Wheel also admits that customer feedback has altered the trajectory of some of the company’s designs. Take the smaller Discovery Sport, for example. “It might not look that roomy, but the interior packaging is phenomenal,” he says. “It was designed as a seven-seater, with space for a couple of 50th-percentile humans in the third row of seats. Then people told us they wanted a five-seater because they owned big dogs and wanted the space for them rather than seats they were never going to use. The deeper load floor that comes as a result means more room for larger dogs.”
Indeed, Honda once made a crossover customized specifically for dog owners. In 2009, the maker revealed its “Dog Friendly” package for its Element crossover. You got ramp access into the cargo hold and a deployable rear kennel with a padded dog bed. It also had a dedicated cargo compartment electric fan included in the list of canine-focused components for the car. The humans weren’t ignored either, with dog bone–themed seat covers and rubber floor mats.
Fido Fitments
Then there are the materials carmakers use, a major factor in the luxury space in terms of perception and tactility but very significant when it comes to creating something durable in the rear compartment. The hardest-wearing material for this area is carpet, though if you own a breed that sheds fur, keeping that clean can be tricky.
Many of the challenges can be dealt with via the accessories list, a lucrative area for all carmakers. Among other items, Land Rover offers a pet access ramp (£417.77), model-specific quilted loadspace liners (£334.21 for the Velar), and partitions (£387.65 for the Range Rover Sport).
Aston Martin has gone a step further with its DBX off-roader, offering a “pet pack” that includes a partition, dog bed, bowl, lead, a portable washer, and rear bumper protection. Yours for $3,100. Joining the party, Rolls-Royce lets you “reward the loyalty of your canine companion” with a collar and lead crafted from the finest Rolls-Royce natural-grain leather with contrast stitching, then finished with a polished metal Spirit of Ecstasy charm.
