SEBO X5 Review

What the reviewers like:
SEBO vacuums are universally applauded by owners and experts for their solid construction, reliability, and power. A similar model to the SEBO X5, the SEBO X4, is said to be particularly useful for picking up pet hair.

What the reviewers don't like:
Reviewers are mixed on whether or not the SEBO X5 has an advantage for allergy sufferers, since tests aren't conclusive about how well it controls emissions. (Results from U.S. testing and European testing differ.) Most say it's fine for daily vacuuming, but it's very expensive.

SEBO X5 review highlights

Most reviewers say SEBO Automatic X-Series vacuum cleaners (including the SEBO X4 and X5) are some of the best vacuums on the market for people with allergies or asthma. However, a European test contradicts those assertions. In the U.S., however, owners swear by SEBO upright vacuums, even though the SEBO X5 costs twice or three times as much as others.

Unfortunately, the two most reliable reviewers of vacuum cleaners, Consumer Reports and Which.co.uk, don't specifically test the SEBO X5 in their latest roundups. However, they do try out the similar SEBO X4 upright vacuum. The SEBO X series is also discussed by The Green Guide and AllergyBuyersClub.com, but to date, only a handful of owners have posted their experiences with the SEBO X5 on Amazon.com or Epinions.

Also see full report: Vacuum Cleaners

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

1. Consumer Reports
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Vacuums: Top Picks for Pet Hair
Editors of Consumer Reports
Mar. 2007

Consumer Reports runs 65 vacuums, including the Sebo X4 (a similar model to the SEBO X5), over the equivalent of eleven miles of carpeting and bare floors. This is easily the most credible testing we found, though results differ from European testing of the SEBO X4.

2. Which.co.uk
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Vacuum Cleaners
Editors of Which.co.uk
Feb. 2007

This British consumer publication tests various vacuums, including the SEBO X4 (a similar model to the SEBO X5), which editors say is effective at dealing with pet hair but offers only adequate performance on carpeting and hard floors. Its emissions performance is questionable.

3. The Green Guide
Ventilating, Vacuuming, & Filtering Out Allergens
Emily Main

In this article, Emily Main discusses HEPA filters and allergen source control and recommends the SEBO X4 and X5, among other vacuum cleaners. However, it's not clear if she actually tested these vacuums.

4. Allergy Buyers Club.com
SEBO Vacuums -- X4, X5 Upright Automatic
Editors of AllergyBuyersClub.com

This is a retail site, but the editors do point out the negatives of the vacuums they sell as well as the positive aspects. The SEBO X4 and X5 are praised for their reliability, power and solid build, but they’re also described as a bit bulky and (because of their extreme suction) not a good choice for delicate rugs.

Also see full report: Vacuum Cleaners

SEBO X5 Review