Miele is known for its bagged vacuum cleaners. But did you know that Miele also offers a number of bagless vacuum cleaners? For example, I previously tested the CX1 Boost. A bagless vacuum cleaner from Miele that I have not yet tested was the Miele CX1 Blizzard. Time to change that!
I bought a dark gray Miele Blizzard CX1 and researched it extensively. In this complete review you will discover my experiences with this bagless vacuum cleaner.
Look & Feel: Miele Blizzard CX1
The packaging of the Miele Blizzard CX1 already reveals that it is a special model: the side of the vacuum cleaner is depicted on the box. Let's see what we discover inside the package.
Design: a beautiful vacuum cleaner
The Miele Blizzard CX1 is a typical canister vacuum cleaner: it is equipped with four castors that allow it to rotate on its axis. I ordered the vacuum cleaner in a dark gray color (graphite gray, according to Miele).
The vacuum cleaner looks quite special, the back, where the dust container is located, is transparent. The vacuum cleaner itself has a triangular shape.
Accessories: multi-surface brush and must-have accessories
The Miele Blizzard CX1 is available with various accessories. See below what you get as standard (with the entry-level model).
- Miele Blizzard CX1
- Vacuum cleaner rod
- Handle
- Combi brush
- Furniture brush
- Crevice cleaner
- Dusting brush
- Vacuum cleaner hose
- Manual
I emphasize that the vacuum cleaner is therefore available with optional extras. For example, a Miele Blizzard CX1 Cat & Dog, which comes with a motorized brush for removing pet hair.
Build Quality: Feels sturdy and robust
The Miele Blizzard feels sturdy. The plastic parts look well finished and the buttons feel robust. This is a completely different experience than during the Miele Classic C1 review, where it felt like a children's vacuum cleaner.
The Miele Blizzard CX1 looks beautiful. It feels robust and sturdy, so it should be able to take a beating. The included accessories make the vacuum cleaner suitable for daily cleaning activities.
Miele Blizzard CX1
Suction performance Miele Blizzard CX1
At various stores where the Miele Blizzard CX1 is sold, a suction power of ‘100 kilometers per hour' is stated. At Vacuumtester.com we measure the suction power in kilopascals in combination with the airflow in meters per second.
Suction Power
The Miele Blizzard CX1 delivers a suction power of 17 kPa in its most powerful mode. This is high compared to other canister vacuum cleaners. However, if we look at the Miele Boost CX1, also a bagless vacuum cleaner from Miele, then it is not much. In the Miele Boost CX1 review I measured a suction power of 21 kPa. This makes it the best powerful vacuum cleaner at the moment.
AirFlow
The Airflow of the vacuum cleaner averages 31 meters per second. This is huge compared to other canister vacuum cleaners.
The suction power of the Miele Blizzard CX1 is high, but there are bagless Miele vacuum cleaners with a higher suction power. The air speed is good and higher than most canister vacuum cleaners.
Cleaning result Miele Blizzard CX1
On to one of the most important parts of my vacuum cleaner reviews: the cleaning result. I tested the vacuum cleaner on different floor types, checked whether it is suitable for pet hair and looked at the degree of filtration.
Floor test: suitable for all floors
I tested the Miele Blizzard CX1 on three different floor types: hard floors (fragile parquet floors), low-pile and high-pile carpet. By spreading the same amount of dirt and keeping track of how long it takes me to clean a floor bin, I can compare vacuum cleaners.
I have no problem at all on a hard floor (wooden floor). The vacuum cleaner glides well over the floor and easily sucks up the dirt. The dirt is barely pushed forward: something I saw happen, for example, with the Miele Complete C2 review.
The test on the soft floors also goes well: although the dirt is pushed forward a little, this is minimal. After lifting the vacuum cleaner brush a little bit, this dirt is simply vacuumed. I am forced to open the air slot on the vacuum cleaner rod a bit to prevent the vacuum cleaner from sticking to the floor.
- Hardwood floors: 10 seconds
- Short pile carpet: 12 seconds
- High pile carpet 12 seconds
Pet hair: not suitable with current accessories
As I mentioned with the accessories, the Miele Blizzard CX1 is available with different accessories. Unfortunately, you don't receive a motorized brush with the entry-level model: this makes removing animal hair a lot more difficult. You do get a furniture brush, but that's not nearly enough for removing pet hair from carpets or textile furniture.
Filtration: good, washable filters
The Miele Blizzard CX1 is equipped with a HEPA filter. The filter is located behind the dust container. There is an AirClean exhaust filter. The filter is washable. I will come back to this later in maintenance.
The vacuum cleaner is suitable for all floor types, thanks to the included multi-surface brush. Due to the lack of a motorized brush, it is less suitable for pet hair. However, you can purchase it optionally. Under the hood you will discover a washable HEPA filter.
Ease of use Miele Blizzard CX1
How easy and fine can you vacuum with the Miele Blizzard CX1? This depends, among other things, on the noise level, the weight, the working range and how easy the vacuum cleaner is to maintain. Let's take a quick look at how this vacuum cleaner scores on each component.
Noise level: not a silent vacuum cleaner
The Miele Blizzard CX1 has a noise level of 74.6 decibels. Unfortunately, this is not a silent vacuum cleaner: something I expected with this bagless vacuum cleaner. A vacuum cleaner with a bag is often a lot quieter, because the vacuum cleaner bag also dampens the sound.
If you would like a silent vacuum cleaner, it is smart to take a look at my research into the best quiet vacuum cleaner. For your information: I only speak of a silent vacuum cleaner at a noise level below 60 decibels.
Weight: heavy vacuum cleaner
Although the vacuum cleaner is on wheels and you drag it behind you, it is still important to examine the weight. A very heavy vacuum cleaner is not desirable when vacuuming several floors, the stairs or when storing the vacuum cleaner.
Miele promises a weight of 8.4 kilograms: that turns out to be true. On my scales I measure a weight level of 8,246 kilograms.
Maintenance: easy and simple
We are dealing with a bagless vacuum cleaner here: so you don't have to buy vacuum cleaner bags. You can easily click the dust container out of the back of the vacuum cleaner, after which you can empty it above the trash can. The dust container has a capacity of 2 liters, which is fine for a bagless vacuum cleaner.
As we saw in the filtration test, the Miele Blizzard CX1 is equipped with a washable filter. You can wash it under the tap to maintain good cleaning performance.
The Miele Blizzard CX1 also has a special function: an automatic cleaning function. By pressing the ‘Clean' button, the vacuum cleaner cleans the filters in about 20 seconds. Note: this is not in proportion to cleaning the vacuum cleaner yourself.
Working range: suitable for larger spaces
The vacuum cleaner has a cord of 7 meters. This means a large working range: I measure a distance of 11 meters from plug to floor brush. This allows you to vacuum larger rooms without having to change the plug very often.
The Miele Blizzard CX1 is not a silent choice. It is also on the heavy side, but that is less important with a vacuum cleaner on wheels. The vacuum cleaner scores well in terms of maintenance: it is easy to empty and has a washable HEPA filter. The vacuum cleaner even has an automatic cleaning function.
Test report Miele Blizzard CX1
| Specification | Test Result |
|---|---|
| Suction Power | 17 kPa |
| AirFlow | 31 m/s |
| Hardwood FLoors | 10 seconds |
| Low pile carpet | 12 seconds |
| High pile carpet | 12 seconds |
| Noise level | 74.6 decibels |
| Weight | 8,4 kilograms |
| Capacity | 2 liters |
| Working range | 11 meters |
Performance test video
You can see all the performance tests in the video below. More vacuum cleaner videos? Subscribe to my YouTube channel for free.
Conclusion Miele Blizzard CX1 review
The Miele Blizzard CX1 is a beautiful vacuum cleaner: it feels sturdy and looks nice. You will receive the must-have accessories as standard. If you have a dog or cat, it is smart to look closely at a package with a motorized brush.
The vacuum cleaner has good suction and airflow. Thanks to the included multi-surface brush, the vacuum cleaner is suitable for all floor types. Vacuuming is easy. Keep in mind that it is a noisy and heavy vacuum cleaner.
The vacuum cleaner scores well in terms of maintenance: it is easy to empty, has a washable HEPA filter and even has an automatic cleaning mode.
Value for money
Now that we are done with the Miele Blizzard CX1 review, I can take a moment to reflect on the price/quality ratio. The vacuum cleaner has an average retail price of 328 euros (in Europe). This is a high price for a canister vacuum cleaner. However, the vacuum cleaner scores well on all fronts and it also looks beautiful. I must conclude that there are cheaper choices that deliver almost the same performance, but they are not as beautiful as this vacuum cleaner.
Robbert Tigchelaar
Robbert Tigchelaar is the founder of Vacuumtester.com and is a true vacuum cleaner guru. With more than 10 years of experience in the world of electronic devices, he knows better than anyone what is important in a vacuum cleaner. When a new vacuum cleaner appears, he is eager to test it extensively.
