I see you're looking into the compact crossover class. Actually, the Innova is of similar dimensions as these cars. It just utilized the real estate to accommodate more interior space with a hood that is about half the size of a crossover's. Though at 400k the D4D's are still slightly out of the budget and the VVTi's aren't worth getting.

The X-Trail is nice, though I don't really like the way it looks both inside and out. 2.5L engine though powerful, is a guzzler. 2.0L is better but may lack punch depending on how heavy your foot is. A standout feature in the X-Trail which may be useful for you is the hard plastic rear cargo area. Much easier to clean if you're bringing dogs on a regular basis. Though if you're bringing two and in crates, you'd probably have to fold down the 2nd row seats.

You can get a slightly newer Escape as compared to an X-Trail. My family is a big fan of this car, in fact we've had a 2.0XLT, a 2.3XLS and currently a 2.3L Mazda Tribute (rebadged Escape). Performance is not blisteringly fast but good enough. Handling is nice, ride is comfortable and its got very solid underpinnings that are capable of taking lots of abuse. That said, I am positive that you will only be able to fit one crate at the back with the rear seats down.