Volvo is usually synonymous with “fancy station wagon” but they do offer the XC90, which is more SUV than station wagon. Volvo is also known for some nifty features for humans, so what about canines?
I do really wish the XC90 was in my personal price range – it’s a great small SUV with lots of fun features and surprisingly well designed when it comes to keeping crated dogs comfortable!
Width between wheel wells (narrowest part of the vehicle): 44.5″
Cargo depth with all rows up: negligible
Cargo depth with the third row down: 45″ on the floor, 38″ deep at the narrowest point (seat back 17.5″ above floor level)
Cargo depth with all rows down: 74.5″
Interior height (min): 32″ at hatch and for 4″
Interior height (max): 34.5″ at the base of the second row
Hatch dimensions: 32″ tall, 29″ to 42″ wide
(right seat in second row would not fold down for me, but it *is* designed to do so)
MPG city: 14 mpg (AWD)
MPG highway: 20 mpg (AWD)
The Volvo has additional vents on the pillars behind each row of seats, providing a lot of extra ventilation in the back, which is quite handy. While there aren’t any additional outlets or lights in the rear cargo area, this Volvo has a unique split hatch that provides a nice “tailgate” for loading and unloading from the rear of the vehicle and allows the bottom section to be locked while leaving the top 2/3 open for air circulation.
I was amazed when I started measuring the XC90 – it appears sized similarly to the Edge/Equinox/Nitro on the outside, but on the inside you find expansive space! The wheel wells and the folding of the seats, as with most vehicles, are the two biggest barriers to cargo capacity, but the XC90 performs admirably, providing enough space for 2 SUV-style 36″ crates side-by-side behind the second row, something I haven’t seen very frequently!
The one MAJOR drawback, other than the purchase price, is the extremely low gas mileage – 14/20 is much lower than I anticipated for a vehicle that is considered a higher end model! If gas mileage isn’t a concern, the XC90 would be a top pick for those who travel with multiple medium to large dogs!
Four Paw Drive 