My aunt has a Renault Kangoo for exactly the same uses. It's only a few months old, and has got a 1.6VVT petrol engine.

The reason I didn't include the Kangoo, is that the passenger versions of the Kangoo and Traffic are being discontinued in the UK from next month - they're also cutting the Laguna, Espace, Modus/Grand Modus and Wind.

True - but the new Kangoos almost certainly won't have the revised aftercare package (4 year warranty, etc),

I've had no difficulty getting a labrador into the back of an estate-where it will co-exist quite happily with luggage.

In fact, dogs tend to prefer a compact travelling area, especially on shorter journeys because the snugness gives them a feeling of security during braking and cornering.

My dog's preferred travelling space is the passenger footwell since it is shaped perfectly. The only downside (apart the hairs) is that sometimes I end up trying to change gear with a snout!

When giving my aunt and her guide dog (a very large labrador) a lift, the dog likes to be in the footwell (and will do this in an Aygo as well) and lick the gearstick and my little air freshener tree.

How about a Berlingo?

little air freshener tree.

Heavy smoker or heavy halitosis? :P

Those magic trees are awful!

My car smells like cake :-)

The previous owner had a dog; I am convinced even after 18mo ownership that it still smells like dog.

SEAT Alhambra was the best utilty vehicle I have owned. With five seats it is a large estate. With two seats (occasionally) it is massive.

Not impossible but you'll need to buy well to keep to the 20k budget if it has to be new..

Toyota Hilux twin cab pick up, a rear canopy for shelter for the dogs will be about a grand including plastic liners but overpriced at the Toyota dealer, you can throw the dogs in as muddy as a basking hippo and just hose the truck bed out after.

You won't get a genuine UK truck with a petrol engine you'd have to get a grey through Sinoridban Thailand or via one of the parallel importers here, 2.7 Toyota V6 is the petrol.

However the Diesel won't have a DPF so you won't have any worries about only doing a low mileage, commercial VED at about £210 is sweet.

I had one for 3 and half years from new in 07, i may well have another in due course.

More comfortable and nicer to drive than you would think, the auto box rivals the best reliable torque converter boxes fitted to exeucutive cars.

You can get other makes around the same price and cheaper, they won't hold their value like the Toyota though, i got 2/3rds of my purchase price back after 3.5 years and not a trade in price either, however the vehicle was as new..