friend you should definitely focus your attention on SUVs, hatchbacks, estates, and minivans because these three are the best when it comes to dog transportation.
All three of these benefit from lots of trunk space, but there are a few mentionable differences. SUVs usually come with a higher ride height, but they don’t offer a high load lip. Estates are lower but the load lip can be an issue. Finally, minivans are the best blend of both because they are large and too high of the ground.
Which cars are worst for dogs?
Dogs hate small and claustrophobic spaces which means that you should never place a dog inside a regular sedan trunk. As such, sedans and coupes are usually the worst when it comes to traveling with a dog because they offer low rooflines and tight spaces.
Supercars are an obvious no-go because they usually offer the least amount of space while also being uncomfortable and borderline unusable for longer distances.
Is it against the law for a dog to be unrestrained in a car?
There are laws out there that regulate how one can travel with a dog in a specific state, and yes, it is illegal in most states to travel with an unrestrained dog as this can be a huge safety hazard. If you brake hard the dog can become a projectile that can easily kill you or the dog.
As such, always be sure to restrain your dogs while traveling using tested and proven dog-friendly equipment.