Miele has quietly begun rolling out replacements, the Compact C2 line, to some of the best canister vacuums on the market, the Classic C1 line. We’ve reviewed two of these newer C2s (e.g., the Compact C2 Onyx and Quartz) and like them plenty, but the Classic C1 line still holds its own against some of the best C2s and has a number of advantages worth considering. If you’d prefer to stick with the Classic line, which has been around long enough to have proven its worth with thousands of satisfied users around the United States and Canada and thousands more reviews on Amazon, this is the guide for you.

The other day we reviewed the Classic C1 Olympus and found it largely equal or superior to the Compact C1 Pure Suction. Today we’re going to take a look at the 3 higher end Classic C1s, the C1 Titan, the C1 Delphi, and the C1 Capri to figure out which of the three is the best value. If you just can’t wait until the end and are ready to buy now, we recommend the Classic C1 Titan, and you can buy it here.

Pros, Cons, and Key Features of the Miele Classic C1 Titan Canister Vacuum, Mango Red

The Titan is the most advanced Classic C1 you can still buy. Like its siblings, it features a 1,200 watt motor controllable by six power settings. The cleaning radius is fixed at 29.5 feet thanks to the flexible hose and telescopic wand. You’ll get the standard accessories of a crevice tool, an upholstery tool, and a dusting brush. Like all Miele canister vacuums, it loves hardwood floors and will also do at least a decent job with low-pile carpeting. However, this is precisely where the C1 Titan begins to distinguish itself from its cheaper siblings.

Rather than coming with the standard combination brush head (specifically, the SBD 350-3 in the Olympus), the Titan features two dedicated brushes: the SEB 217-3 Electro Comfort Electrobrush (essentially an electric powered brush head) and the SBB Parquet-3 Parquet Floor Brush. The powered brush turns the Titan from a canister vacuum that can support low-pile carpeting to one that positively enjoys it. The electricity makes all the difference, as we didn’t find ourselves putting in undue effort to move the head through low- or even medium-pile carpeting; dirt and grime were picked up with ease.

The head also worked on smooth flooring such as tile and hardwood floors as well as on area rugs. However, when it came to cleaning delicate flooring, we turned to the dedicated floor brush. As was the case with the Compact C2 Onyx, which also featured the floor brush, we found the Parquet simply did a better job of cleaning dust and dirt on hardwood flooring instead of pushing it around and giving us extra work to do (which sometimes occurred with the combination tool in the Olympus).

Finally, we were fans of the included HEPA filter (most Mieles make you buy one and install it yourself, which is one more step between you and a clean home), the light weight at 13 pounds, and the included 7-year motor warranty and 1-year general parts warranty. At this price range, the main factor we were missing was the ability to tackle high-pile carpeting. Aside from that, however, we were quite satisfied with the Titan.

Pros, Cons, and Key Features of the Miele Classic C1 Delphi Canister Vacuum Cleaner – Corded

The Delphi is the second-highest tiered canister in the Classic C1 series. It featured most of the elements of the Titan that drew us to the Titan, including the standard 6-way adjustable 1,200 watt motor, the same cleaning radius and accessories, the hard floor and low-pile carpet capabilities, and the 29.5-foot cleaning radius. We were also thrilled to see the return of the electric power brush head, which we used to make quick work of low- and medium-pile carpeting as well as hardwood and other smooth flooring. The handle was actually an upgrade from that of the Titan, as it featured an on-off switch for the electric brush head and an ergonomic grip that made it slightly easier to use for long periods of time.

However, the biggest difference between the Delphi and the Titan wasn’t the inclusion of any additional features but their removal: both the Parquet Floor Brush head and the HEPA filter were missing. We knew where they went (to the Titan), but we were disappointed to not have access to either; the power brush head did a fine job on hardwoods but we needed to approach antique woods more gently since the power brush was ready to attack, even on lower power settings. The HEPA filter is something we could actually put in ourselves if we’d wanted, but as noted earlier, we prefer not taking things apart when we don’t have to.

Besides these factors, however, the two machines cleaned in basically the same way. It felt every bit as solid and looked every bit as attractive (more if your favorite color is blue).

Pros, Cons, and Key Features of the Miele 41BAN031USA Classic C1 Capri Canister Vacuum, Lava Grey – Corded

Finally, the Capri differed from the Titan and the Delphi in slightly different ways. It featured the Parquet floor brush of the Titan (which, as you recall, was not in the Delphi), but it lacked the electric power brush head of either and instead featured a turbo brush. In other words, it featured the same brush combination we enjoyed in the Compact C2 Onyx. In fact, the Classic C1 Capri looked and behaved like a simplified version of the Onyx.

We liked the Onyx, and we like the Capri. However, after having experienced the electric power brush head, we found it hard to go back to the turbo brush, even though it was still several levels better than the Classic C1 Olympus’ combination brush head. That said, we still found it to do a good job with low- and medium-pile carpeting, although not quite to the level of the Titan and the Delphi due to the less powerful head. We also missed the built-in HEPA filter again.

Is the Classic C1 Titan Worth it Over the Delphi and Capri?

In our books, absolutely. With only roughly $100 separating each Classic C1, we found the Titan offered more than enough value to justify its higher price, and each team member chose it without hesitation. That said, the Delphi and Capri remain capable machines in their own rights and still provided better cleaning than nearly all of the vacuum cleaners we’ve reviewed under $500. If you want to tackle smooth and carpeted flooring without fear, choose the Titan. If you want the power brush but don’t need the precision of the Parquet brush, choose the Delphi. If you want the Parquet brush but don’t need the electric brush, choose the Capri. None of the choices should disappoint you.

You can buy the Classic C1 Titan here on Amazon, the Classic C1 Delphi here, and the Classic C1 Capri here.

Canadians can buy the Titan here and the Capri here. Unfortunately, the Delphi is no longer available.

If you find our research on PMC helpful, you can follow our efforts to keep maniacally reviewing home cleaning tools by shopping through our links above. We promise to keep fighting the good fight against every horror children, animals, and grown, yet messy humans can inflict upon a clean home.