Dyson Car+Boat review:‘This handheld vacuum cleaner is my new best friend around the house'

Telegraph

4 days ago

What is the Dyson Car+Boat handheld vacuum?
A handheld vacuum is the better type of vacuum cleaner for reaching those nooks and crannies that bigger designs often neglect. Launched in 2024, the Car+Boat is Dyson's flagship handheld cleaner and is designed for use in your home, car and if you're lucky enough, your boat.
At £249.99 (RRP), around £200 from other retailers, it's pricier than your average handheld vacuum, but it has Dyson's signature, premium design, powerful 115 airWatt suction and a generous 50-minute run time. It's controlled via a trigger switch and built-in air filtration captures fine dust, dirt and allergens.
The box contains a generous number of tools, including a mini motorised brush bar head for carpets, a two-in-one tool for cleaning and dusting and a seven-inch crevice tool for awkward areas.
Like the Dyson Gen5 Detect and 360 Vis Nav before it, this is a best in class vacuum cleaner, earning itself the title of Best Buy handheld vacuum. Read on to discover why.
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How we test handheld vacuum cleaners
I tested 14 of the best handheld vacuums at home rating their design and performance.
I assessed the Dyson Car+Boat for its functionality, battery life and usability, including its comfort and overall handling. To test its power and effectiveness, I judged its pick up on general household dirt as well as set scenarios using cereal, rice, biscuits and finer debris including ground crisps, lint and pet hair.
I factored in the design of its bin and ease of emptying. And finally, I measured its noise levels using a Decibel Meter App to see how loud it gets in use – the quieter the better.
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Design and build
Score: 9/10
At 33cm long, the Dyson Car+Boat is a solid piece of kit. Weighing 1.9kg, it's heavier than other handheld vacuums; the Beldray Airlite Cordless Handheld Vacuum is 1.48kg, while the Vax HomePro Pet Design weighs just 0.61kg. But it has the premium finish you'd expect from a Dyson and was comfortable to hold. The positioning of the motor and battery around the handle makes it balanced.
It's robust and comes with three accessories including a mini motorised head, a crevice tool and a combination tool (comprising a brush and a wide nozzle) that all click easily in place. The two power buttons are conveniently positioned on top, so you can hold it in one hand and switch power speeds with the other.
The trigger switch must be held down continuously to keep it running though. This may cause a bit of finger ache after a while, but for short bursts, I found it effective and comfortable.
Performance
Score: 9/10
With building work happening in my house, I had plenty of dust about to test the Car+Boat's suction power. The mini motorised head was effective for agitating dirt off carpet stair treads and even vacuuming fresh sawdust stuck to walls. It glided smoothly across my mattress and velvet sofa, too. I used the combination tool for quick clean ups on tabletops and the crevice tool on stair corners and skirting. The latter also made the device long enough to reach cobwebs in ceiling corners.
The vacuum is powered by a motor that spins at up to 100,000 rpm to produce 115 airWatts of suction (the best unit of measurement for a vacuum's effectiveness) and keep it even across its two power modes: low and max. The lower one was satisfying for most jobs, proving ample for cornflakes, crushed crisps, crumbled biscuits and rice. For finer hair, pet hair and lint I ramped it up to max to ensure everything was vacuumed thoroughly. It didn't disappoint, powerfully sucking the fibres straight into its bin.
Storage
Score: 8/10
As well as the three tools provided, there are plenty more specific accessories you can purchase to suit your home. These include a car cleaning kit (£55), a furniture kit (£55), a low-reach adaptor (£35) which adjusts the wand angle by up to 90 degrees and even a pet grooming kit (£55).
If you decide to add these, you will need to find somewhere to store them all as there is no on-board storage around the vacuum. The machine comes with a plug-in charger that's easy to use, but there is no wall docking station included either. It is, however, notably smaller than a full size vacuum, so you won't have to free up too much space in the cupboard.
Usability
Score: 9/10
Due to its compact nature, the vacuum was convenient to use across hard, flat surfaces. I picked up dirt and dust effectively across both. I also appreciated knowing its filtration system was capturing particles as small as 0.3 microns.
I emptied the 0.54 litre canister without getting my hands messy. It works like a standard Dyson cordless vacuum. All you need to do is lift a button to open the door of the bin, then hover over your kitchen bin to empty.
There is quite a difference in noise levels between the lower power mode and max mode, which I measured using my Decibel Meter App. It recorded 82.7dB on the lower power mode and 90.9dB on max (a range similar to a hair dryer). While that's not much of a difference during the day, if you're using it at night – perhaps to clean up some mess mid-dinner party – it's helpful to know that you can lower the noise levels slightly.
Battery
Score: 10/10
With up to 50 minutes of run time after a 3.5 hour recharge (although the advertised recharging time is five hours), the battery life was satisfying and the longest of the conventional handheld vacuums I tried. Only stick vacuums in handheld mode had more, which is to be expected as they're designed to be your main vacuum.
In practice, it varied depending on which of the two power speeds I used, however. While I got the full 50 minutes on the low power mode, it only lasted five minutes when on max. To keep it lasting as long as possible, I found running it predominantly in low-power mode and only ramping up to full power when really needed was an effective strategy and just enough to give the interior of my Honda CRV a once over.
Technical specifications
Dyson and Shark are two brands that are often compared for their vacuums, and their dedicated handheld vacuums both sit at more premium price points. I awarded both a score of 9/10 overall in my testing, so here's how the Dyson Car+Boat and the Shark Premium Handheld Vacuum compare technically:
Should you buy the Dyson Car+Boat handheld vacuum?
With its standout motor, this handheld vacuum is instantly effective on dry spills. It feels solid and durable and has easy to affix tools. The 50-minute battery life (on low power) is enough to collect breakfast table spills, do a quick dust and spruce your car interior. It's my new best friend around the house, and I'd recommend it to anyone seeking a powerful and premium secondary vacuum. It is hefty though, which is something to keep in mind in terms of both handling and storage.
Yes, if:
You want to add to your existing vacuum set up with a fast and reliable handheld
You need a decent amount of battery time
You want a reliable design that is built to last
No, if:
You need something lightweight; while comfy to hold, it weighs 1.9kg
You want a handheld with a power button as opposed to a trigger switch
You want to tackle wet and dry spills
Dyson Car+Boat FAQs
Is the Dyson Car+Boat powerful enough for stubborn dirt and pet hair?
'The Dyson Car+Boat is great for deep cleaning on the go and picking up pet hair,' says Ketan Patel, Senior Design Manager of Floorcare at Dyson. 'It's our most powerful handheld vacuum cleaner.'
How different is the Dyson Car+Boat compared to the handheld mode on a Dyson cordless stick vacuum?
'A handheld vacuum like the Car+Boat is designed for portability,' says Patel. 'Its compact size and specialised tools make it perfect for targeted cleaning in cars, boats and other tight spaces where a larger cordless vacuum might not fit as easily. It's also an excellent addition for owners of the Dyson 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum, the Dyson WashG1 wet cleaner, or our corded range, offering a convenient grab-and-go solution for quick clean-ups on surfaces like mattresses, upholstery or stairs.'
How easy is it to empty the bin and clean the filter of the Dyson Car+Boat?
'The bin can be emptied with a simple one-touch mechanism, and the filter is washable and easy to remove for maintenance,' says Patel. 'The filter can be rinsed under cool water then left to dry in a well-ventilated area for 24 hours before your next clean.'
What is the difference between Dyson Car+Boat and Humdinger?
'The Dyson Humdinger is available in the US, but currently not in the UK,' says Patel. 'The Car+Boat model builds on Dyson's heritage of powerful suction and cutting-edge technology. It offers improved battery performance (20 mins runtime to 50 mins runtime), larger bin capacity (0.2 litres to 0.54 litres), and 130 per cent increase in suction power (from 50AW to 115AW) making it more powerful and effective than earlier handheld models.'
How long does the battery last on the Dyson Car + Boat?
If you're using this device on low-power mode, it should give you up to 50 minutes battery life. If used on the stronger max mode, this reduces the battery life significantly to just five minutes.
What specific attachments come with the Dyson Car+Boat?
The Dyson Car+Boat comes with a mini motorised tool that is designed to remove dirt, dust and hair from carpeted surfaces by agitating them. There is also a combination tool for picking up debris and brushing off dust and a crevice tool for hard to reach areas.