Dirt Devil KURV Review

What the reviewers like:
Experts and owners agree on the visual appeal of the Dirt Devil KURV 0216, and fans like the fact that this sculptural cordless handheld vacuum looks good enough to leave out between uses. Reviewers also say the KURV works better than Dirt Devil's similar KONE hand vac (*est. $40) in terms of both ergonomics and suction. Another plus is battery life, which users say is long enough to last through a series of small cleanup tasks.

What the reviewers don't like:
Testers say the Dirt Devil KURV isn't as powerful as top-rated hand vacs, and some owners say the suction is weak. The narrow nozzle limits how much this Dirt Devil vac can pick up in a pass.

Dirt Devil KURV review highlights

In an informal test of five competing handheld vacs, the Dirt Devil KURV finished last. Owners posting to Amazon.com and Target.com seem to either love the KURV or hate it. Overall scores are mediocre, but individual ratings tend towards both high and low extremes. The KURV offers high style at a low price, but in performance and customer satisfaction, the Shark Cordless Hand Vac SV736 (*est. $40) and Black & Decker PHV1800 18 Volt Pivot Vac (*est. $70) both score better.

The only test-based comparative review of the Dirt Devil KURV cordless handheld vacuum comes from The Wall Street Journal. Testers there rank the KURV along with four other handheld vacuums based on how well they pick up crumbled potato chips, wrapping paper bits and other debris. Amazon.com has the most owner-written reviews of the KURV hand vac, and scores there are echoed by the handful of users posting to Target.com. A review on SlipperyBrick,com compares the KURV to Dirt Devil's other sculptural hand vac, the KONE, and a short article from the Calgary Herald has a decent overview of the KURV's strengths and weaknesses.

Also see full report: Handheld Vacuums

*In order of credibility (see our Ratings Criteria).

1. The Wall Street Journal
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No Crumbs for Christmas
Charles Passy
Nov. 23, 2007

Of the five models tested for this article, the Dirt Devil KURV hand vac gets the least favorable score. Because of the KURV's narrow nozzle, the test mixture - potato chip crumbs, wrapping paper bits and other dirt – had to be vacuumed several times before the area was clean.

2. Amazon.com
Dirt Devil KURV 0216 Cordless Hand Vacuum Reviews
Contributors to Amazon.com

Amazon.com has just over a dozen short reviews of the Dirt Devil KURV. Despite some very enthusiastic posts about its effectiveness and good looks, the overall rating here is just average. The consensus is that the KURV is adequate and looks nice.

3. SlipperyBrick.com
Review: Kone and Kurv Dirt Devil hand vacs
Conner Flynn
Nov. 20, 2007

Dirt Devil's KONE and KURV are compared in this short article, which doesn't include any other handheld vacuums. According to the author, the KURV significantly outperforms the KONE in informal tests around his home.

4. Calgary Herald
Mini Tried & Tested: The Dirt Devil Kurv
Editors of Calgary Herald
Dec. 22, 2007

This short article doesn't give details about what, if any, testing was performed on the Dirt Devil KURV, but it does provide quite a useful summary of this hand vac's strengths and weaknesses. The final assessment of the KURV is that it's "a curvy success if you're using it on hard surfaces."

5. Target.com
Dirt Devil KURV Hand Vac Reviews
Contributors to Target.com

The half dozen reviews of the KURV on Target.com are divided between very positive and very negative. Overall, the score here matches Amazon.com, with shorter and fewer write-ups.

Also see full report: Handheld Vacuums

Dirt Devil KURV Review