Our Verdict: The AEG AG71a has a cord, so it lacks the convenience of cordless handheld vacuums. It’s also heavy and loud. However, the 700W motor provides decent suction power, and the cord means you don’t need to worry about it running out of battery. It’s not our favourite handheld, but an option to consider if you don’t want to be limited by a battery.
AEG AG71a
Pros:
- Decent suction power for a handheld vacuum
- Motorised brush bar helps pick up more pet hair and stubborn dirt
- No limit to battery run-time as this is a corded handheld
- Small stretch hose for cleaning awkward locations
Cons:
- Heavy for a handheld
- Louder than most handheld vacuums
- Corded design is less convenient than a cordless handheld
- Shape makes it difficult to get into tight spaces (unless you’re using the hose)
The AEG AG71a RapidClean Stair and Car handheld vacuum is a corded model designed for cleaning cars, stairs, and other awkward locations. It comes with an agitating brush, stretch hose, and crevice tool, while the powerful 700W motor means it provides more suction than many handhelds.
We found the AEG to be a solid performer when it comes to cleaning around the home. It’s also useful for cleaning car interiors, although the six-metre power cord means you’ll probably need to use an extension lead. The main downsides are that it’s heavy, loud, and corded, making it less convenient than most handheld vacs.
Let’s take a closer look at how the AEG AG71a really performs. Is the suction power enough to counteract the decreased mobility due to the cord? And does the agitating brush really make it easier to clean food and mud from carpets? Let’s find out!
Update: The AEG AG71a has been discontinued. We think this is a shame, as there aren’t many corded handheld vacuums for people who don’t want to be limited by a short battery life. If you want a similar option, take a look at our review of the Black+Decker DustBuster PD1420LP. It’s a cordless model, but it shares similarities with the AEG, including having a built-in stretch hose.
Overview of AEG AG71a RapidClean Features
- Corded handheld vacuum with a 700W motor
- Unique brush system, called a “Stubborn Brush,” that cleans deeper into carpets to remove more dirt
- Stretch hose for reaching difficult areas
- Bagless handheld vacuum with an easy-to-empty design
- 6-metre power cord
- 2-layer washable filtration system
In-Depth Look at the AEG AG71a RapidClean Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
Appearance, Features and Design
As soon as you get it out of the box, we felt that the AEG AG71a RapidClean looks and feels like a high-quality vacuum cleaner. It certainly doesn’t have the flimsy appearance of many cheaper models.
Like most handheld vacs, the AEG is a bagless model. This makes it easy to empty and maintain, but the lack of a bag to capture allergens means we don’t recommend this vacuum for allergy sufferers. It also has washable filters, which we recommend cleaning at least once per month to ensure the vacuum doesn’t lose suction.
We really like that the AEG comes with a stretch hose. This makes it easy to get into nooks and crannies that otherwise would be inaccessible. It also makes the vacuum more versatile, as some handhelds that we’ve tested struggle to clean into corners or under car seats.
The dust capacity of the AEG AG71a is 0.6 litres. This is a reasonable size for a handheld vacuum, although the model will need to be emptied on a regular basis – especially considering the strong suction power.
A downside of this model is that it’s relatively heavy for a small handheld vacuum cleaner. The 2.6kg weight is around double most of the other handheld vacuums we’ve tested, which makes it noticeably heavier during cleaning.
Suction Power and Cleaning Performance
We found that the AEG provides decent cleaning performance for most jobs around the home, without being spectacular.
There’s no doubt that the AEG AG71a provides strong suction power for a handheld. This is due to the 700W motor and corded design, as the vacuum doesn’t need to balance raw power against maximising battery life.
There’s another benefit to using a mains power supply: more consistent suction. Many battery-powered handheld vacuums lose suction towards the end of their run-time, but we didn’t find this to be an issue with the AEG.
It also comes with a stubborn brush, which helps to agitate fibres to remove more dirt and pet hair. We did find that the brush sometimes gets stuck though, which can be frustrating. We were pleased to see that the vacuum can also be switched to hard floor mode if you don’t need the brush though.
However, we felt the cord makes it less convenient for cleaning around the house. The 6-metre cord is long enough for most tasks, but needing to find (or swap) plug sockets makes it more of a hassle to use. We did find that it performs well on both carpets and hard floors though, including removing most pet hair.
The AEG is marketed as a car vacuum. We think it’s a good choice for spot cleaning in your car, as the stubborn brush can get hair out of seats, while the hose is useful for more awkward locations. Don’t expect it to deep clean car mats or dirt that’s ground into car seats though. You should also keep in mind that there’s no option of powering it from your car, so you’ll almost certainly need an extension lead.
It’s also great for cleaning stairs. The 6-metre power cord may not be enough to clean a flight of stairs without changing socket though, which makes it less convenient for this job.
Ease of Use
We found the AEG AG71a to be generally easy to use, although (as we’ve mentioned throughout this review) it’s much less convenient than cordless handhelds.
The machine’s main brush tool is useful for cleaning car seats or the main portion of a step. There’s then the hose, which is great for cleaning the corners of stairs or awkward locations inside a car. A good example is the hand brake of a car, which is difficult to clean without a hose.
One thing to keep in mind is that this is a relatively loud handheld vacuum cleaner. It’s definitely not the right option if you’re looking for a quiet cleaner! We also think that the 6-metre power cord is a bit too short, as it means you need to change plug socket regularly.
A washable filter is included with the “Stubborn Brush” technology. This filter consists of two layers for better filtration of small dust particles. We also found it to be easy to remove, so cleaning isn’t as much of a chore as some other handheld vacuums. However, there’s no HEPA filter, so we don’t recommend this vacuum for people with allergies.
Price and Value for Money
We think that the AEG AG71a RapidClean handheld vacuum cleaner provides good value for money – as long as you’re happy with a corded model. It provides strong cleaning performance on most surfaces and is a useful tool to have in the home, even if it’s not the easiest handheld to use.
While it’s more expensive than budget handheld vacuums, it’s also considerably cheaper than the most expensive handhelds (such as the Dyson V7 Trigger or Gtech Multi Mk2). There are also nearly always deals available, so you can often find the vacuum for much cheaper than the full RRP.
AEG AG71a Specification
| Ninja Column 1 | Ninja Column 2 |
|---|---|
| Type | Corded Handheld |
| Bag | Bagless |
| Filter | Washable |
| Price Range | £ |
| Weight (kg) | 2.6 |
| Capacity (Litres) | 0.6 |
| Motorised Tool | Yes |
| Hose | Yes |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the AEG AG71a Still Available?
No, the AEG AG71a has been discontinued – at least for now. There’s a chance AEG may bring it back in the future, although this seems unlikely. Take a look at our list of the best handhelds for some alternative options.
Can The AEG AG71a Clean Pet Hair?
Yes, the AG71a is a strong performer when cleaning pet hair – especially compared to many other handheld vacuums. Don’t expect it to match the performance of a full-size vacuum though.
AEG AG71a Vs Black+Decker PD1420LP
At first glance, these two vacuums appear to be similar models. Both come with a stretch hose, which is unusual for a handheld vacuum cleaner. They are also both designed for cleaning awkward locations, such as cars and stairs.
There are some big differences between these vacuums though. The AEG is a corded model with a motorised brush bar, so it provides better cleaning performance for almost any job. For comparison, we were disappointed with the PD1420LP’s carpet performance during our testing, although it’s still a great choice for hard floors. The Black+Decker is also more mobile due to the cordless design and lighter weight.
| Ninja Column 1 | Vacuum 1 | Vacuum 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Black+Decker PD1420LP | AEG AG71a | |
| Bag | Bagless | Bagless |
| Filter | Washable | Washable |
| Price Range | £ | £ |
| Maximum Run-Time | 12.5 | Unlimited |
| Weight (kg) | 1.42 | 2.6 |
| Capacity (Litres) | 0.56 | 0.6 |
| Motorised Tool | No | Yes |
| Hose | Yes | Yes |
| Around The Home Cleaning Score | 3.5/5 | 3/5 |
| Car Interiors Cleaning Score | 3/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Pet Hair Cleaning Score | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Stairs Cleaning Score | 3/5 | 3/5 |
Verdict
If you’re looking for a corded handheld that doesn’t cost a lot of money, we think the AEG AG71a RapidClean Stair and Car handheld vacuum cleaner is a solid option.
It doesn’t have the versatility of a cordless model and it’s quite a loud machine. But when it comes to getting dirt out of carpets and cars, it provides great value for money. The stretch hose, crevice tool and easy-to-empty bagless design are also useful features.