9 best car vacuum cleaners, expert-tested in real vehicles

The Miele Duoflex HX1 CarCare is one of the most versatile cordless vacuums I’ve tested – and one of the few that genuinely bridges the gap between home and car cleaning. Its design is sleek and minimalist, with Miele’s signature high-end finish that makes it feel as premium as it looks. Although the full unit feels weighty in hand, switching to the power unit alone makes it far easier to handle for car interiors and smaller jobs.

In my tests, the HX1 impressed straightaway with its strong, consistent suction. It made light work of dust, crumbs, and pet hair, and the included hose extension (up to 1.2m) meant I could comfortably reach under seats and into footwells, without awkward stretching. The flexible crevice nozzle (extendable to 60cm) proved especially handy for those tricky gaps between car seats or down the sides of door pockets.

The accessory lineup is one of the best I’ve seen in a cordless vacuum at this price point. Alongside the hose and flexible nozzle, you get a dusting brush, upholstery tool, and even the option to attach Miele’s multi-floor electro brush if you want to switch from car mats to carpets indoors. My only real quibble is the absence of a small turbo brush, which would have made removing embedded pet hair and fine grit even easier.

Runtime is another highlight – up to 55 minutes when using the power unit alone, which easily beats most cordless rivals I’ve tested. That makes the Duoflex HX1 CarCare ideal if you want a vacuum that can tackle a full home clean and still have enough charge left for a thorough car tidy-up.

Overall, this is a beautifully engineered cordless model that offers the best of both worlds: premium household performance with serious car-cleaning capability. If you’re looking for one vacuum that can do it all, the Miele Duoflex HX1 CarCare is hard to beat.

This is a compact, cordless handheld vacuum designed for quick clean-ups in cars, caravans and around the home. Out of the box, it feels robust and well-made, with the sturdy orange-and-grey design that’s typical of Stihl’s power tools. It’s supplied with a surprisingly generous selection of accessories, including a crevice nozzle, brush attachment, suction hose, and extension tube, all neatly stored in a smart carry bag.

In my tests, the Stihl felt light to handle – much easier to manoeuvre than bulkier rivals such as the Gtech handheld – and the flexible extension hose was super handy for reaching under seats and into cup holders. The brush tool worked well on delicate surfaces, while the crevice nozzle helped clear crumbs and pet hair from upholstery seams. The filter is easy to access for quick cleaning, and the removable battery means you can swap it out for a spare if you already own other tools in the Stihl AS range.

Suction power, however, is where the SEA 20 shows its limitations. I found it performed well on fabric seats and finer debris but it tended to struggled a little with larger, coarse dirt such as grit or dried mud. It’s clearly designed more for maintenance cleans than deep car valets, and with a 14-minute run time, I had to work fairly fast to tackle all my car’s footwells.

That said, for its modest price, the Stihl SEA 20 is a handy, no-nonsense vacuum to keep in your boot or garage. It’s ideal for quick car clean-ups or for refreshing upholstery, and the thoughtful accessory set and carry bag make it a practical choice for busy households or drivers who like things neat and tidy.

A serious piece of kit, this handheld vacuum feels as powerful as a full-size cleaner. From the first use, it’s clear this model is built to last – the construction feels solid, the balance is reassuringly weighty, and the finish gives it a polished, premium look.

In my tests, suction was exceptional for a cordless handheld. The turbo motor head made short work of everything from dried mud to pet hair, while the LED headlights illuminated hidden dirt in dark corners and under seats. The crevice tool fits neatly into the handle so it’s always on hand, while the separate dusting brush provided enough reach to clean the dashboard and vents. I particularly liked the scented cartridges, which release a subtle fresh fragrance while you vacuum – a small but impressive detail that makes car cleaning feel a little more rewarding.

Runtime is a respectable 30 minutes on a full charge, and while the three-hour recharge time isn’t the fastest, it’s a fair trade-off for the power on offer. The only real drawback is the bin design: it’s a little fiddly to detach, and emptying it can be a two-handed job. Still, the generous capacity means you won’t have to do it often.

Despite being slightly heavy for long, one-handed use, the Gtech Multi Platinum’s performance makes it worth the effort. It’s one of those vacuums that feels genuinely versatile – powerful enough for car mats, light enough for sofa cushions, and portable enough to take camping. If you’re after premium power in a compact cordless, this is one of the best around.

An excellent choice for drivers who want a portable vacuum that’s powerful, quiet and built to last, this model is particularly handy for keeping on top of sand, crumbs and pet hair.

In testing, I found the VC 4 well-balanced and easy to handle. At just 2.4kg, it’s light enough to lift in and out of a boot or reach across car seats without strain. The crevice tool is ideal for the narrow gaps between seats and along door pockets, while the two-in-one dusting and upholstery brush handled dashboards, vents and fabrics with ease. The compact floor nozzle also worked well on car mats and boot areas, pulling up sand and dried mud effectively.

Power comes from a 21.6V lithium-ion battery, which gives up to 30 minutes of runtime in normal mode and around 18 minutes in boost. That’s enough for a full interior clean, and the power lock switch means you don’t have to hold the trigger down constantly, a small but very welcome feature when you’re working in tight spaces.

The bagless filter system is simple to maintain and easy to empty, though the 650ml dust container does fill quickly if you’re tackling a very dirty car. Still, it’s far less fiddly to clean than some compact rivals, and the quick-release button makes emptying the bin a one-handed job.