We Tested the Eureka Powerspeed Base Vacuum Cleaner

We purchased the Eureka Powerspeed Base so our reviewer could put it to the test in her home. Keep reading for our full product review.

When you think of a powerful vacuum, you probably also think of a sky-high price tag. But with tremendous suction power, an intuitive and lightweight design, and a budget-friendly price, the Eureka PowerSpeed Base has seemingly shattered the mold. After reading so many rave reviews of the vacuum, we were eager to try it out for ourselves. We have a combination of hardwood floors and Persian area rugs scattered throughout our home, so we're able to gauge the Eureka’s effectiveness on various surfaces. Read on to see whether this vacuum delivers a solid performance for such an incredible price. 

Design: Lightweight and versatile 

Weighing just under 10 pounds, the Eureka Powerspeed Base is impressively lightweight. In fact, it’s the lightest upright vacuum that we’ve ever used. Because it’s so light, it maneuvers smoothly around corners and furniture. You can also quickly adjust the pile height using the knob located on the floorhead. The vacuum has five height adjustment settings for various types of flooring including bare floors, high and low carpet, and two other carpet settings that fall somewhere in the middle.

The Eureka Powerspeed Base is equipped with a washable filter, so you don’t have to worry about buying replacements. It’s also outfitted with an extra-large, 2.6-liter dust cup, which means you won’t have to empty it as frequently. We really appreciated the dust cup’s convenient design; it dislodges from the vacuum with the push of a button and snaps right back into place. To empty the dust cup, all you need to do is press down on the lever and the bottom lid will swing open. 

The Eureka comes with three attachments—a crevice tool, an upholstery brush, and a dusting brush—making it versatile enough to clean most surfaces in your home. All of the attachments can be stored on the vacuum for easy access, as well. 

Performance: Powerful suction but very noisy 

The Eureka Powerspeed Base is an impressive vacuum for the price. It has incredibly powerful suction and works equally well on hardwood floors and carpets. We began by using it in the highest-traffic area of our house: the front hallway. It’s the height of the fall season here in the Northeast and we’ve been tracking in a lot of leaves from outside. Due to the constant foot traffic, some of the leaves get crushed and ground into the area rug in our entryway. The vacuum did an excellent job of removing all of the dirt and debris from the rug—and it picked up most of the mess in just one pass. 

Although it worked great on our thicker area rugs and carpets, the vacuum was too powerful for our thin, lightweight area rugs. We attempted to use it on a small runner in our guest bathroom, but it sucked the rug right up despite being on the lowest setting. For cleaning more delicate household items like drapes, window blinds, and lampshades, the dusting brush came in handy. The crevice tool, which has a narrow suction tube, worked great in tight corners and hard-to-reach areas such as baseboard edges and heating vents. We used the upholstery brush to pick up lint, hair, and other debris from our couches and chairs.

The vacuum’s powerful performance does have a few pitfalls, though—one being that it gets incredibly hot during use. So hot, in fact, that it can damage your furnishings if you’re not careful. We were using one of the handheld attachments to clean a piece of furniture and although we initially placed the vacuum on the hardwood floor, it must have shifted onto the carpet without us noticing. All of a sudden, we smelled something burning and soon realized the vacuum had sucked up some of the fringe from our oriental carpet. We turned it off immediately, but it was too late—the vacuum had left black burn marks on the white fringe. Admittedly, it was a mistake on our part, but we didn’t expect the vacuum to get hot enough to burn the carpet, especially not on its lowest setting. 

Unfortunately, the Eureka’s noise level proved even worse than its heat factor. This vacuum is incredibly loud—almost to the point of being deafening. In addition to the typical roaring sound of a vacuum, it makes a high-pitched whistling noise that is extremely annoying. It might be bearable for a short amount of time or if you only have a small area to clean. We have a pretty large house, though, so this was a dealbreaker for us. After vacuuming our downstairs for just 20 minutes, our ears were aching. If we were to clean our house with this vacuum again, we would definitely wear earplugs. 

Price: Very affordable 

With an MSRP of $90 and a going retail rate of roughly $70, the Eureka Powerspeed Base is available at an incredibly reasonable price. Although it lacks the advanced features you’ll find on higher-end vacuums, the Eureka has outstanding suction power and a decent selection of cleaning options. That said, if you’re looking for a vacuum with a few more bells and whistles, a more expensive model is worth considering—especially if noise is a concern for you. 

Competition: Plenty of options, depending on your budget 

Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum: Retailing for roughly $170, the Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum costs significantly more than the Eureka Powerspeed Base, but it has some standout features that justify the high cost. The Shark’s biggest selling point is its Lift-Away canister, which allows you to remove the canister with the push of a button and clean hard-to-reach places. It also has swivel steering for better maneuverability and a HEPA filter that traps dust and allergens. We can personally attest that the Shark Navigator Lift-Away is a lot quieter than the Eureka Powerspeed Base, another major bonus in our opinion.

Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Upright Bagless Pet Vacuum Cleaner: The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser is much pricier at $225, but its ability to tackle pet hair is unparalleled. This vacuum has some unique features that set it apart from the rest, including a tangle-free ​brush roll and a cyclonic pet hair spooling system with a hands-free empty. It also comes with specialized pet tools to clean different surfaces in your home, so pet hair is a problem in your household, the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser is worth the splurge.