Last year we went quirky, choosing the love-it-or-hate-it Honda Element as our first DogCars.com canine hauler of the year.

This year, we went traditional, choosing the quintessential minivan, the redesigned Dodge Grand Caravan, as our Best in Show. Chrysler may be struggling for survival, but its minivans still offer plenty to the dog lover looking for a comfortable ride for a canine companion.

DogCars.com is the Pet Connection's Web site for reviews of pet-friendly vehicles and pet-related travel gear. Our reviewers test new minivans, hatchbacks, SUVs, wagons and crossovers looking for pet-friendly features, including:

• Seats that fold flat or are removed easily.

• Plenty of usable cargo space relative to the size of the vehicle.

• Wide, square backs and easy-lift rear hatches, with as little rear slope as possible to make the most of the cargo area.

• All-wheel or four-wheel drive and high ground clearance for those who are into canine competitions.

The Dodge Grand Caravan also scored on economy, with a starting price at under $29,000 and fuel economy of 17 miles per gallon in the city, 24 on the highway, both competitive in its class. The Caravan shares the honors with its cousins, the Chrysler Town and Country and the new Volkswagen Routan.

In addition to the Best in Show award, we also chose our favorites in the eight categories. Looking ahead, we're watching the Toyota Venza – designed with pet-friendly features from the first – as a potential Best in Show contender for next year.

• Best overall/best minivan: The Dodge Grand Caravan. The newest redesign of Chrysler's trademark product offers a larger cargo area and squared-off back, lots of storage compartments and plenty of tie-downs for gear.

• Best compact: Pontiac Vibe and Toyota Matrix. The newly redesigned Toyota Matrix and its litter mate, the Pontiac Vibe, offer economy and versatility. Sharing many of the same mechanics as the Toyota Corolla, the Vibe and Matrix come in three versions: a base-level front-wheel drive, small four-cylinder model; an all-wheel drive with a larger engine; and a sporty version.

• Best green vehicle: Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The Toyota Highlander Hybrid was redesigned to add room, comfort and efficiency, giving the classic SUV a green twist. The Highlander's onboard computers automatically shift power usage from gas to electric to a combination of both, for an average fuel economy of 27 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.

• Best small SUV: Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner/Mazda Tribute and Mitsubishi Outlander (tie). Ford's terrific triplets – the Escape, Mercury Mariner and Mazda Tribute – offer on- and off-road versatility, with moderate fuel mileage and fold-flat seats. While they may look different on the outside, their heritage is the same. They tied with a repeat winner in this category, the Mitsubishi Outlander, which offers good value, capacious cargo room and a flip-down rear gate that makes dog-loading easier.

• Best midsize SUV: Honda Pilot, Suzuki XL7, Hyundai Santa Fe (tie). The Honda Pilot has been redesigned and gets even better, with a squared-off rear to better handle large dog crates. Suzuki's XL7 is a rugged rig that features fold-flat second- and third-row seats for flexibility when securing crates and carrying cargo. And finally, the Hyundai Santa Fe offers pet-friendly features and great value, with a starting price of around $21,000.

• Best wagon: Subaru Forester and Volvo XC70 (tie). Volvo and Subaru have long been favorite brands among dog lovers, and the two companies are among the few that actively seem to push for the pet-lover trade. The Volvo XC70 and Subaru Forester – both recently redesigned – will continue to be the versatile workhorses for many dog lovers.

• Best luxury SUV: BMW X5 and Acura MDX (tie). Yeah, we know: In this economy, who's thinking luxury? But if you're looking to put down top dollar for a dog hauler, you can't do better than these. Your dog won't be impressed with all the nice features, but they'll make your drive to the dog park a pleasure.

• Other tail-waggers: Ford Flex and Mini Cooper Clubman. This year, we liked two in the "other" category. With a design that seems to mimic the boxy look of the Honda Element, the Flex has a wide-open interior and seats that fold either flat or flip forward to reveal a hard, carpeted surface providing plenty of room. As for the Clubman, what can you say except "adorable"? The stretch Mini has a lot of space for a vehicle its size, and it turns heads wherever it goes.

You can find full reviews and pet-travel tips at DogCars.com.

Pet Connection is produced by a team of team of pet-care experts headed by veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books. E-mail them at petconnection@gmail.com or visit www.petconnection.com. Back columns: www.sacbee.com/spadafori.