The Karcher VC6 upright vacuum cleaner is a device that catches the eye with its modern design and the promise of high performance. Powered by a 25.2 V/2.5 Ah battery and equipped with a HEPA 12 filter and a range of accessories, this model seems to be the answer to the needs of demanding users. But does it fulfill the manufacturer’s promises? In this review, we will closely examine its functionalities, advantages, and potential shortcomings. I borrowed the VC6 Car version of the vacuum cleaner from the manufacturer for testing.
This time, I took the vacuum cleaner for review to a hair salon.
Ergonomics and Ease of Use
One of the biggest advantages of the Karcher VC6 is its light weight and ease of maneuvering. Weighing just 2.6 kg, the vacuum cleaner does not tire even with prolonged use. A large wall mount with a charger and a comfortable, rubberized handle make working with the device quite comfortable. The vacuum cleaner looks nice, fits well in the hand, and the air does not blow in the face, which I noticed in the test of the Samsung BeSpoke JET AI.
The main unit has a fairly large handle, which facilitates grip. Here is the power button, which needs to be pressed and held with a finger for the device to work. However, sometimes it happened to me that despite pressing, the vacuum cleaner turned off. Right next to this button, the manufacturer has placed a special locking clip. It can be moved to lock the switch, and the device will work all the time. It’s a bit of a strange solution, especially since in other vacuum cleaners I’ve tested, it’s usually enough to just press the switch. I also like that the central unit is white, not the characteristic yellow color for Karcher. This makes it better fit into modern rooms.
The HEPA 12 filter is a key element of the VC6, ensuring high-quality filtration. This is particularly important for allergy sufferers and those who care about the cleanliness of the air in their homes. The inlet air filter, combined with a bagless filtration system, effectively removes contaminants and allergens from surfaces.
Performance and Functionality
The VC6 offers suction power regulation with two efficiency levels, allowing you to adjust the suction strength to different types of surfaces. In normal mode, the device works for about 50 minutes, while in Boost mode – about 11 minutes. The suction power is sufficient for daily tasks, but for more dirty places or vacuuming in harder-to-reach places – the Boost mode is much better. It is activated by touching a fairly large button on the handle. The Karcher VC6 then starts to work louder, and additional green LED lights turn on the housing.
However, in this mode, the battery literally disappears before your eyes, and the device’s operating time drops below 10 minutes. This is one of the downsides, especially when compared to competitive models. Moreover, the battery charging time is almost 4 hours, which is quite a long time, but rather standard in the segment of cordless vacuum cleaners. The battery can be detached from the vacuum cleaner and charged separately.
Accessories and Add-ons
The VC6 is equipped with a range of practical accessories, including a large, universal floor brush with LED lighting, a long and flexible crevice nozzle, and a large upholstery nozzle. There is also an additional crevice nozzle with LED lighting. These accessories greatly facilitate cleaning hard-to-reach places, as well as car interiors. The upholstery nozzle is suitable for quick vacuuming of seats and sofas, for example in a car, but its rigidity may be a problem in moving over less even surfaces, such as bucket car seats or less angular classic furniture. I noticed this when trying to vacuum hairdressing furniture, which posed a significant challenge for the upholstery end. The flexible hose with an extendable end with bristles performed much better in this role.
For the purposes of the tests, I typically spilled some coffee, sugar, salt, and also paper. And because of the test in the hair salon, also hair. The vacuum cleaner coped, but in the case of hair, it was necessary to use the boost mode.
What I Did Not Like
Despite many advantages, the VC6 also has several downsides, which I noticed. Karcher VC6 does not maneuver as well as the Samsung BeSpoke JET, which I could turn 90 degrees in place. Here it’s not bad, but you can feel that the end starts to block with a bigger turn. I also miss the ability to adjust the length of the main vacuum cleaner tube. Taller people will have to stoop.
Also, the clips of different ends do not always catch the first time, so you have to struggle a bit. This note also applies to the lock of the main suction brush. To clean it, you need to release it to be able to remove the roller. This element is made of delicate plastic, and even delicate use of a screwdriver immediately chipped it a bit. The roller itself also needs to be properly pampered to want to fit well into its place. This made it so that in the future I probably wouldn’t want to move this element too often.
In the Bosch Unlimited 7 and Samsung BeSpoke JET AI, I complained that the vacuum cleaners cannot be placed in one place (and e.g., a cheap Hoover can). In both cases, the solution is to gently lean the equipment against a wall or furniture. However, this is not possible in the case of the Karcher VC6. The wheels at the main brush are large and very willing to move across the floor. Of course, this facilitates vacuuming, but it means that after leaning the construction against the wall, the wheels immediately drive away, tipping the entire vacuum cleaner. As a result, it is best to lay it horizontally on the ground or some furniture. Speaking of lying on the ground, when vacuuming hard-to-reach places, such as under a sofa, I noticed that you need to be careful when tilting it to the horizontal. It is not possible to lay it flat, as it starts to scratch the surface with the brush handle.
I also paid attention to the battery life. Full charging takes 4 hours, and in normal mode, we can vacuum for a maximum of 30-40 minutes. Cleaning a two-story house, I couldn’t do it on one battery. In boost mode, we can vacuum for less than 10 minutes on a full battery. This is quite a bit. Here I also move on to the next problem. If we wanted to buy an additional battery, we can do it for 1150 PLN, which is almost 75% of the value of the entire tested set. For comparison, an additional battery for the Samsung Jet costs 849 PLN, and for the Bosch Unlimited 7… 300 PLN.
