I haven’t taken the time to look over our reader demographics and conclusively figure out just who makes up our vast, erudite audience, but I am pretty sure that at least some significant percentage of our audience are dogs. I say this for a number of reasons: first, there’s the way that stories about trucks, wagons, and driving with your head out of the window do so well, traffic-wise, and also because we’re constantly getting emails from readers demanding more stories about beef jerky, wads of ground beef, or stories about dropping entire rotisserie chickens on the ground.
I think these readers must be dogs. Also in this category are multiple emails a day from readers demanding to know if they’re a good boy/girl, and requests that we throw various balls. Of course, we can’t possibly address all of these canine-focused requests, but I figured the least I could do was to try and find out if any automaker actually produces a truly dog-focused vehicle, right from the factory.
Again, I don’t mean dog-themed one-offs like the Rolls-Royce Spectre Bailey:
…or concept cars like the Genesis X Dog:
… I mean something one can actually buy. And for that, I think there is precisely one option: the SML Mahindra Dog Van!
Yes, that’s right, it’s just called the Dog Van, and it’s an Indian-built machine from SML Mahindra, which until just last year, was known as SML Isuzu, so if you have been wondering what happened to your local SML Isuzu dealer, that’s what.
The Dog Van is one of SML’s Special Application Vehicles, which includes things like police vans and prison vans and garbage trucks and water tankers and so on, but what strikes me most about this category is how it’s abbreviated on the website:
Spl.Apl. There’s something about those combination of letters that’s just, I don’t know, funny. Spulll aaapulll. Splat Apple. Splooge Application. Splash Appliance. Split Appellation. Spline Aplomb.
There’s also a section on the website called simply “Tenders,” and I half expected to see this there:
But I didn’t. There are no delicious truck-shaped chicken tenders there.
Okay, but back to the Dog Van. Here’s how SML describes it:
“SML’s Dog Van is a specialized vehicle designed for safe and comfortable transportation of dogs, equipped with features like secure cages, climate control, and easy access for grooming or veterinary care, ensuring the well-being of canine passengers during travel.”
I mean, seems like a pretty sweet way for a dog and a bunch of dog friends to travel, right? It’s got a 3455cc common-rail diesel under the hood making 100 horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque, which seems reasonable for the application. It seems to be based on the same platform as this SML Sartaj 5252 XM, which I was able to find a review of, albeit in what I think is Hindi and English:
But here’s the big question: why is the Dog Van so damn cool? Scroll up and look at that thing again. It looks like a badass overlanding camper rig. The body isn’t a cab and crude separate box, it’s an integrated, one-box design, it has great ground clearance and a ton of off-road lights and even a cool two-tone paint job with a yellow stripe.
This is a Dog Van you can use to take a pack of dogs camping or water skiing or out on the town! Compared to the rest of the lineup, it’s by far the sleekest, most consumer-friendly vehicle that SML offers!
I could easily see this thing being sold as a cool overlanding vehicle for big bucks. But it’s for dogs! It’s the Dog Van, and as far as I know, this is the only truly dog-as-primary-passenger focused vehicle you can get that’s not from an upfitter or is used to ferry dogs to the pound.
I really should see if there’s any dog freelancers out there who could review one for us? And has access to India, because I don’t think these are sold here. I’ll check my contacts.
(top image: SML Mahindra, Jason Torchinsky)
I would observe that 70’s station wagon are purpose bult for our doggo friends – especially the ones with wind-down rear windows. Just today I cruised my 1978 Falcon down to the local off-leash area, with doggo staring down scooter delivery drivers out the back window. Good times.
https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1118670024744390756/1341512337907122266/IMG_8568.JPG?ex=69b7c479&is=69b672f9&hm=c7dbdfe8c07d42f122368770cf8b3257f35ae662ce610d17c1d825a4dfaa5b6e&=&format=webp
Tenders like coal tenders on a train?
I imagine that it was a one-off (though maybe it was a buyable option in Japan at some point?) but didn’t Honda show a dog version of the Element? Or maybe I’m misremembering?
Travelling with a dog or dogs is important to me. Back when I dogsat more often, I once had 5 in the back of my first-gen Volvo XC90 at one time. The fact that my current dog is older and can’t really jump all the way up into my XC90 (and my lower back is so messed up that me picking her 50 lbs+ up has consequences) actually figured in to my decision to buy a Volvo 240 wagon, which is considerably lower and she’s got no trouble jumping up into the back.
Of course, these cars are 20+ years apart, design-wise. But they both have their charms.
There was indeed a dog-oriented Element (more like an accessory pack you could option with the Element). Not sure if this was a Japan-only thing, the ad linked in a comment below is from American Honda, so it seems this was also available in the USA.
They were talking about dog features in cars over on VWVortex/The Car Lounge forum recently because of the Edmunds review of the Volvo EX30 with the faulty “car wash mode.” A faulty dog mode in those electric cars would be absolutely tragic.
This vehicle though, this is cool. My wife could use this as she has a dog walking/housesitting business and is often carting dogs in the GLI, our dog included.
Does nobody here remember the 2009 Honda Element Dog Friendly Edition?
I do.
https://preview.redd.it/honda-element-dog-friendly-kit-v0-wae91zis61ge1.jpeg?width=640&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=9349ad05b3f54a22cc48b376c6e4a64d41ebaf30
Dog vans from outfitters are a real thing and dog people have money. I go to dog sports events and dogs shows often and the $$$ people have in their dog vans is real.
When you have two Chihuahuas, pretty much any vehicle is a dog vehicle. Van, wagon, coupe, SUV, pickup, you name it. They fit anywhere.
In my old 900 convertible our German Shepherd/Border Collie mix would sit in the passenger seat when I went into the grocery store or whatever. People would talk to her, she stayed in the seat. If I did that with my current 900 convertible the Chihuahuas they’d be out and barking at everything. Can’t roll the back windows down on my Wrangler or they’d pretty much fly out.
Now I get it. The Dog Van is supposed to keep the Chihuahuas in, that makes sense.
My two deer-headed Chihuahuas, like the image above, are actually very sweet, lazy, couch potato dogs and not evil ankle biters like the stereotype.
I fell in love with the Roller in the video. I paused on the shot of the Spectre’s dashboard, my mind filling the windshield as if the car were crossing an endless Montana field as it rushed towards the Rockies looming in the background. Every molecule of me wanted to be behind that wheel.
Then I saw it was electric, and my heart broke. Such a coupe should be capable of being aimed at the horizon by a driver secure in the knowledge that she can easily and quickly refuel anywhere. Empty your body’s tank, fill the fuel tank, and go see what’s around the next bend. That interior begs for a 14 state aimless tour. Anyone who can afford such a car can afford the time to use it, otherwise they should drive a Blackwing and take some time off. You cannot make more time.
I have no animus toward electrics, if there were any remotely affordable my wife would get one for her commute (but without any illusions about electric generation and battery manufacture not having an environmental cost). I’d use it for grocery runs. If there’s an market for it, Rolls should make an electric Spectre, wouldn’t bother me one bit. But there are few things I wouldn’t do for a week behind that wheel, not having to search and wait for a charge.
“Designed For Dogs You Can Get From The Factory”
OK, we’ve got the synthetic dogs covered, but what about the free-range pups?
Dog Van? For whatever reason this reminded me of Dog Police.
https://youtu.be/78Y-1plYJuQ?si=HULcYuIjYizMvAoP
You’re welcome.
Grammar police: do the dogs come from the factory?
I’ll see myself out.
Of course the dogs come from the factory! Where do you get yours?
There’s a guy with a van down by the river . . .
FYI, SML stands for Swaraj Mazda Limited.
so, it started off as a JV between Punjab Tractors Limited, Sumitomo Corporation, and Mazda from 1984 until 2005, when Mazda and PTL sold their stakes off to Sumitomo. Sumitomo then signed another agreement with Isuzu. Due to some naming issues, in 2011 they changed their name to SML Isuzu. Come 2025, SML Isuzu was bought by Mahindra and are now named SML Mahindra.
And I think this truck is based on the 2nd gen (1980) Mazda Titan
So, if i saw it right, that SML in the video had 71km on it, yet the sticker on the steering wheel looks like it’s already coming off, and there’s dirt kinda everywhere. Seems ruff.
I work for a shelter, and I saw the headline/picture and was like, “oh heck yeah, we gotta get one of those.” I jumped up, spun around and started tossing my toy up in the air. Realized it was not US legal. Whimpered, lay down.
Of course it is cool with all the features. In case you haven’t noticed dogs don’t pay for shit. They lie around the house all day while the humans go off to work. If they get thirsty a quick trip to the self filling water bowl in the bathroom. Heck fancy bowls even have blue colored water. Then after a nap the human comes home takes you on a walk then gets you home and feeds you. What else do they have to do with their money?
And don’t get me started on cats….
Frankly these pets are only a step above children.
I was hunting for some puns to retrieve for this sonuvabitch, but I’m dog tired and I crapped out.
I’m sure someone here can give you a few pointers. Or you can pit for a lap to rest, after which you’ll be golden.
I’d appreciate the service assistance.
Hopefully someone else scoops it up for you.
Dog van is larger market then people realize. Just kinda surprised it’s coming from India. I helped a friend build a dog van for his wife. A old diesel sprinter with a reefer unit. We replaced with roof ac. Put in cages. For dog transport. Those people mainly use mini vans. This was far more efficient. They really should build a dog van for the US market.
I’d expect it from China. But they would probably call it a food truck lol
They have those class 6 trucks they throw all the cages on. Like an old chicken truck. I pitched that to the dog people but they wouldn’t have it. Has to be climate controlled. I’ve seen a dog meat trailer in China I wouldn’t doubt there is a food truck.
Any minivan with stow and go seating makes an awesome dog hauler.
Sure cheap and plentiful they could get I think about 5 or 6 crates in there. I never really got into the weeds with it. The sprinter could take about 4x what the mini vans could because we built crates into up going all the way up. Where the mini vans typically didn’t stack. You could even add additional crates on the floor in between if it was short distances. We build her an area for crate storage too. I think the reason you don’t see many do it is cost and it being mainly diesels sprinter out there. I think he had about $8k into it but really no cost for labor. We threw a new turbo and injectors in. The stupid sealed trans had been replaced within 40k mi so he got lucky there.
I have owned 4 dog vans 3 them were minivans. We have larger dogs and even in the full sized van we have always had the kennel/kennels on a platform for storage under them.
I didn’t get in the weeds with it too much. But did observe a few dog hand offs and give away. Most of the people just folded their seats down in a SUV or had the seats out or stowed in a mini van and right on the floor. I suppose a platform would be ok but still that sprinter had the capacity for 20+ dogs. It used to be she would have to get at least 3 people to go with her to get that amount.
I always wanted to take the middle seats out so that I could use the holes in the floor for storage, then you have the rear bench for passengers, a separate trunk area still, and two middle of the vehicle lockable storage units for stuff you want in the van all the time.
Buddy of mine kept a beat Volvo 245 just for hauling dogs around. His wife was into rescues and fostering, so they had a constant stream of pups coming and going. He was into rescuing and fostering Volvos, but they tended to stay and never leave.
I saw some xc90s hauling dogs at the giveaway event things. The few times I observed. They were cheap enough kinda made sense.
Dog people will haul dogs in anything, to be fair. They treat them like kids. My besties pup pretty much destroyed the interior of her Fiat 500. My Aunt’s German Shepard ate the seatbelts in one of her cars when he was a puppy, LOL. Don’t leave a hyper pup in the car alone while you are shopping…
True, I know some women who believe the dog is their child dreas them as child and have strollers for them. But the big time dog hauling people tend to use crates. They aren’t their personal dogs but “rescue”. Very strange world. Stand outside a PetSmart on a Saturday or Sunday you might get a glimpse. It might be the closest thing to a feminist cartel we have in the us. I’ve heard stories of them bringing crates to dealers to see how many they can put in. My buddy had a few requests to build vans for others but it’s one of those things best not to get involved.
Is that the Taco Bell dog?
Do you have to put the transmission in dog park before you exit the vehicle?
No, but an up-over-up shift between first and second gear.
Did you mean pup over pup? It was right there.
I came here for this, thank you!
Only really used for leaving the pound, right?
1st is geared low enough to retrieve a shepherd from a shih tzu
Probably a dog leg shift…
Splapl;
If your apple is too hard, Splay out segments on a plate, sprinkle with cinnamon, microwave for 1 min.
Enjoy!
Yes, it does look overland Ruff & Ready.
the ride is…ruff, ruff.
But it can be pounded on.