Dyson Car+Boat Vacuum review

Dyson Car+Boat Handheld Vacuum Cleaner Review: Intro

• Type: Handheld Vacuum Only
• Docking: Plug in
• Bin: 0.54-litre

Dyson’s vacuum cleaners are often associated with decent suction and transparent designs with flashes of colour – they are a delight to look at as far as vacuum cleaners go.

The company recently announced the slimmest vacuum ever in the Dyson PencilVac, but earlier this year, it also introduced a handheld vacuum cleaner in the Car+Boat. 

Not to be mistaken for a wet and dry vacuum despite the boat element of its name suggesting it can handle being near water, the Dyson Car+Boat was made available in February 2025 and it is the primary handheld-only model in Dyson’s lineup.

It is essentially a compact version of the established V8 stick vacuum but with a reduction in weight, no stick wand and 10 minutes extra run time, specifically engineered to address the challenges of cleaning confined spaces, like cars and boats – hence its name. 

With a price point of $279.99 in the US and £249.99 in the UK, it’s firmly at the higher end of the handheld vacuum cleaners scale but does it do enough to justify its cost? I’ve been using it to clean my Mini Countryman (as well as using it inside the house) for the last couple of months to find out. 

Design and Components

• 1.9kg
• 0.54-litre bin
• Trigger for power

The Dyson Car+Boat looks pretty much identical to the full-size V8 stick vacuum from 2016, effectively presenting as the V8’s motor, cyclones and dustbin assembly without the extended wand or primary floorhead.

Don’t mistake that as a criticism though, because while that model is older than the likes of the newer and fancier Gen5Detect, the Car+Boat has signature Dyson design traits including a transparent dust bin, highlights of purple and moveable parts distinguished with red accents. 

There’s no fancy LCD display on this model, like you will find on Dyson’s latest stick vacuum cleaners, and unlike the Gen5Detect, there is no power button either.

That means the Dyson Car+Boat has a trigger button you have to hold down and keep holding for power, like models that came before Dyson’s Gen5Detect, and that can be tiresome. I didn’t realise how much I appreciated not having a trigger on the Gen5Detect until I had to use one again.  

The dust bin has a capacity of 0.54 litres though, which is decent for a handheld and should be sufficient to clean your car without you having to empty it in between (depending on how dirty your car is). I don’t love the emptying mechanism, however. It loosens up over time but initially, it’s awkward and stiff. 

You have to pull the cyclone section upwards to release the bin’s base at the bottom. I should mention that you’ll want to make sure the base is over your bin or a bag when you start as otherwise everything will go on your floor, but I’d hope that was obvious.

The emptying process is one Dyson has refined in its newer stick vacuum designs, with the Gen5Detect much easier to empty than this model, but here it is something you have to get used to. 

In terms of weight, the Car+Boat isn’t the lightest at 1.9kg so it’s a little bulky but it is lighter than a complete V8 and it is more compact than Dyson’s more recent and powerful stick vacuums such as the V11, V15, and Gen5Detect.

All of those models can be converted into handhelds by removing the wand and using one of the other attachments, but they are heavier and bigger than the Car+Boat in that format.

Attachments

• 3 attachments
• No specific car or boat options

Speaking of attachments, Dyson’s Car+Boat includes a selection of three attachments, each tailored for specific cleaning applications, though none designed specifically for cars or boats, which feels like a missed opportunity. 

The Mini Motorised Head is handy for things like car seats and floor mats, though it’s also good for your sofa inside and I would imagine handy for sofas and beds on a boat too. I don’t have a boat so I couldn’t test this, but I can confirm it’s a decent attachment for car seats and a living room sofa cushions. The brushroll can be susceptible to hair tangling, so that’s something to keep in mind but on the whole, it’s an effective option.

It’s worth mentioning that Dyson’s more recent vacuum models have introduced the Hair Screw tool in place of this attachment, which has an updated design that is less prone to hair entanglement, but that’s not what you get with this model.

The second of the three attachments included is the Crevice Tool, which is great for tight and narrow spaces and the one I found myself using the most. Its slender profile allows it to reach into the gaps between car seats, along console edges, and into other confined areas where the larger attachments aren’t able to get into. 

The last attachment is the Combination Brush/Wide Nozzle that is designed to offer dual functionality. It can be used as a broad nozzle for vacuuming larger particles or general surface cleaning. Alternatively, with its brush extended, it can be used for dusting delicate surfaces or for gently dislodging dirt before suction.

I didn’t find myself using this attachment as much as the other two, but it is a good one to have included and some might prefer it to the Mini Motorised Head, especially for a dash in a car or sideboard inside.

Performance

• 110,000rpm motor
• 115AW suction

With the Car+Boat borrowing the V8 design, that means this handheld incorporates the Dyson V8’s core mechanical components too, including a motor capable of rotating at 110,000 rpm (a little less than the 135,000rpm of the Gen5Detect) and a filtration system designed to capture 99.99% of microscopic particles. 

There are two suction modes: a standard setting for general cleaning and a ‘Max’ mode for more intensive tasks – the footwells of the car you haven’t bothered cleaning for a year, for example – and you switch between them by pushing the slider at the top. 

In terms of suction capability, the Dyson Car+Boat delivers superb performance. There’s 115AW of power, which means this handheld effectively collects dust, mud, and various forms of debris, from popcorn to Haribo bears in my car without a problem. 

The ‘Max’ suction mode is particularly impressive, capable of drawing up even those small stones from car footwells that you have no idea got into the car. It’s worth noting that using this mode will noticeably reduce battery life – I’ll come onto that in a second – but it’s brilliant for getting your car back into a like-new state. 

For those considering this handheld for inside use too – rather than just your yacht or car – I have a dog (a very big dog) and the Car+Boat vacuum has been great at removing embedded pet hair from upholstery and carpets. There is an argument that if you are planning on using inside as well however, that buying a full stick vacuum that converts to a handheld would be a better option in terms of value.

Battery

• 50-minutes in standard mode
• No dock included 

Dyson claims a run time of up to 50 minutes on a single charge for the Car+Boat, and I found that generally held true. It’s significantly better than many other handheld vacuums, most of which offer around 30 minutes battery, which translates closer to 15 minutes of effective high-power cleaning. Dyson’s long battery life means you can clean for longer, and more thoroughly without requiring an interruption for recharging.

Recharging the battery to full capacity takes approximately 5 hours though, which is quite a long time. The battery is not removable or swappable like some of Dyson’s stick vacuums either so you won’t be able to change the battery and carry on cleaning. The Car+Boat also doesn’t come with a dedicated charging dock, requiring a direct cable connection for topping it up. None of these are deal breakers, and the 50 minutes battery life does negate them, but they are all things to note.

A small blue indicator light on the side provides a visual cue for the remaining battery charge, with each block indicating around 15 minutes of battery in standard mode.

Final thoughts

The Dyson Car+Boat Handheld vacuum cleaner has plenty going for it. Its suction power is substantial; it’s more compact than Dyson’s other stick wands option in their handheld forms; and its battery life is great for bigger cars, boats or more thorough cleaning sessions. 

Its price point does make it a considerable investment, especially when compared to other handheld options like the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro, and for those who already have a Dyson V8 stick vacuum, the core technology here is largely the same so buying the Car+Boat is unnecessary. The trigger isn’t my favourite either, while for those planning to use the Car+Boat inside as well as your car or boat, paying a little more for a stick vacuum might be a better option given you get the benefit of a floor cleaner head.

For some though, the Dyson Car+Boat will be a perfect handheld option. It’s premium in its design, the bin capacity is a great size and it delivers strong performance within its intended scope in terms of both suction and battery. If you’re looking for a powerful handheld that looks good whilst cleaning, the Dyson Car+Boat is just the ticket.

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