Dyson Car + Boat Vacuum Review

Dyson Car + Boat Handheld Vacuum Cleaner Review: Intro

• Type: Handheld Vacuum Only
• Docking: Plugins
• Bin: 0.54 liters

Dyson vacuum cleaners are often associated with clear designs with decent suction and flashes of colour. They can be seen as long as the vacuum cleaner goes.

The company recently unveiled its slimmer vacuum cleaner to date with Dyson Pencilvac, but earlier this year it also introduced handheld vacuum cleaners to its car + boats.

Despite suggesting that the boat element of that name is close to the water, the Dyson Car+Boat will be available in February 2025, a major handheld-only model in the Dyson lineup, to prevent it from being mistaken for a wet, dry vacuum.

It is essentially a compact version of the vacuum of the established V8 stick, but with weight reduction, stick wands and an extra run time of 10 minutes. It is specifically designed to address the challenges of cleaning trapped spaces such as cars and boats. So it’s the name.

It’s priced at $279.99 in the US and £249.99 in the UK, and is firmly at the upper limit of the handheld vacuum cleaner scale, but is it enough to justify the cost? I’ve been using it to clean mini-countrymen (and use it in the house) for the last few months.

Design and Components

• 1.9kg
• 0.54 liter bin
• Power Trigger

The Dyson Car+Boat looks roughly the same as the 2016 full-size V8 stick vacuum and is effectively presented as a motor, cyclone, and dust bin assembly for the V8 without an expanded wand or primary floor head.

But while the model is older than the newer and fancy Gen5detect-like, the car + boat has signature Dyson design characteristics that include clear dust bins, highlights of the purple moving parts that are distinguished from red accents, so don’t mistake it for criticism.

This model does not have a flashy LCD display, as does Dyson’s latest stick vacuum cleaner. Unlike Gen5DeTect, there is no power button either.

In other words, Dyson Car+Boat needs to hold back and hold power, like the model that came before Dyson’s Gen5Detect. I didn’t realize how grateful I was that there was no trigger in Gen5detect until I had to use it again.

However, the dust bin capacity is 0.54 liters. This should be decent for the handheld and be enough to clean the car without emptied in between (depending on the car’s dirt). But I don’t like the mechanism of emptying. It loosens over time, but it is troublesome and stiff at first.

To release the bin base at the bottom, you will need to pull the cyclone section upwards. Otherwise, you need to mention that you want to make sure it’s on your bin or bag so that everything goes to your floor, but I hope that was clear.

The empty process is one of Dyson’s refinements with a new stick vacuum design, and the Gen5Detect is much easier to empty than this model, but here it is something you’ll need to get used to.

In terms of weight, the car + boat is a bit bulky as it’s not the lightest at 1.9kg, but is lighter than the full V8 and more compact than Dyson’s recent powerful stick vacuums, such as the V11, V15 and Gen5DeTect.

All of these models can be converted to a handheld using one of the other attachments, but in that format it is heavier and larger than a car + boat.

Attachments

• Three attachments
• There are no specific car or boat options

Speaking of attachments, Dyson Cars + Boats includes three choices of attachments tailored to your specific cleaning application, but none are specifically designed for cars or boats.

The mini electric head is convenient for car seats and floor mats, but is also suitable for interior sofas, and is also convenient for boat sofas and beds. I have no boat so I couldn’t test this but I can make sure it’s a decent attachment for the car seat and sofa cushion in the living room. Brushroll is something to keep in mind as it can get tangled with your hair, but overall it’s an effective option.

It is worth mentioning that Dyson’s recent vacuum model introduced a hairscrew tool instead of this attachment.

The second of the three attachments included is the gap tool. This is perfect for tight, tight spaces and I’ve found it to be the one I use most. Its thin profile allows you to reach gaps between car seats, gaps along the edges of the console, and other limited areas where large attachments cannot be entered.

The final attachment is a combination brush/wide nozzle designed to provide dual functionality. Can be used as a wide nozzle for vacuuming larger particles and common surface cleaning. Alternatively, with the brush expanded, it can be used to dust easily on delicate surfaces or gently remove dirt before suction.

I didn’t notice that I’m using this attachment about two other things, but it’s good to include it, especially for dashing to the car or the inside sideboard, and I might prefer it over a mini electric head.

performance

• 110,000rpm motor
• 115AW suction

When the Car+Boat rents the V8 design, the handheld is also built into this handheld, including a motor that can rotate at 110,000 rpm (below 135,000 rpm on the Gen5DeTect) and a filtration system designed to capture 99.99% of the microscope particles.

There are two suction modes. Standard settings for general cleaning and a “max” mode for more intensive tasks – for example, scaffolding on cars that have not been bothering cleaning for a year – then press the slider to the top to toggle them.

In terms of suction ability, the Dyson Car+Boat offers great performance. It has 115AW of power. So this handheld effectively collects dust, mud and various shapes of debris without any problems, from popcorn to halibo bears in my car.

The “Max” suction mode is particularly impressive, allowing you to draw small stones from the scaffolding of cars that are not in the car. It is worth noting that using this mode significantly reduces battery life. It can withstand that quickly, but it’s great to get your car back into similar condition.

For anyone considering this handheld for use inside and not just in yachts and cars, I have a dog (very big dog) and the car + boat vacuum is perfect for removing embedded pet hair from upholstery and carpets. However, if you are planning on using the inside, there is a debate that buying a full stick vacuum that will convert it to a handheld will be a better option in terms of value.

battery

• 50 minutes in standard mode
• Dock not included

Dyson claims up to 50 minutes of running time on a single charge of a car + boat, which has proven to be true in general. It’s far better than many other handheld vacuum cleaners, most of which offer about 30 minutes of battery, bringing you closer to an effective, high-power cleaning of 15 minutes. The long battery life of the Dyson means you can clean it longer and more thoroughly without needing to interrupt charging.

However, it takes about 5 hours to charge the battery to full capacity, which is quite a long time. The battery cannot be removable or replaceable, like some of the Dyson stick vacuums, so you cannot replace the battery and carry the cleaning with you. The car + boat does not come with a dedicated charging dock, and requires a direct cable connection for topping. None of these are deal breakers and a 50-minute battery life will disable them, but they are all things to be aware of.

A small blue indicator light on the side provides a visual cue for remaining battery charge, with each block indicating the battery for approximately 15 minutes in standard mode.

Final Thoughts

There are plenty of Dyson Car + Boat Handheld Vacuum Cleaners. Its suction power is substantial. It’s more compact than Dyson’s other handheld foam stick wand options. And its battery life is perfect for larger cars, boats, or more thorough cleaning sessions.

Its prices are a significant investment, especially when compared to other handheld options like Shark Ultra Cicron Pet Pro, and the core technology here is pretty much the same, especially for those who already have a vacuum on the Dyson V8 stick. There is no need to buy a car. Triggers are not my favorite either, but for those planning on using a car + boat in a car or boat, it might be better to pay a bit more for a stick vacuum.

However, the Dyson Car+Boat is the perfect handheld option. The design is premium, the bin capacity is excellent size, providing strong performance within the intended range in terms of both suction and battery. If you’re looking for a powerful handheld that looks good while cleaning, the Dyson Car+Boat is just a ticket.

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