Miele S5211 Ariel

Miele is the biggest name in canister vacuums. The Miele S5211 Ariel falls in the middle of the S5 line, which includes models priced as high as $1,100. While the S5211 Ariel does not include quite as many luxury features as the top-of-the-line model, reviewers say it performs nearly as well at cleaning bare floors, removing dirt from carpet and picking up pet hair. With its two-stage filtration (including a HEPA filter) and sealed-system construction, it excels at allergen control. It also has a large-capacity bag that's easy to remove and replace. The only drawbacks cited by reviewers are its relatively heavy 24-pound weight and high energy consumption. The Miele S5211 Ariel features a good variety of tools with on-board storage, as well as a telescoping wand and retracting cord. If you don't want to spend so much, consider the Hoover Anniversary WindTunnel S3670 (*Est. $230) , which is noisier and harder to maneuver, but performs very well on carpet.

Which? magazine, a British consumer publication similar to ConsumerReports.org (and equally thorough in its testing), includes the Miele S5211 Ariel among the products reviewed on its website. A similar Australian publication, Choice magazine, also covers the Miele S5211 Ariel in its most recent roundup of vacuum cleaners. However, we found no user reviews for this model at Amazon.com or other consumer sites.