If you're in the market for a luxury vacuum, check out the Miele Capricorn Canister Vacuum S5980. As with most high-end products, the Miele Capricorn has likeable features topped by a good-looking sliver "luna" exterior.

The Capricorn isn't just a pretty face; it has powerful suction that makes short work of cleaning carpets. During our testing, we discovered the Capricorn performed like a pro on a variety of carpet types. It did particularly well on medium- and high-pile carpets, refreshing the nap and pulling ground-in debris from carpet fibers. The Miele seems to have more powerful suction than many of its competitors, but offers performance at a (high) price. If we're going to shell out more than a grand for a vacuum cleaner, we're going to expect it to be a stellar cleaner. We were pleased with the Capricorn's cleaning abilities on carpets, so we decided to give its bare floor attachment (included) a whirl.

The optional SBB300-3 Parquet Floor Brush is an easy accessory to use; it snaps to the telescoping wand and stays securely in place. The bare floor tool worked as well as we expected, but it wasn't anything special -- aside from its 90-degree swivel action. Because it swivels, the bare floor tool can get in tight spaces, such as the narrow space between the refrigerator and cabinet. The vacuum has enough suction to pull large debris -- like sand and crumbs -- into the bare floor tool. The Capricorn also comes with a crevice tool and upholstery tool, both of which store neatly out of sight in a compartment in the top of the canister.

The Miele bucks the bagless trend. Instead, it opts for a bag system with a built-in HEPA filter. The bag is one of the easiest to change that we've encountered, thanks in part to a flap that helps keep dust contained during the replacement process. There is an indicator light that lets the user know when the bag needs to be replaced. This is a convenient time-saver because it keeps us from peeking periodically at the bag to see if it is full. In most cases, we don't usually know to change the bag unless it is ready to overflow, so while the indicator light may seem like a simple addition, it is a helpful one, too.

One thing worth noting is that the Miele Capricorn operates very quietly. It has a well-built and well-insulated canister that doesn't rattle or vibrate. We like the Miele Capricorn Canister Vacuum S5980 for its performance, but we'd like to see a few additional attachments (such as a powered upholstery/stair tool) be included -- especially since this model is at the top of its price range.


Pros: Quiet, powerful suction, bare floor tool
Cons: Price