Dodge minivan is most dog-friendly vehicle

The Dodge Grand Caravan is DogCar of the Year for 2008, according to DogCars.com. Two vehicles similar to the Grand Caravan-the Chrysler Town and Country and the Volkswagen Routan-received honorable mentions.

Cars, SUVs, and minivans were judged according to dog-passenger-friendly criteria: seats that fold flat or are easily removable; plenty of usable cargo space relative to the size of the vehicle; wide, square backs, with minimal rear slope to maximize the cargo area; door and window locks, so a dog can't accidentally unlock a door or roll down a window; and all-wheel or four-wheel drive and high ground clearance for particularly sporty dog owners who take themselves and their canine companions off-road a lot.

The judges, journalist Keith Turner and syndicated columnist and author Gina Spadafori, applauded the Grand Caravan, calling it the “consummate dog mobile.” Celebrated features include power doors, multiple storage compartments, a power tailgate, and lots of tie-downs to keep animals and pet carriers secure.

Winners in other categories included:

> Best compact: Pontiac Vibe and Toyota Matrix

> Best “green” vehicle: Toyota Highlander Hybrid

> Best small SUV: Ford Escape, Mercury Mariner, Mazda Tribute, and Mitsubishi Outlander (tie)

> Best midsized SUV: Honda Pilot, Suzuki XL-7, and Hyundai Santa Fe (tie)

> Best wagon: Subaru Forester and Volvo XC70 (tie)

> Best luxury SUV: BMW X5 and Acura MDX (tie)

> Other tailwaggers: Ford Flex and Mini Cooper Clubman