While the apparent vacuum cleaner of choice for a car is cordless thanks to its go-anywhere nature, we still champion lugging a corded model down to the car and enjoying the far superior sucking power. The Hoover HL5 is a corded vacuum cleaner that also promises to offer versatility without compromising on power, potentially making the HL5 the answer to our vacuuming woes.
After all, you’ll benefit from that extra suction power for deep cleaning a car without the usual bulk and compromise a traditional corded vacuum cleaner often offers. The Push & Lift design means it transforms from an upright into a handheld seamlessly, a big red button signalling the transformation process. With a simple clip, it switches from a handheld to an upright vacuum cleaner, with powerful suction and no battery anxiety. We put it to use in both a home and a car to see if it’s up to the job.
The HL5 is also filled with the technology you’d often expect from a good vacuum cleaner. Alongside a washable HEPA filter for removing allergens, a crevice tool and a generous 1.4-litre dust bin, it also features adjustable suction. In the upright configuration, it also offers Hoover’s Anti-Twist technology to prevent hair from clogging the brushbar.
As a vacuum cleaner, it offered solid suction and excellent manoeuvrability both in and out of the car. But for a valet-quality deep clean, it lacked the ergonomics or attachments to be properly recommendable.
Score: 4/5
Verdict: Good but not great for both the home and car
Pros
- Versatile but still powerful
- Works effectively for both the home and car
- Large dustbin
Cons
- Short power cord
- Rather loud
What’s good
First used to see how it would perform, the Hoover HL5 was used to vacuum a car and a van. Releasing the wand and using the vacuum in its portable configuration proved easily manoeuvrable around the car. The two-metre hose length makes every inch of a car interior easily reachable, further helped by the crevice attachment.
Around the car, the continuous power from the motor was a welcome upgrade coming from the world of cordless vacuums. The constant power offered by the Hoover HL5 meant that even significant, larger pieces of debris could be lifted without any fuss. There’s even a max power mode for heavy-duty cleaning, but I rarely used it for car cleaning. This debris is fed into a generous 1.4-litre dust bin, a huge size compared to even the most generous cordless vacuum cleaner.
Best of all was the effortless transformation between upright to a handheld vacuum cleaner really cannot be overstated. Around the home, the wand was quickly released with the press of a single button, allowing me to vacuum the top of door frames and other awkward locations with the press of a single button, allowing access to awkward areas that the body would struggle to navigate. Then, it would lock back in place when finished and go back to working as an excellent upright vacuum cleaner. It was in this upright position that the Hoover felt most at home, only struggling on the largest of debris.
What’s okay
The anti-twist technology isn’t the best we’ve tried when used on carpet. It does an okay job at preventing hairs from wrapping around the velvet brushbar, but it eventually clogs, requiring untangling. A saving grace is that the brushbar is readily accessible and clearly visible beneath a plastic cover, which makes clearing excess hair easy. This won’t be a massive issue if you’re cleaning a car, but you’ll need to bear this in mind for home use.
There’s also a noticeable lack of attachments available when in handheld mode. While Hoover do offer additional attachments, the only included attachment with the HL5 is a crevice tool. This makes storing the extras easy but limits how deeply you can vacuum a car’s interior.
Any negatives?
The 7.8-metre power cord isn’t class-leading for a corded vacuum cleaner, and the rudimentary cord organiser will make tangled wires a fairly common occurrence. A Numatic Henry, for example, offers 10 metres of cable and an integrated cable system to keep everything neat and tidy.
It’s also quite loud, even for a powerful vacuum cleaner. Vacuuming a car with the doors closed ,quickly became an annoyance. In max power mode it was even worse. Around the home it was definitely louder than my Henry, something to bear in mind for any late-night cleaning.
Other items to consider
Pros
- The best corded vacuum cleaner
- Massive operating radius
Cons
- Slightly bulky
Pros
- Versatile cleaner
- Powerful suction
Cons
- Suffers in the same areas as the Hoover
Pros
- Exceptional quality
- Designed for pet hair
Cons
- Larger unit
Who tested this?
Ryan Gilmore is the Deputy Commercial Content Editor for Parkers, and is something of an expert when it comes to detailing. Regularly found vacuuming the inside of a press car, he knows what to look for in a vacuum cleaner and always has a bank of test cars in need of a good clean. Having tested a bank of vacuum cleaners, there were plenty of comparisons he could make with the Hoover HL5.
How this product was tested
The Hoover HL5 replaced my Henry vacuum cleaner for a month for use both around the home on carpet and hardwood flooring. It was also used to clean my car and a selection of press cars to test its versatility. It has since been used in a household for normal vacuuming duties.
Ryan Gilmore is the Deputy Autos and Tools Editor for Parkers, specialising in car cleaning and hand tools. A veteran car cleaner; if it details, waxes or washes he’ll be on hand to make sure it’s worth your money.
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