The Kenmore Progressive 36932 is a bagless upright vacuum cleaner with powerful suction and plenty of extra features. It has a built-in true HEPA filter, which is quickly becoming a benchmark of bagless vacuums. A true HEPA filter is designed to trap dust, pollen and other allergens, allowing the vacuum to release clean, filtered air.

The Kenmore Progressive has a 15-inch cleaning path and four manual height adjustments to accommodate various carpet types. We were curious about the Inteli-Clean system, which purportedly "sensed" whether carpets were particularly soiled and then increased the motor's power. We ran the vacuum over a range of carpets -- from relatively clean to quite dirty -- and did find that the vacuum's power increased when encountering the dirtiest areas. Still, we think the Progressive's powerful suction and rotating brush heads are probably just as important to the vacuum's cleaning success. We do, however, appreciate the Progressive's brush on/off option for cleaning delicate carpets or bare floors.

Unlike some models that have accessories as much for appearance as for function, the Kenmore Progressive's onboard tools really work well. These accessories help create a comprehensive system to clean bare floors, upholstery, drapes, stairs and more. The attachment hose could be longer. If we're using the attachment and stretching the hose, it never seems to reach as far as we'd like. Sometimes the Progressive begins to tip when we attempt to stretch the hose.

A hefty 22.4 pounds, the Kenmore Progressive weighs more than we'd like. This makes it more difficult to lift the vacuum when moving it from floor to floor, or when moving it from step to step on stairways. If you're in the mood to build some muscle, you may like the fact that the Kenmore Progressive isn't self-propelled; otherwise, it's an unfortunate lack. Although the rotating brushes do help ease the vacuum in a forward direction, it is difficult to push.

While we don't find much fault with the Kenmore Progressive, it does have one distinct drawback: a steep price tag. At about $350, its price outpaces many lower priced bag-system vacuums with similar performance. However, if one is in the market for a bagless vacuum, this model's price may seem on-target. In the end, we give the Kenmore Progressive some of our highest marks for performance and user-friendly features.


Pros: Powerful suction, adjustable height settings, true HEPA filter
Cons: Short attachment hose, costs more than most bag-system models

Warranty
1 year, parts and labor