It is almost like an annual rite of passage now. I’ll write up an article about a product and certain rankings published by a leading consumer testing agency. Then you get to guess who I’m talking about. I could make this easier and just say who tested and rated these products, but this organization has some pretty strict rules regarding the use of their name and not wanting to ever appear as if they are endorsing a particular product or brand. With that, let the games begin!

Let’s start with upright vacuum cleaners. First and foremost, upright vacuums are not only the most popular vacuum style here in the U.S. but they are also traditionally associated with vacuuming carpet. While the versatility and use of an upright has certainly grown, particularly in the last 15 years, this associated with use on carpet remains strong. Consequently, when rated, ranked, or tested, it is most often done on carpet. Like all years, a multitude of vacuums were tested and rated, and like the last several, Miele upright vacuums best, again.

In addition to cost, vacuums are tested for filtration, suction, and cleaning ability. Of the upright vacuum cleaners tested this year, three of the top five were Miele vacuums. If you compare Miele uprights, you see a lot of similarities (partly the reason why they dominate testing/rankings). Another thing you may notice is that of the models listed, the names might be a little different than what you are likely seeing online and in stores. This is because Miele recently revamped their entire line of vacuums. From canister to uprights, everything was recategorized/renamed. The Miele S7 upright vacuums became Miele Dynamic U1 upright vacuums. For canisters, the S8 models became Complete C3 models, and this type of naming was applied across all lines. I mention this only to note that if you see something like the Miele S7 Twist upright listed as a top rated vacuum cleaner, it is the exact as the Miele Dynamic U1 Twist upright. Only the name has changed.

Of the three Miele uprights listed at the top, the Twist came out above all others. The Twist has actually come out on top of this list a few times before as well, and a closer look at the features makes it fairly easy to see why. When tested, the power, suction, and filtration of these uprights immediately place them high on any comparison list. The super quiet operation, swivel-neck maneuverability, 6″ lay flat profile, and fingertip brushroll separate it from comparable models, while the durability and brand reputation push each model to the top of the list.

The Twist often climbs above the rest of the Miele uprights for one big reason, price. It’s the most economically priced of all the Miele upright vacuums. The tradeoff with this is that it lacks the LED lamp in the front and the HEPA filter (though at any time you can uprgrade to HEPA). Beyond this, it features the same tools, suction, automatic height adjustment, sealed system, ABS construction, and warranty of a Miele upright that costs nearly twice as much.

Coming second on this list (that shall not be named) is the Miele Cat & Dog upright. This model trades in a the AirClean filter of the Twist for an Active AirClean filter. This is useful, especially for homes with pets as the activated charcoal in this filter adsorbs pet odors while offering the same particle filtration as the Twist. With the addition of the handheld turbobrush (perfect for removing pet hair from upholstered furniture or steps) and the LED lamp, the Cat & Dog upright steps up a little in price but has the unique features to compensate for it.

Coming in number four on the list is the Miele Jazz upright. The Jazz is a bit of a blend of the other two on the list. It has the same core features but lacks the handheld turbobrush and the Active AirClean filter. Instead, the Miele Jazz comes with the LED lamp as well as Miele’s H13 HEPA filter. Strictly in terms of removing allergens or irritants for people with allergies, asthma, or COPD, the HEPA filtered Jazz is tops amongst these Miele models because it can filter out 99.95% of particles as small as 0.1 microns.

With any of these three upright vacuums, you really can’t go wrong. Each has the same core features and performance of the most expensive Miele uprights but have a few unique attributes to best fit specific concerns. Twist – price conscientious but without sacrificing performance. Cat & Dog – ideal for pets and pet odors. Jazz – best overall particle filtration of the three. Once you’ve decided you want a top-rated, durable, efficient, and quiet upright vacuum cleaner, all that’s left if picking the specific features you want. By taking 3 of the top 5 spots this year, it’s easy to see why Miele upright vacuums best the competition yet again!

Author: KevvyG