Total, it fared properly. The suction is highly effective, choosing up mud and dust with ease, and – if I unleashed Max mode – additionally sucking up the numerous little stones that had collected in my footwells. The mud cup is generously sized and you will get three attachments bundled in. Of these, probably the most attention-grabbing is a small, motorized head that is good for tackling bigger, comparatively flat surfaces like seat cushions and automotive mats. The Crevice instrument can also be important for entering into slender gaps. Battery life is way longer than most handhelds, providing as much as 50 minutes on a single cost.
The compromise you will need to make for the additional suction and longer battery is that the Automobile+Boat is a bit cumbersome and heavy in comparison with a lot of at present’s best car vacuums . I used to be additionally irritated by the truth that the set off should be frequently compressed to be used – that is tough if you’re attempting to maneuver the vacuum into small, awkward areas.
It is costly, though that is partly justified by the superb efficiency, and that you just’re getting the mechanics of a full-sized vacuum. You may have to weigh up whether or not it is value simply paying a bit extra for a Dyson stick vacuum (which, in spite of everything, can simply be transformed into handheld mode). Alternatively, for much less intensive cleansing duties, there are many far cheaper handhelds in the marketplace.
When you’re searching for a extra heavy-duty handheld, although, the Automobile+Boat is a powerful alternative. It is nice for bigger cleansing classes, and I might particularly suggest it to pet house owners who want that additional suction, and a mud cup that may deal with loads of hair. That is the quick model; learn on for my full Dyson Automobile+Boat assessment.
Dyson Automobile+Boat assessment: worth & availability
Listing worth: $279.99 / £249.99 / AU$449Launched: February 2025
The Dyson Automobile+Boat was introduced in late January 2025 and went on sale within the US, UK and Australia at first of February. It is obtainable direct from Dyson in addition to through a number of third-party retailers. At record worth it prices $279.99 within the US, £249.99 within the UK, or AU$449 in Australia. That places it within the premium worth bracket for a handheld vacuum.
It is no shock that that is an costly possibility, however is it value the additional outlay? It is definitely a superb handheld. The specs are properly above most handheld vacuums, and the design and construct high quality are excessive, too. When you’re on a finances, there are definitely loads of cheaper handheld vacuums to select from. Rival vacuum model Shark ‘s high handheld mannequin – the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro handheld vacuum – is a 3rd of the worth at $89.99 / £79.99 (about AU$150).
You may have to consider that the Automobile+Boat is not actually a handheld – it is a full stick vacuum, with out its wand and floorhead. Meaning the mechanics are according to what you’d get with a full-sized vacuum, and you may additionally wish to take into account in case you’d be higher off simply shopping for a stick vacuum, in the case of worth for cash. The bottom mannequin for that is the Dyson V8 , and costs for that begin at $349.99 / £329 / AU$799.
Worth for cash rating: 3.5 out of 5
Dyson Automobile+Boat specs
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Dimension (H x L x W):
8.1 x 13 x 5.2″ / 20.6 x 33.1 x 13.1cm
Weight:
4.2 lbs / 1.9kg
Max runtime:
50 minutes
Motor rotations:
110,000rpm
Filter:
99.99% of particles as small as 0.3 microns
Max suction:
115AW
Bin quantity:
0.54L
Dyson Automobile+Boat assessment: design
Base mannequin is a Dyson V8 Crevice instrument, Mixture instrument and new handheld instrument included On the cumbersome / heavy facet for a handheld vacuum
The bottom mannequin for the Dyson Automobile+Boat is the Dyson V8 – the one distinction is the attachments included. That mannequin launched in 2016, and because of this, you are getting a barely older configuration and motor right here. There are cylones, the motor, mud cup, and detachable battery, and the attachments can simply be swapped on and off. The motor spins at 110,000rpm, and there is a whole-vacuum filtration system that may seize 99.99% of particles as small as 0.3 microns.
Operation is through a set off that must be frequently depressed, and there are two suction modes (common and Max), which you’ll be able to toggle utilizing a change. The 0.54L mud cup is beneficiant for a handheld, and empties by pulling the entire cyclone array upwards, at which level a flap on the base of the bin will drop open.
Pull the entire cyclone part upwards to empty the beneficiant mud cup (Picture credit score: Future)
You get three attachments bundled in with the Automobile+Boat. Two are commonplace instruments included with virtually all different Dyson stick vacuums: an extended, slender Crevice instrument for entering into tight areas, and a Mixture instrument that appears like a wider nozzle with retractible brush encompass. (Extra on these in my Dyson vacuum tools guide .)
The third appears prefer it’s new to the Automobile+Boat, and it is a small motorized head for cleansing comparatively flat surfaces like automotive seats, boat cushions and automotive mats. It features a brushroll, and a canopy that can transfer to sit down flush with the floor as you clear, to keep up suction.
The brand new handheld-specific attachment (left) and Mixture instrument (proper) (Picture credit score: Future)
It in all probability goes with out saying, however there is not any lengthy wand or full-sized floorheads, as you’d get with the common V8.
Dyson stick vacuum comparability
As a result of the Automobile+Boat is actually a V8, and since all of Dyson’s stick vacuums can be utilized as handheld fashions, it is smart to briefly cowl how the Automobile+Boat compares.
The V8 was launched in 2016, and at time the launch of the Automobile+Boat, there are three newer vacuums within the lineup – the Dyson V11 , the V15 Detect and Gen5detect – all of which have extra highly effective motors and longer battery life. There are additional design variations: all have a extra suction-efficient in-line configuration of bin, wand and motor, all have helpful LCD screens to supply data, and all have a barely easier and extra environment friendly bin-empty mechanism.
Though the V8 is not the best Dyson vacuum by specs, it is maybe the best choice for handheld use. It is lighter than all of the newer fashions (significantly so, in some instances), and extra compact.
Dyson Automobile+Boat assessment: efficiency
Wonderful suction and instruments work very properly Barely cumbersome in small areas Awkward to maintain the set off compressed in use
I used the Dyson Automobile+Boat to wash my embarrassingly soiled Fiat Panda, and total I used to be impressed. The suction is great, choosing up mud and mud simply, and even pulling up numerous small stones that had collected on the carpets. I discovered the Max mode helpful for tackling more durable, extra ingrained grime.
The attachments are helpful and, for probably the most half, very properly designed. The Crevice instrument is lengthy sufficient to get proper into small gaps like down the facet of the seats, and the brand new motorized instrument nice for bigger, flatter areas. The rotating cowl works properly to keep up a ‘seal’ across the curler and maximize suction effectivity. I discovered myself utilizing the Mixture instrument the least, nevertheless it’s nonetheless helpful to have as an possibility.
The brand new motorized instrument is nice for flatter surfaces (Picture credit score: Future)
All of those instruments are properly designed, though not fairly good. The brushroll might be susceptible to getting tangled with hair, which is not an enormous situation however is one thing Dyson has addressed elsewhere – its Hair Screw instrument has a conical brushroll that directs hair straight into the mud cup. I believe you possibly can use a Hair Screw instrument as an efficient different to this new attachment. I additionally discovered the button that locks the comb encompass on the Crevice instrument into place may very well be a bit fiddly.
The Automobile+Boat is on the chunky facet for a handheld vacuum, and may very well be awkward for entering into tight areas. I could not use it to mud my sprint, for example, as a result of the motor would not match far sufficient beneath the windscreen, and it was a bit tough to maneuver beneath the seats, too.
An extended Crevice instrument will get proper into tight corners (Picture credit score: Future)
My important grievance is that the set off should be frequently pressed in when utilizing the vacuum – there is not any clip or change for steady working. That is annoying even on a ground vacuum, however doubly so right here, the place you are attempting to shift it at awkward angles areas. (Dyson has upgraded this to a button on the latest Gen5detect , however not one of the others.)
The design is great for bigger, flatter areas, nevertheless. I additionally suppose it might be an excellent alternative for pet house owners, as a result of the suction is highly effective sufficient to deal with pet hair, and the mud cup massive sufficient to carry comparatively massive volumes of it (particularly in comparison with different handhelds). The battery life can also be excellent, however I will get to that in a second.
Efficiency rating: 4 out of 5
Dyson Automobile+Boat assessment: battery life
As much as a quoted 50 minutes on one cost; much less in Max mode Far longer runtimes than nearly all of handheld vacuums Battery detachable and swappable
Battery life is likely one of the areas the place the Automobile+Boat actually stands out from opponents. Dyson quotes a most of fifty minutes cleansing on a single cost. That is method above common – most cordless handheld vacuums supply a most of half-hour of cleansing, however generally it is extra like quarter-hour. 50 is according to a few of at present’s best cordless vacuums . Notice that Max mode will bleed the battery a lot sooner, however that is to be anticipated – this mode is de facto just for robust spot cleans.
On take a look at, I actually appreciated this longer runtime. Cleansing vehicles and furnishings is fiddly – it takes time to do it correctly, and there is nothing worse than working out of battery midway by means of the job, as soon as you’ve got wedged your self right into a footwell. I think about it is the identical with boats.
The battery is detachable and swappable, so theoretically in case you wished to increase runtimes additional, then you possibly can buy a spare.
Battery life rating: 5 out of 5
Do you have to purchase the Dyson Automobile+Boat?
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Attribute
Notes
Score
Worth
Premium worth considerably justified by the actual fact you are getting efficiency according to a full stick vacuum.
3.5 / 5
Design
A V8 with completely different attachments. Effectively constructed, however barely cumbersome for a handheld.
4 / 5
Efficiency
Very good suction and properly designed instruments, however annoying to maintain the set off compressed in use.
4 / 5
Battery
As much as 50 minutes on one cost – method above common for a handheld vacuum.
5 / 5
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
How I examined the Dyson Automobile+Boat I used the Dyson Automobile+Boat to wash my Fiat Panda, together with seats, carpets, footwells and as many nooks and crannies as I may get into. I additionally examined it on furnishings in my dwelling. I used all the assorted attachments, and in contrast it to different vacuums I’ve examined out when it comes to each specs and value.
Learn extra about how we test vacuum cleaners
First reviewed February 2025
