When the new S7 Series Uprights arrived from Miele, I was more than eager to take one home and test it. While I admire the cleaning ability of the Miele canister, I have always been partial to upright vacuum cleaners. At home I used the Tango on several different types of flooring: laminate wood flooring on the first floor, high pile carpet in the bedrooms and on the steps, tile in the landing, linoleum in the bathroom, and low pile carpet in the game room. While I have long been impressed by Miele canister vacuum cleaners, I was initially unsure if the Tango would live up to the hype. This is one instance where my skepticism was completely unfounded.

What I like about the Tango

The best and most important feature is the Tango's cleaning ability. On the high traffic carpet on the steps, the Tango not only removed pet hair but also pulled up the matted down high pile carpet. The Tango was also superb on low pile carpet, but what truly impressed me was its ability to clean smooth flooring. On the tile, laminate and linoleum, I turned the brush roll motor off and used the straight suction of the Vortex motor only. Even in corners the suction was so great that it pulled in dirt and hair from immediately around it. Most uprights are woefully inadequate to handle smooth flooring, but with the carpet/floor switch for the brush roll, I was able to clean each of the smooth surfaces without the brush roll throwing dirt and debris around the room. On the carpets the automatic suction control setting worked admirably, but the manual control was useful on the two small throw rugs I cleaned. Regardless of the surface, the Tango's two powerful motors worked together to clean anything I laid before it.

The Tango was a marked departure from the two upright models I currently own. The Swivel-Neck design left me feeling as if I were using a much smaller and more nimble vacuum than most uprights I have tested. The Swivel-Neck combined with the 360º-turning front wheels gives the Tango a much more fluid sense of movement, and with the brush roll turned on, this vacuum truly does seem as if it self-propelled. The low profile was also a welcome change. I was able to clean under my air hockey table and ab lounge without moving either.

The hose and wand that Miele developed for these S7 uprights is by far better than other uprights. The extra reach gave me the ability to clean the cobwebs in upper corners of rooms as well as dirt and debris from the top of the window and door frames without tipping the vacuum. The material used for the hose is durable, flexible and retracts to fit neatly back in place. The hose-lock feature helped to stabilize the Tango even when I had the hose stretched to its full length.

As a few final positives about this vacuum, the cord length was truly handy. I was able to clean on both floors of my home, all rooms, from only two outlets. The LED light may not seem to be of particular note, but once you vacuum with it you will notice the difference. The LED is bright enough that even with the lights on it still manages to further enhance your visibility. The reinforced handle in the back of the unit was extremely useful when transporting the Tango from the office to my home. The Tango also features Miele's sealed system and active HEPA filtration which is ideal for allergy and asthma sufferers. Lastly, the look of this upright is terrific. It has a very sleek design with a beautiful finish. The Tango is certainly one vacuum I would not want to be stuffed away in my closet.

What I do not like about Tango

Quite honestly, there were only three drawbacks I could find with the Tango. First, the Tango, like many uprights that lack a special edging feature, did not handle edging on carpet as well as some uprights. On hard flooring the suction was so powerful that this was not an issue, and overall, this is about as minor as a drawback can be. Like many uprights, the Tango is a little heavier than its canister counterpart, but the built-in handle made moving it easier. And though it is slightly heavier, it is more stable than comparable uprights and moves much more freely. My only significant drawback to this model is the price. It may be more than some are willing to pay for an upright vacuum cleaner. As with all Miele vacuum cleaners, it is best to think of the Tango as an investment. It will last you ten times longer than comparable vacuums and save you money over the long term.

From cleaning ability to appearance, I was thoroughly impressed by every aspect of the Tango. Overall, the features and innovations that Miele has included in the Tango are all practical and decided improvements upon traditional uprights. I was left with one overall thought. You don't know what you are missing until you actually try one.