Metro 12V Portable Vacuum Cleaner - tested

Keeping your car’s interior looking at its best can be a logistical nightmare. Not all motorists have the luxury of a power socket outdoors – and so that weekly valet can often involve dragging vacuums and extension leads from house to kerbside.

But you will get no such problems with this portable cleaner from Metro, as it runs from the vehicle’s own 12V cigar lighter socket. That means you could keep it in the boot for use in emergencies.

The three-metre power lead will be long enough to reach the load area of most cars, too – only in one of our larger test vehicles did it come up a little short. What’s more, the design of the unit is pleasing and the handle is comfortable to hold, although the power switch is rather awkwardly positioned. Neither does the cleaner offer the large choice of nozzles and attachments you get with some rivals. We found the extension it does come with was all too easily knocked off.

There are better in-car vacuums on the market, then, but the Metro certainly does the job. And when you look at that incredibly low £10 price tag, it’s a worthy choice.