Miele offers three different bagged vacuum cleaners: the Miele Complete C3, C2 and C1. Each vacuum cleaner series is slightly different. If you're in doubt between the Miele Complete C3 and the Complete C2, you've come to the right place: I've tested both vacuum cleaners extensively and have listed the differences and similarities for you. Find out which one suits you best: the Miele C3 or the Miele C2.
Accessories: Miele C3 vs C2
Both the Miele Complete C3 and Complete C2 are available with different accessories. Both vacuum cleaners come standard with a multi-surface brush, a crevice vacuum cleaner, a dusting brush and a furniture vacuum cleaner. View the total contents of the packaging of both vacuum cleaners below.
- Miele Complete C3
- Vacuum cleaner rod
- Vacuum cleaner hose
- Handle
- Combi brush
- Crevice cleaner
- Dusting brush
- Furniture brush
- Manual
- Vacuum cleaner bag
- Miele Complete C2
- Vacuum cleaner bag
- Vacuum cleaner rod
- Parquet brush
- Combi brush
- Crevice cleaner
- Dusting brush
- Furniture brush
- Vacuum cleaner hose
- Handle
- Manual
Suction performance: Miele Complete C3 vs C2
I tested both the Miele Complete C3 and the Complete C2 on three different floor types: hard floors (wooden floors), low-pile carpet and high-pile carpet.
Both supplied with a multi-surface brush
The Miele Complete C3 and C2 both come with a multi-surface brush. This makes the vacuum cleaner suitable for hard and soft floor types. I have tested both vacuum cleaners on all floor types with the same amount of dirt. See below how quickly I cleaned the floor bins with the vacuum cleaners.
| Hardwooden floors | Low pile carpet | High pile carpet | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miele C3 | 16 seconds | 16 seconds | 20 seconds |
| Miele C2 | 16 seconds | 16 seconds | 15 seconds |
If you have a lot of wooden floors, it is smart to pay attention to the presence of a parquet brush. This prevents scratches on vulnerable (wooden) floors.
Suction and Airflow
In addition to the suction performance on different floor types, I also test the suction power in kilopascals and the AirFlow in meters per second in all my vacuum cleaner reviews. The test results enable me to compare vacuum cleaners with each other.
The suction power of the Miele C3 is slightly higher at 16 kPa than that of the Miele Complete C2 (15 kPa). There is also a slight difference in the airflow. The Miele Complete C3 has an AirFlow of 28.9 m/s and the Complete C2 an airflow of 22.4 m/s.
Usability: Miele C3 vs C2
With which vacuum cleaner can you vacuum better? That depends on many factors, such as noise level, weight and working range. Let's compare the following factors:
- Noise level
- Weight
- Action radius (cord length)
Noise level: both noisy
If you are looking for a silent vacuum cleaner, I have bad news for you. Both the Miele Complete C3 and Complete C2 are both very noisy. The Miele C3 has a noise level of 77.5 decibels; the Miele Complete C2 is even noisier at 79.1 decibels.
Is a low noise level an important need for you? Then take a look at my research into the best quiet vacuum cleaner.
Weight: both heavy, but less important
We are dealing here with vacuum cleaners on wheels, also known as canister vacuum cleaners. Because you drag these vacuum cleaners behind you, the weight level is less important than, for example, a stick vacuum cleaner, which you constantly have to hold in your hand.
Still, I always weigh the weight of all vacuum cleaners. You may want to use the vacuum cleaner for different floors. And if you want to vacuum a huge space, you don't need a very heavy vacuum cleaner that you have to lift back and forth.
Both the Miele C3 and the Miele C2 are not lightweight vacuum cleaners. The Miele C3 is slightly lighter: it weighs 6.8 kilograms. The Miele C2 weighs 7.2 kilograms.
Huge difference in cord length
The Miele Complete C3 and the C2 are both corded vacuum cleaners. In terms of working range, it is therefore very important to see how long the cord is. If you buy a vacuum cleaner with a cord that is too short, you will quickly have to change the plug to be able to vacuum a room.
The cord of the Miele Complete C3 is 8.5 meters long, which means a working range of 12 meters. That is a lot bigger than the Miele Complete C2, which has a working range of only 10 meters thanks to a cord length of 6.5 meters.
Maintenance: Miele Complete C3 vs Complete C2
In terms of maintenance, the vacuum cleaners are very similar. They are both vacuum cleaners with a vacuum cleaner bag. The vacuum cleaner bag is both a Miele S-Bag: it closes automatically when you open the vacuum cleaner. This means that the chance that you will come into contact with dust and dirt is very small.
There is also no difference in the field of filters: both the Miele C3 and the Miele C2 are equipped with an exhaust filter and a motor filter. The filters are not washable and must be replaced regularly for a new one.
Specifications: Miele C3 vs C2
View all specifications of the Miele C3 and C2 side by side in the overview below.
| Miele C3 | Miele C2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Suction power | 16 kPa | 15 kPa |
| AirFlow | 28.9 m/s | 22.4 m/s |
| Noise level | 77.5 decibels | 79.1 decibels |
| Weight | 6.8 kilograms | 7.3 kilograms |
| Cord length | 8.5 meters | 6.5 meters |
| Capacity | 4.5 liters | 4.5 liters |
| Price | From $1200 | From $ 899 |
Watch the performance tests of both Miele vacuum cleaners side by side in the video below.
Conclusion: which is better, the Miele C3 or the Miele C2?
The Miele Complete C3 and the Miele Complete C2 are very similar vacuum cleaners. Both vacuum cleaners come with a multi-surface brush, making them both well suited for both hard and soft floor types. They both have tremendous suction and airflow, which improves suction performance.
Both make a lot of noise: a noise level above 75 decibels is really noisy. In addition, neither are lightweight vacuum cleaners, although this is less important as these are wheeled vacuum cleaners that you drag behind you.
Where a huge difference is noticeable is the cord length. The Miele Complete C2 has a much shorter cable: with a cable of only 6.5 meters, there is a working range of 10 meters. This may be too small for larger spaces. The Miele Complete C3 has a working range of 12 meters.
Choose the Miele Complete C3 if:
- Want to vacuum larger spaces
Choose the Miele Complete C2 if:
- Small space wants to vacuum
- Budget is an important factor
I emphasize that the vacuum cleaners are very similar. It remains important to check carefully which accessories you get. Think carefully in advance about what you want to use the vacuum cleaner for and look for the right accessory package.
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.
