In an effort to better test the bevy of dog-friendly accessories for our new yearlong review 2025 Subaru Forester Sport, we’ve enlisted the help of 11-year-old border collie mutt (and all around good boy) Leica Walker for his thoughts. Here’s what he had to say.—Ed.
I’ll be honest, I don’t really like cars. I like going places. I love going to the park, the beach, daycare, Petco, new places, places I’ve been before, and the other park. I just wish I didn’t have to ride in the car to get there. Trust me, I’ve ridden in a lot of different cars over the last 11 years. The first one was a Jeep, but that was a stressful day, and I slept most of the way home. The boy brings home different cars all the time, and I can never tell if it’s him or some stranger, so I do my best growl and bark until he gets out. The cushy gray Range Rover was OK, and so was the Jeep they drove me to the dog park near the Grand Canyon in. Most of the time, though, it seems like the boy and girl are having more fun in the front seat than I ever do.
Recently, the boy brought home a new white 2025 Subaru Forester Sport. Instead of picking something just for himself, I think he finally got the hint and picked a car specifically for me and my annoying little brother, Gitzo. Compared to that huge truck he had for a while, this one is way easier to hop into. What a treat … yum … treat … who has a treat? I’m sitting! I want a treat!
Sorry, I got distracted.
In addition to the low hop-up height, this car is smoother and quieter when we’re going places. The back seat is also nice and big (56.7 inches of rear shoulder room, says the boy), so there’s plenty of room for my little brother from another mother to run back and forth from one window to the other, barking at dogs as we drive. I’ve seen other dogs riding in the back of similar cars like a Honda CR-V (55.9 inches of rear shoulder room), the Toyota RAV4 (56.4 inches), Kia Sportage (55.6 inches), and Hyundai Tucson (56.0 inches), and they look a little more cramped.
I do wish the new car came with air conditioning vents in the ceiling, though. The Forester has small air conditioning vents mounted in the rear of the center console, but the pet hammock that my humans always install blocks most of the air from getting to me. The hammock, which keeps me from falling into the rear footwell, has a mesh area to allow some cool air to pass through to me, but it’s not enough, and it can get kind of warm. Not many cars have the ones on the ceiling, but I always appreciate when they do.
Like I said, I’m pretty sure this car was made for me. Not only is it smooth, comfy, and spacious to ride in, but it also came with a bunch of extra things specifically for me.
Pet Rear Door Protector ($200)
I love looking out the window while we drive. Especially when we’re going to the park, the beach, the store, or the other park. I like to put my paws on the windowsill or door so I can poke my head out into the rushing air. I don’t know why humans don’t do this—it is very fun. This new car came with these cool heavy-duty polyester door panel covers that click into the windowsill and are molded to the inside of the door. The people like them because they stay in place and still allow them to use the door handles, unlike the floppy canvas ones they had before. Those always tended to flop over and made it so I might scratch the doors or get drool and fur into every little nook and cranny of the door.
Sun Shades ($121)
It’s not easy being covered in black fur all the time. I get warm easily, and when we go on longer trips, I’m always trying to find the shady side of the back seat. The Subaru came with easy-to-install shades that pop firmly into the rear window frames. I don’t like that I can’t stick my head out the window when they’re on, but at least they keep me cooler, and I can still sniff the air through the cracked window. I heard the boy say they cost $121, which seems like a lot for something so simple, but that’s a drop in the bucket compared to all the stuff they have to buy for me on a regular basis!
Rear Seat Cover ($250)
One of the nicest things that came with the Subaru is a very cool rear seat cover. It was designed specifically for the Subaru’s rear seat and still lets my humans use the 60/40 split seats and armrest when I’m not in the car. They even got an extra cover for the front-seat center console ($50), though the pet hammock they always install keeps me from going anywhere near that.
Collapsible Pet Kennel ($200) and Ramp ($300)
This might be my favorite thing that came with the car. Like I mentioned, my brother Gitzo is super annoying in the car. The new Subaru came with a fancy collapsible pet kennel that fits in the rear cargo area. The kennel is made by Thule and folds almost flat when it’s not in use. It also has tie-downs that can lock it into place so Gitzo doesn’t slide around … although that’s what he gets for crowding me in the back seat. In addition to the kennel, they got a heavy-duty collapsible, rubberized ramp that rests on the rear bumper sill, allowing Gitzo to walk right up into the kennel since he’s too little to jump by himself. With the kennel, not only do I get the whole back seat again, but it also keeps Gitzo from running around and barking at other dogs. But hey, he’s young; I know I used to be a little crazy back in the day, too.
Final Verdict
Overall, I really like this new car. Out of the hundreds of cars the boy has brought home, this one seems best set up for me and my annoying brother. While I have convinced the humans I don’t want to go on long trips anymore, I love going to play fetch at the beach. This is probably the most comfortable way I can get there.