Review: Dyson Car+Boat Handheld Vacuum

Dyson has an extensive, and often confusing, lineup of vacuums. The newest addition is the Car+Boat, a handheld vacuum designed specifically for—you guessed it—sucking up dirt and debris from your car and boat, plus bedding, furniture, and other awkward spaces at home.

At $280 (though frequently $200 on third-party retailers), it's one of the most affordable ways into the world of Dyson vacuums. It's a nice handheld, with strong suction, impressive filtration, and long battery life, and it comes with various attachments. It's been great to quickly grab for small messes, like crumbs on the kitchen counter or dirt from between the seats in my car.

But here's where my point about Dyson's extensive lineup comes into play: Every Dyson stick vacuum can also be used as a hand vac. For a little extra (depending on sales), you can buy Dyson's V8, which gives you more flexibility to use it as a normal cordless vacuum all around the house. (TechRadar spotted that the Car+Boat appears to be a repurposed V8.) None of this is to say the Car+Boat isn't worth consideration, but it's not the most practical vac the company sells.

Back to Basics

Photograph: Brenda Stolyar

The Car+Boat looks like any other Dyson stick vacuum converted to handheld mode. It comes with a few attachments you can swap between, including a motorized brush (best for hair and dirt in tight spaces), a combination tool (comprised of a wide nozzle and brush you can quickly swap between), and a crevice tool for hard-to-reach areas.

I get a lot of use out of all three of them. The motorized brush sucks up any stray hair on my sheets along with crumbs on my couch or upholstered cushions on my bar stools in my kitchen. The combination tool has been useful for collecting dust that accumulates along the molding throughout my apartment without damaging the walls. And the crevice tool is useful for the gap between my stove and counter where crumbs accumulate from cooking.

The vacuum is super compact and doesn't take up much space. I've been storing it comfortably in my already-packed linen closet, but it also fits neatly in the trunk of my car. It's lightweight, at 4.2 pounds, making it easy to travel with too.

Photograph: Brenda Stolyar

For such a tiny vacuum, it does have powerful suction. The Car+Boat delivers a spin speed of 110,000 revolutions per minute (rpm), the same as the Dyson V8. Dyson claims it also captures 99.99 percent of particles as small as 0.3 microns. You have the choice between two cleaning modes—Powerful and Max—the latter is best when you need a boost in suction for extra dirty spots, but it kills battery life quickly.

Unlike the modern Dyson stick vacs, the handheld doesn't come with a built-in display or button to switch between modes. The battery is also not removable. Instead, you'll have to toggle the switch on top. There's no button to keep it turned on, either—instead, there's a traditional trigger you have to hold down while using the vacuum. I don't mind the lack of a display, but I would've preferred a power button as it keeps me from accidentally powering it on while I'm moving things out of the way, and also because it's better for folks with carpal tunnel or arthritis.

Photograph: Brenda Stolyar

Swift Suction

As a self-proclaimed neat freak, I don't have the craziest of messes at home. But I decided to take the Car+Boat as an opportunity to tackle what it's specifically designed for: my car. Between the weather changes, grocery runs, and long-distance drives, the interior picked up a lot of debris. I even had some residual leaves from the fall lying around too. The Car+Boat did an excellent job.

It sucked up dirt, foliage, crumbs, pet hair, and human hair with ease on the floor mats, seats, and in the trunk. The vacuum left it so clean I was embarrassed I ever let the car get to that state. The motorized brush worked well on the base of the trunk, the floor mats, and the seats, while the crevice tool did the job in between and under the seats. It would've made more sense for Dyson to include the Awkward Gap Tool, though, designed for car storage compartments, as it twists up to 22 degrees. The standard crevice tool can be a little difficult to wield in the car.

The dustbin is on the smaller side at 0.14 gallons, but that's plenty for smaller messes. Since I use it here and there, I don't find myself emptying it as often as I do a standard stick vacuum. There's a washable filter you can remove and hand-wash to get rid of any built-up debris. Dyson says you should wash it about once a month.

Photograph: Brenda Stolyar

As for battery life, Dyson claims between 40 to 50 minutes, which is a lot longer than other handheld vacuums we've tested, which typically last between 15 and 25 minutes. I don't use it for long cleaning sessions, so I haven't had to charge it all that often. But this is only if you're using it on standard suction power. The max setting drains the battery quickly. Even though it wasn't fully charged, my unit died after only a few minutes while using it in the higher-suction mode.

Arguably the weirdest thing about the Car+Boat (aside from the name) is that you probably shouldn't leave it in your car or boat—depending on where you live. Dyson says it should only be stored in your vehicle if the temperature inside the car is between 53 degrees Fahrenheit (12 degrees Celsius) and 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius) to prevent damage to the battery and motor. The company's site also says its vacuums won't “charge or function if the temperature drops below 41 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius).” This handheld would make more sense as an option to keep in your car at all times, but it's not worth the potential risk of damage due to the weather.

Pay a little more and you can buy a Dyson Digital Slim—our favorite budget vacuum—or the Dyson V8 (make sure it's on sale). These are full-sized cordless vacuums you can use to clean your whole house, and they can quickly convert to handheld mode to handle smaller cleaning jobs like your car. (You also often get more attachments.)

The Car+Boat's hallmarks are its lightweight design, longer battery life, and decent-sized bin compared to competing handheld vacuums. It's also well priced, considering it sits at $200 at retailers like Amazon. If you already have a Dyson cordless stick vacuum, I don't see the need to buy it. But if you're in the market for a handheld vac, then it's a strong option to consider.