Verdict

Pros

• Impressive suction
• 2 litre dust capacity
• Appealing design
• No filters to maintain/clean

Cons

• Heavy at 7.8kg
• Static cleaning arm attracts dust
• Curved dust bin creates mess

What is the Dyson Cinetic DC54?

The latest addition to Dyson’s cylinder vacuum range is the Dyson Cinetic DC54. It’s the company’s first machine to be completely filter-free. With 290AW of suction and 54 rubber-tipped ‘cyclone’ cylinders, the DC54 should offer impressive cleaning abilities without having to worry about performance-depleting filter blockages.

It is bigger than your standard Dyson cylinder vacuum and comes bundled with a range of cleaning tools capable of tackling all surface types, but then you would expect little else for £459.

Dyson Cinetic DC54 Design

Futuristic and fearsome are two words not usually associated with vacuum cleaners, but when used in relation to the Dyson Cinetic’s design, they are surprisingly fitting.

Built around the company’s now familiar ball-based steering system, the Dyson Cinetic’s 54 compact ‘cyclones’ sit atop the vacuum to give the device a strong look that harks back to muscle car engines of old. These little cyclone pods separate dust from the air taken in by the vacuum. Despite looking the part, the Cinetic’s design is not all positive – there is some added bulk compared to other Dysons.

Unlike the compact Dyson DC49, which has a footprint small enough to fit on a single sheet of A4 paper, the DC54 is a bit of a beast. The vacuum’s large, slightly awkward footprint (507H x 261L x 368W mm) means it is difficult to store in all but the most spacious of cupboards. What’s more, the hose repeatedly proved particularly unwieldy to store.

Storage is not the only design negative. It’s also heavy at 7.8kg. As such it is not an ideal choice for the elderly or those with back issues, especially if it will need to be carried up and down stairs. Despite the system’s ball-based steering set up, this added weight makes the Cinetic slightly difficult to manoeuvre on occasion too, with a considerable tug needed to get it rolling.

On the plus side, however, the DC54’s large size means that the bagless bin features a spacious 2 litre dust capacity. A big bin means fewer trips to the trash should be needed.

Elsewhere the Dyson Cinetic’s 6.5 metre power cable gives the vacuum an overall reach of 10 metres. Although this should prove sufficient for cleaning most rooms, on such a large machine we would have expected a longer cable capable of covering any large open plan homes without the need to jump between plug sockets.

Dyson Cinetic DC54 Features

Dyson’s biggest claim of the Cinetic DC54 is that it will offer 10 years of loss-less suction without needing any filter cleaning or cyclone maintenance. Obviously this is something we have not been able to verify during our three weeks with the vacuum, but the lack of filters means upkeep on the DC54 will be minimal.

No extra bits are needed either, thanks to the large array of included attachments. The standard version offers the common crevice and stair tools, while the Animal Edition of the DC54 comes with an articulating hard floor tool and tangle-free turbine tool.

Although the articulated hard floor tool is ideal for getting behind shelving units and tackling dry spills such as sugar or rice, thanks to its compact, slim line design and lack of rotating bristles, the tool becomes clogged with fluff and hair all too easily. However, the tangle-free turbine is great at picking up hair without risk of clogging, as you’d hope.