Saturday, October 29, 2016

Paws on Wheels Presents: 2016 Prius Four

Click here to watch the complete review of the 2016 Prius Four from Bumper2Bumpertv
1. DESIGN & PET ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES:
The car has excellent seat legroom in the front 43.2", and sufficient legroom in the rear, 33.4". Both are enough to fit a small pet carrier on the floor. The car sill is 5.1” from the ground which makes is easy for small pets to climb in and out of the car. There are sufficient a/c vents to keep the cabin temperature steady so that pets in the rear seats or cargo area do not overheat.  




2. PET CABIN CAPACITY:
A medium size dog can rest comfortably in the rear seats, and the cargo capacity behind the rear seats is 27.4 cu. ft. However, for additional room, you can fold the 60/40 rear seats down to increase the cargo space to a total of 65.5 cu. ft.




3. HAIR/STAIN REMOVAL & SCRATCH RESISTANCE:
The Prius Four Touring model has SofTex seat coverings. SofTex is an environmentally friendly synthetic leather that does not include any animal-based material and is designed for wear, easy cleaning, and resisting spills.




4. HANDLING & SAFETY FEATURES:
It is a compact car with improved handling from the previous model and comes equipped with safety features like the lane keeping aid and pre-collision breaking system which can be beneficial for avoiding collisions with stray animals and wildlife.




5. PERFORMANCE & TOWING CAPABILITIES:
The car has a 1.8L 4 cylinder engine combined with 3.6 Amper Lithium ion battery; 121 HP; 105 lb-ft. Because of the engine performance the car is not recommended for towing. However, on the bright side, because this is a hybrid, the increased fuel efficiency allows for an average fuel consumption of 52 mpg for city and highway driving combined.




The perfect paws on wheels rating is 25 out of 25. Overall the 2016 Prius Four received a score of 18/25 which results in a 4 Paw-Friendly rating

1. The Prius Four is a hatchback and built for practicality and efficiency for people and packages, but not for pets. Although it has a stylish and modern design, the functionality is restricted in certain areas which is why we deducted 1 Paw from the Design & Pet Accessibility Features category.

2. Secondly, the cargo space has the capacity to increase from 27.4 to 65.5 cu. ft, however, the sloping roof decreases the headroom and therefore tall items like pet carriers may not fit all in one piece. Therefore medium sized pets are better situated in the rear seat area only, which is why we deducted 2 Paws from the Pet Cabin Capacity category.

3. Thirdly, although the SofTex seat coverings are good for wear and spills, it is unclear how scratch resistant the material may be for cat or dog claws. This is why we deducted 1 Paw from the Hair/Stain Removal, & Scratch Resistance Category.

4. Fourthly, the car handles well and is comfortable for long drives, but is best suited for city driving because of the hybrid powertrain. This is why we deducted 1 Paw from the Handling & Safety Features Category. 

5. Finally, as noted, the Prius is built for efficiency for people and packages, but not for power. And while the engine is compatible with the car, it is not sufficient for towing which is why we deducted 2 Paws from the Performance & Towing Capabilities category.


Final score of 18/25 results in a 4 Paw-Friendly rating

According to Bumper2Bumpertv, the Prius Four has a lot more to offer than what you might think at first glance, which is why they decided to take a second look. The newly designed Hybrid is a stylish hatchback suitable for the city and small pets.

Paws on Wheels Presents: 2017 Mini Cooper S Convertible

Click here to watch the complete review of  the 2017 Mini Cooper S Convertible from Bumper2Bumpertv
1. DESIGN & PET ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES
The convertible has sufficient legroom in the front, but hardly any in the rear. So it is only convenient to put an extra small pet carrier on the floor in the front, but not in the rear. The car still is low enough for small animals to climb in and out, however since there are only two doors, this makes it much more challenging when accessing the rear. Ventilation is plentiful with the roof up so that cabin temperatures remain steady, and of course dogs enjoy the feel of the wind in their face while riding with the roof down.




2. PET CABIN CAPACITY:
Due to the design, the back seat only has enough space for up to two small size dogs to rest comfortably. However, there is not enough space to put a carrier on the floor, or for people and luggage to also fit alongside both dogs in the back seats. The cargo space is completely enclosed and ranges from 5.7 cubic feet with the roof down to 7.6 cubic feet with the roof up.




3. HAIR STAIN REMOVAL, & SCRATCH RESISTANCE:
The S convertible we reviewed came with Chesterfield leather seat coverings which is a luxury, but also sensitive and unforgiving to dog and cat claws, not to mention harder to clean and expensive to repair.




4. HANDLING & SAFETY FEATURES:
Even with front wheel drive this mini handled and maneuvered extremely well, especially when driving on wet pavement. It’s remarkably suited for urban areas, especially when it comes to parking, and is a sporty ride on the open road.




5. PERFORMANCE & TOWING CAPABILITIES:
The Mini Cooper S has a 2.0L twin turbo engine; 189 HP; 207 lb-ft, and while it’s a dream to drive, it’s not enough to hitch and tow a trailer. The car performs well when it comes to fuel as its average performance is 29 mpg for city and highway driving combined.




The perfect paws on wheels rating is 25 out of 25. Overall the 2017 Mini Cooper S Convertible received a score of 12/25 which results in a 3 Paw-Friendly rating

1. Firstly, the design of the Mini Cooper S Convertible was not made for people with pets. There is limited space all around (front, rear, and cargo) and the two door coupe doesn’t make it easy for pets to access. This is why we deducted 3 Paws from the Design & Pet Accessibility Features category. 

2. Secondly, the cargo space is so limited that it doesn’t provide much value to the average pet owner who’s also transporting accessories like cages, beds, and bowls in addition to their luggage. This is why we deducted 4 Paws from the Pet Cabin Capacity category.

3. Thirdly, the leather seat coverings are a nice addition to the overall ambiance, but not conducive to resisting pet scratches and stains. This is why we deducted 3 Paws from the Hair/ Stain Removal, & Scratch Resistance category.

4. Fourthly, the convertible’s handling abilities are profound and make the car fun to drive. But since this is a convertible and meant to be driven with the top down, this can be a safety hazard while animals are in the car which is why we deducted 1 Paw from the Handling & Safety Features category.

5. Finally, this Mini Cooper is built for power with a 2L engine and 189 HP. And while the car’s fuel capacity is considered above average, it is not compatible for towing which is why we deducted 2 Paws from the Performance & Towing Capabilities category.


Final score of 12/25 results in a 3 Paw-Friendly rating

According to Bumper2Bumpertv, whlie the Mini Cooper S Convertible is not that much bigger than a go-kart on steroids, it could still be described as a lot of fun in a small package. Nevertheless this small package is exactly that, small, and only suited for small pets and short journeys.