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I saw the Mazda5 for the first time at the 2006 L.A. Auto Show. Parents with kids were crawling all over the thing. Nonetheless, I thought it was a neat looking car with great dog car potential.

But is it really a minivan? FuelEconomy.gov seems to think so; they named Mazda5 the most fuel-efficient minivan, probably classified as such because this small vehicle actually manages to fit in 3 rows of seats.  Mazda, probably in an attempt to dodge the minivan image problem, refers to it as a sport hatch, multi-activity vehicle or, in Europe, a space car.  Consumer Reports categorizes it under "Wagons and Hatchbacks."  Okay, so this little guy has a bit of an identify problem.

At any rate, three rows of seats might impress soccer moms, but they don't impress dog owners.  We're more interested in the dogs per vehicle stats since we're just going fold down those darn seats anyway.  Once you do that in the Mazda5, and the second and third row seat will fold down into the floor, you have a car that looks less like a minivan, and more like, oh, say a Toyota Matrix.   Am I right about that?  Let's compare the stats.

When trying to fit crates into a car, the most critical measurement is the width between the wheel arches.  The Mazda5 measures in at 40.5", the 2008 Matrix at 38.75 and the 2009 Matrix at 40.5.  So in any of these vehicles, you won't be fitting two SUV crates side by side, BUT, there is enough room for a 36" long crate (with a side door) to fit long-ways.

As you might guess in a vehicle that can accommodate 3 rows of seats, the Mazda5 is longer, based on the measurement from the back of the front seat to the back door.   The Mazda5 offers about 10 or 15 extra inches in length, which is nothing to sneeze at. 

If you're considering a riser in the cargo area, the height of the cargo space is quite comparable in both vehicles, though the new 2009 Matrix loses by about 2.5". 

What about cargo space?  Guess what.  Matrix, 53 cubic feet, Mazda5 44 cubic feet.

While the Mazda5 does give you a little more length for your money, it comes at a cost. As you might have guessed, its quite respectable mpg (21/27 (city/highway), lags behind the Matrix's 28/33 mpg.

So there you have it. Compared to a Matrix, it's quite long, though similar in width and height.  Compared to a "real" minivan, it's small all over...in a good way.

I wanted to show you all of the various seat configurations offered in the Mazda5, and felt sure that their web site would illustrate its seating/cargo flexibility....but I would be wrong.  They're so fixated on the fact that it has 3 rows of seats. I couldn't find any pictures without those 3 rows up.  But you can see by the picture we took that the seats do fold flat, though they don't make the lovely solid flat cargo area you can get in some cars.  Maybe that's a good thing...there's more nooks and crannies into which you can stuff extra jackets, towels, kibble, etc.

Here are the STANDARD features:

• Overall measure approx 6' 2" wide x 6' 7" long and 26" tall
• Interior kennel measurments are 36" long x 24" wide x 24" tall ( ideal fit for retriever breeds)
• White aluminum exterior for maximum cooling and attractive appearance
• White aluminum interior for ease of cleaning
• Lift-up rear door with window for added ventilation
• Fully insulated; cool in hot weather and warm in cold weather
• Locking kennel doors (keyed alike) with large adjustable louvered vents, screens and protective grills
• All interior walls between kennels have separated bars allowing for excellent airflow
• Stainless steel floor in all kennels flush with exterior for ease of cleaning
• Rear storage area with shelf on each side
• 12 volt interior dome light in rear
• Third exterior brake light

Here are the ADDITIONAL features:

• Evaporative cooler (needs water pump)
• Gull Wing Style lift up doors
• Water bucket mounts and heavy duty Rubber mats in 2 of the kennels
• Auxilliary battery to run all coach power
• Power box with 3 plug ins for anything that plugs into cigarrette type plug  such as fan, heater, floodlight, car cell phone charger, etc...
• 5 gallon H2O tank for evaporative cooler water supply
• 5 gallon Igloo drinking water cooler
• Wireless thermostat system so you can keep track of temp in box from the cab while you are driving
• LOTS of storage! There is ample room inside back of the dog box to fit an additional 400 crate, blinds, launchers, wheels, x-pens, canopy, gear bags, collapsable crates, luggage, ice chest, etc.
• Includes 2 drawer storage system custom made to fit under the kennels that are full length of the truck bed for all your tournament/training  gear as well as 1 long compartment for bag chairs, long umbrella or other long items

If you're interested in purchasing this item or have further questions, please contact Lisa directly at runamukchs@aol.com.  The DogBox is currently in Ontario, California. 

(CarGoDogs is posting this as a favor only. No monies or other compensation are involved and we offer no warranties, written or implied!)

These days people aren't talking much about large vehicles; the buzz is all about the Honda Fit-type cars and just about anything else that gets better than 30 mpg.  But let's face it, dog people often travel with more dogs than will fit in a Fit.  Sometimes you just have to have more room to get you and your pack from point A to point B.

Enter the Ford Flex.  The Flex doesn't look like any other car out there. It's somewhat reminiscent of an oversize station wagon, and certainly doesn't look like an SUV or a mini-van.  Could it be there's a vehicle out there that doesn't have the social stigma of a minivan, but with a better carbon footprint (relatively speaking) than an Expedition or Navigator?

Since the Flex will be directly compared with both the SUVs and minivans, we wanted to give you two viewpoints.  Kim is more of an SUV-type and wouldn't be caught dead in a mini-van.  I'm a mini-van kind of gal.  I'm a practical person, and I've never worried too much about "image" when it comes to choosing my ride.  So will the desires and needs of both sides of the fence culminate in the Ford Flex? 

Cindy: I had to laugh when I read Dan Neil's rave review of the Ford Flex. When talking about the 83 cubic feet of cargo space he said "it's a pity children aren't cube-shaped."  Our dogs may not be cube-shaped, the the crates we carry them in certainly are, so I figured that boded well for the dog-worthiness of the Flex. Still I can fit two 400 crates behind the second row seats of our Toyota Sienna.  How does the Flex compare?

First stop is the width between the wheel wells, typically the narrowest part of the cargo space in any vehicle.  The Flex measures 40.5".  Say what???  There won't be any 400 crates sitting side by side in that space. Heck, the smallest minivan on the market, the Mazda5, measures the exact same between the wheel wells.  What's that about?   So I'll call it closer to an SUV than a minivan in terms of usable space, since it won't accommodate two side by side crates wider than 20". 

Kim: I know a minivan probably has more cargo space than an SUV, but there is just something so un-sexy about that "Soccer Mom" image. SUV's have a "cool" persona in my mind, and bring out that bit of rebel in all of us with the thought that one could go off-roading if one really wanted to. (Ok, it'll never happen, but it's the idea that counts!) 

Now the Flex is definitely sexy. There are so many cool options and features available with a Flex that one feels a sense of luxury in a utility vehicle. And the cube-shape? Way cool. Still, the 40.5" dimension between the wheel wells is a bit of a bummer. Even the special SUV crates are 21" wide so two won't fit side-by-side. There is ample height to add a riser and fortunately the seats fold flat, but one would need to srategically plan the space. In my mind, if there is a will there is a way and if I were interested in purchasing the Flex, I'd do what I could to fully utilize that cargo space and not let it be a deal-breaker.

Cindy:  My next concern would be safety.  SUV's might be sexy, but they also can struggle to stay upright.  However, in this area, the Ford Flex seems more mini-van-like   Not only did the Ford Flex earn five-star frontal- and side-impact crashworthiness ratings, the highest possible scores, in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests, it also scored four-star rollover ratings for both the front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions.    

So, let's compare and contrast.  The Toyota Sienna gets a 4-star rollover rating with a 15-16% chance of rollover in a single vehicle crash, and the Ford Flex also gets a 4-star rating with a 16% chance of rollover.  A Ford Explorer, on the other hand has a 23% chance of rollover in a single vehicle crash, and a 3 star rating.  Where it really counts, it looks like the Flex is closer to a mini-van than an SUV.

Kim: I agree that a minivan is probably safer than an SUV, especially the smaller utes like my Mariner.  I'm very careful about not overloading the roof rack and making it even more top-heavy. It is good to know that the Flex has good safety ratings. The standard Reverse Sensing System is also helpful if windows are blocked by crates or gear. I've appreciated having it in my vehicle. The mileage of the Flex is pretty good for a medium-sized SUV (17/24) but I'm spoiled with a hybrid, so it's all relative.

Cindy:  I wish there were a few more ventilation options.  We were quite excited about the "Vista Roof" option, which consists of four skylights covering all three rows of passenger seating.  It's not that we think the dogs want the sun shining on them...but rather, we thought the skylights give us one more way to increase airflow in a closed car.  Unfortunately, only the moonroof over the first row opens.  At least they all come with sun shades!  There's no rear opening window in the hatch, which is a darn shame, and similar to many mini-vans, only the windows at the front and second row seats open.

Kim: I know!!  The flip-up window in the rear of several other Ford SUV's is such a helpful feature, I'm surprised the Flex doesn't offer it. Or at the very least, have the whole Vista Roof open. It's almost a deal-breaker for me, since I end up doing so much crating in the car. Heck, even the Honda Element has a rear moonroof that opens, even if it is only offered as a manual operation. At least the Flex has tinted privacy glass towards the back of the vehicle, which would help a bit with hotter temperatures. There are also several outlet points so one could plug in fans for more ventilation.

I don't know why car manufacturers don't just ask US what we want in a vehicle!? Don't they know that the dog-owning public offers a huge marketing opportunity? True, for most of us, vehicle purchases are few and far between, but all the more reason to give us what we desire and woo us from the competition. 

Cindy: The car manufacturers must assume that since a vehicle is well air conditioned, there's no need for ventilation when it's standing still. But for those of us with dogs, it's a BIG deal if we can't keep the car cool when we need to leave our dogs inside. 

As Kim has already mentioned, tricked out, the Ford Flex can seem downright luxurious.  Among the available options is the refrigerated console.  (Forget the cold drinks.  Since our dogs eat a raw diet, I'm imagining filling it with chicken.)  The many storage spaces could definitely com in handy, too.  Then there's the navigation system, the audio system and the DVD entertainment system.  Okay, so those items aren't dog-related, but the people need to enjoy the ride as well!

Kim: I was able to test drive the Flex and I liked it very much.  I think it is a good possibility as a dog car and as an everyday vehicle for those who really need the room. But I'm still left feeling that a few key features are just a tad lacking to say it's a true dog car. Give me the flip up window in the rear hatch, more width between the wheel wells and a Vista Roof that fully opens. Oh, and let's not forget the keypad entry. That little feature is one of my absolute favorites and has saved me many times with dogs in and out of the vehicle!

Cindy: So there you have it. We both really liked the Flex. But if I was in the market for a new car, I'd probably stick with a minivan, though I can't say I wouldn't be tempted! But judging from Kim's reaction, if you're an SUV-lover who wants a bit better gas mileage, the Flex might be the car for you.

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After getting our second Eskie, Cheyenne, my Accord coupe was too small for safetly carrying around dogs. So I purchased a 2008 RAV4 this past March. So far, I absolutely LOVE it! The gas mileage is very good for an SUV, even though I have the V6 model! It's about the size of a Honda CRV, which I love, but I can get two 21" wide crates next to one another in the cargo area (unlike my hubby's CRV).

Still, there's always room for improvement, so I decided to add crate platform to increase the storage space in the car. It's not as high as I was hoping, but it adds some additional room so I can squeeze in more doggie related stuff. Hubby insisted that it be made out of 2 x 4's despite the added weight. However, it is extremely sturdy and doesn't require middle brace.

Here's the crate platform DH built me. I added my feminine touch (dog material). The wire crates allow me to see a bit out of my rearview mirror. Above the crates are some agility items I use at the trials (extra fans, Cheyenne's crate, and a chair). Cheyenne's crate (the steel "other door" crate), is the one that I can set up behind the passenger's seat if I need to. By the way, everything is secured to something else. For example, the crates and crate platform are all secured to the RAV's cargo hooks.
Here are the wire trays I use to hold all those extra things that would wind up all over the place. This has been SO convenient! (And yes, I added baby bumpers to the inside of the crates. I have a little OCD.)
It's so easy for my trio to jump in and out of the RAV. There's a nice bumper ledge they can use. I added a rear bumper protector (black item their feet are on). This keeps them from scratching the bumper. Then I added safety tape to the protector so that the dogs have some traction.   Andrea and the Bama Eskies

Here are some things to note:

I highly recommend staking this tent down on all 4 corners. (Four stakes come with it.) The tent is so light that even a dog who leans hard on the side could tip it over. It happened once to us, but fortunately I was there to fix it quickly and my dog wasn't upset by it.

A blanket comes with the tent, sized to fit perfectly with Velcro strips on the bottom to attach to the floor.

There isn't anywhere inside the tent to hang a water bucket. Rather than having something that the dogs can step on and easily tip over, I use one of the outer straps and hang a bucket so the door zipper closes just underneath.

Overall size is approximately 42"x42" at the base and maybe 36" tall, so the footprint is a little bit bigger than your average soft or solid crate. As long as you have the space and a dog who is good in a soft crate, the Dog Haus can be a great option!

I was a teenage mechanic when I decided I would never own a Ford. Dale and I both declared this beneath the shade of the maple tree in front of his house after swapping out the transmission in his Fairlane for the third time one New York summer.

What does Ford stand for?, was an old joke we repeated to each other. “Found on road dead.” “Fixed or repaired daily.”

But, time passes and things change. A Ford is back in my life, now, and our relationship is working out well. I bought a 2006 Ford Freestyle because it fit my needs better than most of the SUVs on the market. It’s a stylish crossover – not a van, but not a full-fledged SUV either – that gets 22-23 mpg around town and just over 25 mpg on the two long drives to visit the litter and then to return to bring home little Jax.

It comes in two flavors, basic and luxury with two choices of drivetrain, all wheel or front-drive only. Unless the few hundred dollars difference in the used version is a major consideration, get the SEL and save by going with the front-wheel drive.

I happened upon a reasonably priced SEL after test driving two other Freestyles. I knew that was the version I wanted after seeing the power leather seats, sunroof and gadget filled, wheel mounted computer that, among other things, calculates gas mileage and miles left in the tank. The 6-CD changer, keyless entry and digital climate control system sealed the deal.

However, the basic model is perfectly useful. Both versions have rear ventilation and front and rear power outlets. Both have roomy interiors with enough cargo deck to ceiling height to accommodate all but the tallest crates. The wheel wells have been minimized so most of the interior space is usable. Two “suitcase” style crates will fit side-by-side providing just the right space for my Belgian Tervurens. Smaller breeds mean you could fit standard wire crates simply by sliding and jiggling them into place.

A drawback to the Freestyle is that unlike its cousins pre-2007 Explorers and Escapes, the rear seats do not fold perfectly level. There’s also an odd hump in the back of one of the second row seats that houses the shoulder harness. I’ve leveled out the rear crates with a length of 2x4, but the harness hump is a challenge if you need a third crate.

The other downside is that the seats are not removable by any normal means. I’ve seen some references online to having a body shop remove the seats, but this doesn’t seem like it gets you much because of the flooring configuration and the fact that the spare tire is stowed inside under the rear deck.

I was willing to accept these drawbacks in exchange for the mileage, comfort and interior versatility. Anyone else might consider these deal killers, especially if they’ve been used to a van or have hopes of building risers for convenience and storage. It may be possible to install risers and custom design crating, but that would not be a job for everyone. And even experts will have a tough time figuring out how to put it together so the spare tire is easily accessible when the inevitable flat occurs.

Still, there’s a lot to like about the Freestyle. Puppy Jax still rides in a small Vari-Kennel safely wedged between the dash and the passenger seat back. But when she is old enough to get her own crate in the back, there’ll be plenty of room for her, EZ-Up, cooler, soft crates and the rest of the show gear.

Perhaps the handiest feature Ford ever offered is the keyless entry. I can lock the key in the car and not worry about losing it. I can also lock the dogs in the car with the AC running, as I did one unbearably hot September day when I absolutely, positively had to make a pit stop.

One or two other points worth noting: The Freestyle rated fairly well on crash tests and Consumer Reports rated the front-wheel drive version as better than average in reliability among used vehicles. I wonder what Dale would have thought about that.

Note:  The Freestyle was offered in 2006-2007. Its successor in 2007 was the Ford Taurus X.

See also:

ConsumerGuide Profile

Wikipedia - Ford Freestyle

Kim recently told you about a new crate called, The Other Door by Pet Gear..  One of our readers bought one, and sent us pictures as well as her comments, which I've included below.  Thanks for sharing, Andrea!

After seeing this crate mentioned on this site, I became very interested in it. I did lots of research and was shocked at the prices. I wound up buying the 27"L x 18"W x 21"H size which is the small. I bought mine from Ebay for $120 (including shipping). This was by far the best price I could find anywhere!! When I first received the crate and started setting it up, I was a little disappointed. For the price, it didn't seem as sturdy at first.

In the process of setting up the crate, I've caused the "garage door" to jump its track about 10 times already. Despite that, I really do like the crate and have already received several comments from other dog people about it. This crate is very convenient since it has four doors to choose from. I love the fact that the crate folds down to 7 or so inches.

It's not near as heavy as some of the wire crates I've carried, and it has wheels. This past week, I took the flattened crate out of my RAV, set it up, and rolled it across the agility field. Our very-hyper Eskie Cheyenne didn't break out of the crate when she was in it during class, so if this crate can stand up to her "roughness," it should be fine for everyone else's dogs.

The Eskie model , Cheyenne, is almost 16" tall and weighs 30 pounds to help with the scale of things. BTW, when you fold down the crate, there is nothing to keep it together if you pull it. I guess that's why the brown carrier bag is included (which I'm not going to use). So, I bought the red bungee cords and made something work. There are two wheels on the crate. The handle doesn't "pull" out like it does on one of my crates. I found that the top door doesn't help with loading or unloading Cheyenne. However, at last weekend's trial, I unloaded the crate from my RAV, set it up quickly, and then used the top door to "load" things into the crate. I put my agility pack, water, and other things in the crate and then rolled the crate inside. Piece of cake!! Overall, I really like the crate so far.

Andrea and the Bama Eskies

So my mind turned to fuel efficient cars, and I wondered...what are the most fuel efficient minivans?  

First stop for information on mpgs is always fueleconomy.gov.  Ah, they've read my mind with their link to the most and least gas efficient vehicles in several categories. Here's the most fuel efficient trucks, vans and SUVs.  Of course, hybrids lead the pack for the SUVs.  Hmmm, best minivan is the Mazda5.  I saw one of those at the L.A. car show, and they're not exactly a full-size minivan.  I guess you could call it a mini-minivan.  But who am I to quibble with 28 mpg highway?

Okay, on to other search results and the little pieces of information that have floated to the surface.  For example, did you know that Toyota markets a hybrid minivan in Japan, the Toyota Estima?  Hey guys, send a few of those our way!

If you drive the Honda Odyssey EX-L and Touring models, you could be looking at mpgs as high as 20/28.  That's looking pretty good for a full-size minivan!

Ah, according to Consumer Reports, the Toyota Sienna XLE also gets as high as 28 mpg highway, putting it right on par with the Odyssey.  Not bad.

Of course, to save money on fuel you have to spend money on the more expensive models of both the Sienna and the Odyssey. <sigh>  Back to the drawing board.

Do you have a minivan that gets good gas mileage?  Then share the joy, and tell us about it! 

The good news for CarGoDogs readers is that the size has increased a bit.  I've never seriously considered a Forester simply because the old model had so little cargo space.  But the 2009 version is 3 inches longer and about 2 inches wider.  That may not sound like much, but it may allow you to squeeze a crate where you weren't able to squeeze a crate before!

The downside to the Forester is gas mileage.  All models are 4 wheel drive, which doesn't help.  The non-turbo version gets 20/26 mpg and the turbo gets 19/24.  That's not all that much better than a minivan, and though it has more space, it doesn't have THAT much space.

We'll try to take our measuring tapes to this one very soon.