Best Toyotas for Dogs
Dogs are a big part of the family and our daily lives, which means they are often a part of our daily and vacation travel plans. Toyota has numerous choices for the entire family, including three of its staple offerings: the 4Runner, Tacoma, and RAV4.
Toyota 4Runner
One of the world’s most popular SUVs is an inviting place for our pet friends as well. Hendrick Automotive Group’s inventory of Toyota 4Runners offers a lot of versatility for pets and cargo with its 89.7 square feet of storage capacity (seats folded). Additionally, the signature 4Runner power rear window is a great way to tend to your dog’s needs, while easily loading and unloading all of your items along the way.
Those looking for more people room, the 4Runner’s third-row seating is able to accommodate up to seven passengers. Rear-seat climate control, third-row cup holders and leather seating throughout makes the ride more comfortable for everyone.
With seven model trims to choose: SR5, TRD Sport, SR5 Premium, TRD Off-Road, TRD Off-Road Premium, Limited and TRD Pro, the 2024 4Runner is one of the more dynamic SUVs customers can purchase. Each version boasts a 4.0-liter, 270-horsepower V6 with two and four-wheel drive capability, depending on the direction you want to go.
Advanced electronics bolster both its Toyota Direct Ignition (TDI) system and five-speed automatic transmission, which offers ECT-i intelligence, engine torque control and clutch hydraulic pressure during shifting. The technology lowers wear and tear and promotes smoothness through life of the transmission.
Other drivetrain options include part-time AWD (standard in the TRD Pro), full-time AWD, Torsen limited-slip differential with locking, downhill assist and active traction control, standard in the TRD. Coil spring independent double wishbone suspension is standard across the board, while an optional kinetic dynamic suspension system (KDSS) utilizes a hydraulic-assisted link stabilizer to inhibit body roll in off-road activities.
In a similar vein, the X-REAS (cross-linked relative absorber) enhances the off-road handling of the 4Runner Limited, a system that connects each shock to its diagonal counterpart through a gas hydraulic chamber. The Toyota 4Runner Limited transfers fluid back and forth depending on the amount of force each shock experiences in the moment.
On the TRD Pro side, off-roading capability is at a premium with its FOX high-performance shocks and struts. Standard in this trim, FOX is the leading ATV and off-road racing supplier and has designed a system for the 4Runner that maximizes ride, handling and steering control in both on and off-road environments. Racers using FOX equipment have won numerous SCORE off-road championships and races, including four consecutive BAJA 1000 triumphs.
The 4Runner also has speed-sensing steering and power-assisted, 4-wheel ventilated disc brakes. In addition, TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro versions have multi-terrain ABS braking standards, which get the most out of stopping in every environment imaginable.
Overall, with so much focus on ride quality and stabilization technology – both on and off-road – it is no wonder our dog friends can’t wait to join in all the fun with their favorite humans.
Toyota Tacoma
Another staple of many American households is the Toyota Tacoma pickup truck. Featuring primary trim lines – SR, SR5, PreRunner, TRD Sport, TRD Off Road, Limited, Trailhunter and TRD Pro – Hendrick Automotive Group’s Tacoma inventory is available in every configuration you could imagine.
Kelly Blue Books “Best Mid-Size Truck to Buy” for 2024,” the completely re-designed Tacoma is also a wonderful match for our furriest family members. In both XtraCab and Double Cab configurations (customers can also choose between five and six-foot bed lengths), the Tacoma has plenty of room for your dog to maneuver comfortably about, without causing too many distractions for the driver.
A generous payload rating of up to 1,705 pounds is also standard and combined with a maximum towing capacity of 6,500 pounds, the Tacoma is a segment leader when it comes to workability. Additionally, the hybrid models can tow up to 6,000 pounds with 1,709-pounds worth of payload capability.
Toyota’s 2.4-liter I-4 turbo engine outputs at 278 horsepower, at an impressive 317 foot-pounds of torque. While most will come with Toyota’s durable eight-speed electronically controlled transmission, fans of six-speed manuals are also in luck with their trucks offering 270 horsepower. For those who are more budget conscious, the base version carries the same engine with 228 overall horsepower.
The top-end powertrain also comes with the aforementioned 2.4-liter I-4, mated to a 48-horsepower electric motor. Hybridized Tacoma’s with I-Force Max power produces a combined total horsepower of 326 at a notable 465-pound feet of torque.
Speaking of the top, the brand new Trailhunter has the rugged DNA of a true off-roader, with its Double Cab design, eight-speed hybrid transmission and standard equipment that is seemingly unrivaled within the segment. Starting with 18-inch alloy wheels, larger brakes, enhanced breakover and departure angles, the Trail Hunter is ready to tackle most terrains right out of the showroom. Along with its half-inch lift in the rear and one-inch lift on the front, you’ll be able to venture anywhere in the country, and maybe explore even a few new places your family – or pets – have never seen before.
Also included are its RIGID LED fog lamps with a color choice, stamped steel skid plating, high-mounted air intakes, rock rails and an ARB steel rear bumper with recovery hooks, each of which add to the outdoor adventurer’s survival palette.
Premium options abound throughout the lineup, including an integrated trailer brake controller, a power rear window and a bed-mounted factory-installed air compressor. Other amenities include a 400-watt AC power inverter, eight-way power seats, leather-trimmed steering wheel, and the latest JBL audio system.
The TRD Off Road Premium package also adds heated and ventilated front seats, a power tailgate (terrific for dogs), a towing package, a power moonroof, multi-terrain cameras, a 14-inch touchscreen for entertainment and a 12.3-inch display for its digital gauging.
Toyota RAV4
Value for money is the first thing one thinks of when considering Hendrick Automotive Group’s Toyota RAV4 inventory, and the family dog will love it too! Underpinned by 15 different variations that includes both hybrid and traditional models, customers can purchase a RAV4 in almost every conceivable configuration.
Replete with entertainment amenities such as wireless Apple Car Play and Android Auto, the Toyota RAV4 is a terrific choice for the entire family. Front-wheel drive and AWD options come together with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder engine. AWD is standard in all hybrid models.
Power-wise, hybrid versions output at 219 horsepower and get 40 miles to the gallon combined, as the traditional gas-exclusive RAV4 has 203 horsepower and achieves 35 mpg on highway/27 mpg in the city.
For a compact SUV, interior space is quite intuitive in the 2024 RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid models. With the rear seats folded, there is 69.8 cubic feet of cargo capacity available and a standard 37.6 cubic feet of space beyond the 60/40 split rear seating arrangement. Manual front seats are standard, with eight-way power seats also available. With an upscale look and feel throughout most premium configurations feature SofTex seats, which can be both heated, ventilated and easily maintained.
Also included is the vehicle’s standard eight-inch touchscreen with the option of upgrading to a 10.5-inch screen, if desired.
A Top Safety Award winner, the RAV4 is one of the safest compact SUVs on the road today. The brand’s updated Toyota Safety Sense (2.5) is as impressive as it is effective, with its pre-collision and pedestrian detection systems highlighting the package. Dynamic radar cruise control, lane-departure alert and steering assist, lane tracing assist, automatic high beams, road-sign assist, tire pressure monitoring and dynamic stability control are also included. Eight passenger sensing airbags also enhance driver safety, which includes rear side curtains and protective knee bags for the driver.
Optional trailer sway control and hill start assist are also available for those needing a tow package in their RAV4, as the vehicle can haul as much as 3,500 pounds.
For those looking at their next vehicle choice and traveling with your pets is an important aspect of that search, look no further than what Toyota has to offer.
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