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Kenmore Intuition Bagged Vacuum Review

Tested using Methodology v1.2
Reviewed Dec 08, 2020 at 08:05 am
Latest change: Writing modified Oct 20, 2023 at 10:40 am
Kenmore Intuition Bagged Picture
7.5
Bare Floor
7.2
Low-Pile Carpet
7.3
High-Pile Carpet
7.1
Pets
6.0
Stairs
6.4
Cars
5.2
Workshop

The Kenmore Intuition Vacuum is a corded upright vacuum. It offers versatile overall cleaning performance on a wide mix of surface types, a reasonably lightweight construction, and an easy-to-maintain design. That said, its bulky body can make it somewhat tricky to maneuver in tight spaces, and it can incur some recurring costs over time. Still, if you're looking for a relatively affordable, yet versatile, upright vacuum, this is a good option.

Our Verdict

7.5 Bare Floor

The Kenmore Intuition Vacuum is great for bare floors. It clears small and large debris like rice or cereal without much of an issue on this kind of surface, and its suction performance doesn't seem to drop noticeably as its dirt compartment fills up. However, it isn't the most maneuverable, and its dirtbag is disposable, so recurring costs can add up over time.

Pros
  • Easy-to-maintain design.
  • Easily clears bulky and small debris.
  • Consistent cleaning performance.
Cons
  • Bulky design.
  • Moderately high recurring costs.
7.2 Low-Pile Carpet

The Kenmore Intuition Vacuum is decent for low-pile carpet. While it struggles slightly when it comes to fine, baking-soda-like material, it sucks up pet hair and larger material like sand quite easily. It also has a simple design that's easy to maintain and reconfigure but does incur some recurring costs in the form of its disposable dirtbag.

Pros
  • Easy-to-maintain design.
  • Outstanding pet hair cleaning performance.
  • Consistent cleaning performance.
Cons
  • Bulky design.
  • Moderately high recurring costs.
  • Struggles slightly with fine debris.
7.3 High-Pile Carpet

The Kenmore Intuition Vacuum is a good choice for high-pile carpet. It does a good overall job of cleaning up pet hair as well as fine and larger debris, such as baking soda or sand. It's quite easy to maintain, too, and the parts that do need to be serviced regularly are quite easy to access. Unfortunately, its bulky design can be a little tricky to maneuver.

Pros
  • Easy-to-maintain design.
  • Outstanding pet hair cleaning performance.
  • Consistent cleaning performance.
Cons
  • Bulky design.
  • Moderately high recurring costs.
7.1 Pets

The Kenmore Intuition Vacuum is a very good choice for pet owners. It does an outstanding job of cleaning pet hair on both low and high-pile carpet, though it struggles a little bit with this kind of debris on bare floors. It's quite easy to maintain, and it comes with a turbo brush to help clean fur from upholstered surfaces. It's also equipped with a HEPA post-motor filter and a HEPA dirtbag, so you shouldn't have to worry too much about the spread of allergens as you clean.

Pros
  • Easy-to-maintain design.
  • Equipped with a HEPA filter and HEPA dirtbag.
  • Outstanding pet hair cleaning performance.
Cons
  • Bulky design.
  • Moderately high recurring costs.
6.0 Stairs

The Kenmore Intuition Vacuum is inadequate for cleaning stairs. While it can be reconfigured into a semi-handheld vacuum, it's still quite heavy, and its short vacuum hose can make cleaning hard-to-reach areas a little tricky. Still, it offers very good overall cleaning performance on a broad range of surface types, and its integrated carrying handle makes it a little easier to move around.

Pros
  • Easy-to-maintain design.
  • Can be easily reconfigured into a semi-handheld vacuum.
Cons
  • Bulky design.
  • Short vacuum hose.
  • Moderately high recurring costs.
6.4 Cars

The Kenmore Intuition Vacuum is an upright vacuum that isn't meant to clean car interiors.

5.2 Workshop

The Kenmore Intuition Vacuum isn't designed for workshop cleaning. It can't deal with liquid spills and will likely be damaged if you use it to suck up things like metal shavings.

Pros
  • Easy-to-maintain design.
Cons
  • Bulky design.
  • Moderately high recurring costs.
  • 7.5 Bare Floor
  • 7.2 Low-Pile Carpet
  • 7.3 High-Pile Carpet
  • 7.1 Pets
  • 6.0 Stairs
  • 6.4 Cars
  • 5.2 Workshop
  1. Updated Oct 20, 2023: We've added text to this review for the new tests added in Test Bench 1.0 and Test Bench 1.2.
  2. Updated Oct 20, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.2. This update builds on our previous 'Suction' test with a new 'Airflow' test that more accurately measures a vacuum's ability to generate air movement. If you'd like to see an in-depth look at the reasoning and methodology behind this change, you can see our full changelog here..
  3. Updated Aug 26, 2022: This vacuum's suction force has been retested with a more accurate manometer. The test results for the 'Maximum Suction' and 'Normal Suction' fields have been updated. All relevant scores and text have been updated.
  4. Updated Aug 05, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
  5. Updated May 03, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
  6. Updated Dec 08, 2020: Review published.
  7. Updated Dec 01, 2020: Early access published.
  8. Updated Nov 24, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
  9. Updated Nov 20, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  10. Updated Nov 09, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The Kenmore Intuition Vacuum, model number BU4022, only comes in one color variant: 'Green'. You can see its label here.

If you come across a differently-equipped variant, please let us know in the discussions so we can update our review.

Compared To Other Vacuums

The Kenmore Intuition Vacuum is a fairly basic upright vacuum. It does a very good overall job of cleaning debris on everything from bare floors to low and high-pile carpet. It's also quite easy to maintain, with a relatively simple design that puts its components within easy reach. Unfortunately, it has a few recurring costs, and its bulky design can be hard to maneuver.

If you're looking for alternatives, take a look at our list of recommendations for the best upright vacuums, the best multi-surface vacuums, and the best vacuums for carpets.

BISSELL CleanView/CleanView Swivel Pet Rewind

The BISSELL CleanView and Kenmore Intuition Bagged have different advantages, and you may prefer one over the other depending on your needs. The BISSELL is a bagless vacuum with slightly lower recurring costs and marginally lighter construction. It also struggles less with cleaning pet hair.  However, the bagged Kenmore performs better overall on bare floors and high-pile carpet, has an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, and is easier to maintain.

BISSELL PowerForce Helix

The BISSELL PowerForce Helix and Kenmore Intuition Bagged have different advantages, and one may suit you better depending on your needs. The bagless BISSELL has lower recurring costs, a lighter design, and performs better on low and high-pile carpet. Meanwhile, the Kenmore is better-built, easier to maintain, and performs better on bare floors. It's also a little more maneuverable thanks to its 'Lift-Up' design and pivoting floorhead.

Hoover WindTunnel Tempo Bagged

The Kenmore Intuition Bagged is slightly more versatile than the Hoover WindTunnel Tempo Bagged. The Kenmore is slightly lighter, has lower recurring costs, and cleans most kinds of debris more effectively on all surface types. It also comes with an allergen-trapping post-motor HEPA filter and dirtbag. That said, the Hoover does a better job of cleaning pet hair on bare floors.

Miele Dynamic U1 PowerLine

The Miele Dynamic U1 PowerLine is better overall than the Kenmore Intuition Bagged. The Miele is much better built, far easier to maintain, and has a much longer overall range. It also performs better on carpeted floors and is more maneuverable, though it's substantially heavier than the Kenmore. The Kenmore is also slightly easier to store, incurs fewer recurring costs, and comes with an allergen-trapping HEPA filter.

Sanitaire PROFESSIONAL Upright

The Kenmore Intuition Bagged is much better overall than the Sanitaire PROFESSIONAL Upright. The Kenmore is better-built, has a slightly larger dirtbag, and is more maneuverable. It also does a better job of cleaning all surface types. The Sanitaire, meanwhile, is slightly lighter and has a marginally longer range.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
6.5
Design
Build Quality
Vacuum Type
Upright

The Kenmore Intuition Vacuum's build quality is passable. It's mostly made of plastic, except for its metal wand, rubber wheels, and handle. It feels quite sturdily made overall, but some smaller internal mechanisms, like those inside the bag container door, feel as though they could break over time. Thankfully, it's easy to assemble, as its components clip together intuitively.

6.5
Design
User Maintenance

The Kenmore Intuition Vacuum is quite easy to maintain.

  • Dirtbag: To access the dirtbag, you need to press the release latch for the bag compartment door and then push the bag release button inside. The dirtbag should be replaced once it gets full.
  • Pre-motor foam filter: The pre-motor filter is located in the bag compartment. It can be removed after unclipping the filter cover. It can be rinsed under cold water if you notice some debris build-up, but you can also wash it in soapy warm water if need be.
  • Post-motor HEPA filter: The HEPA filter is located near the front of the vacuum, behind the chrome filter cover. It should be cleaned under cold water once a year.
  • Brushroll: The brushroll cover can't be removed. Instead, you need to flip the vacuum head over and remove any trapped debris periodically, either by hand or with scissors. The brushroll itself is somewhat tricky to remove, as you have to undo 13 screws.

You must leave any part washed under water to dry for at least 24 hours before using it again.

6.5
Design
Recurring Cost
Bag Part Number IB600
Filter Part Number
HEPA Filter Part Number 561055118

The Kenmore Intuition Vacuum has some recurring costs.

  • Dirtbag: The dirtbag needs to be replaced once it gets full. It can be purchased from Kenmore's website in packs of six.
  • Filters: The pre-motor and HEPA filters are washable and reusable, so no replacement interval is specified. That said, you can replace them if you notice a drop in performance despite regular maintenance. Both filters can be purchased as a single kit from the manufacturer's website.

7.2
Design
Storing
Height
46.06" (117.0 cm)
Width
11.02" (28.0 cm)
Depth
10.63" (27.0 cm)
Cord Storing
Manual
On-Board Tool Storage
Yes
Vacuum Rack/Station
No

The Kenmore Intuition Vacuum has decent storage capabilities. Its power cord can be wound around the right side of its body, and there's on-board storage for two of its three included accessories.

8.4
Design
Dirt Compartment
Bagless
No
Volume
0.92 gal (3.50 L)
Full Indicator
Yes
Bag Included
6

The Kenmore Intuition Vacuum has a great dirt compartment. It's quite spacious, so it shouldn't need to be replaced too often. Four indicator lights gradually turn green as its dirtbag fills up, and all four turn red once it has reached maximum capacity.

Design
In The Box

  • Vacuum body
  • Vacuum head/nozzle
  • Hose with handle
  • Wand
  • Bag compartment door
  • Pre-motor foam filter
  • Pre-motor foam filter cover
  • Post-motor HEPA filter
  • Post-motor HEPA filter cover plate
  • 6x Dirtbag
  • Pet HandiMate attachment
  • Dusting brush
  • 3-in-1 combination tool
  • User guide

7.6
Design
Range
Cordless
No
Cord Length
30.02 ft (9.2 m)
Hose Length
2.79 ft (0.85 m)
Minimum Wand Length
1.28 ft (0.39 m)
Maximum Wand Length
3.67 ft (1.12 m)
Total Range
33.46 ft (10.20 m)

This vacuum has a sub-par range. Its power cord is reasonably long, allowing you to clean large spaces without swapping outlets, but its very short vacuum hose can make cleaning hard-to-reach spots quite difficult.

6.8
Design
Portability
Total Weight
14.95 lbs (6.78 kg)
Weight In Hand
3.70 lbs (1.68 kg)
Carrying handle
Yes

The Kenmore Intuition Vacuum is adequately portable. It's a little on the heavy side overall, but it feels fairly lightweight in your hand. Its integrated carrying handle makes it easier to carry from room to room or up and down stairs.

0
Design
Battery
Minimum Battery Life
N/A
Maximum Battery Life
N/A
Recharge Time
N/A
Recharge Dock
No
Battery Life Indicator
No
Removable Batteries
No

The Kenmore Intuition doesn't have a battery.

Design
Quality Of Life Features
Rotating Head
Yes
Power Adjustment
Yes
Self-Propelled
No
Headlights
Yes
Easy On/Off
Yes
Head Surface Type Adjustment
Manual

The Kenmore Intuition Vacuum has a couple of quality of life features. There's a readily-accessible power button as well as a brushroll on/off switch to prevent you from scratching up bare floors on top of the vacuum's main body. A suction control vent is farther up, near the handle, allowing you to decrease its suction if you find it too difficult to push around on carpets. Its head also swivels to improve its maneuverability in tight spaces and is equipped with a headlight to illuminate dark areas.

Design
Tools And Brushes
Brushroll
Yes
Brushroll On/Off
Yes
Removable Brushroll
No
Turbo Brush
Yes
Crevice Tool
Yes
Upholstery Tool
Yes
Soft Bristle Brush
Yes
Hard Bristle Brush
Yes
Extension Wand
Yes
Ceiling Fan Tool
No
Pet Grooming Tool
No

The Kenmore Intuition Vacuum has a couple of tools and brushes. There's its Pet HandiMate turbo brush to remove stuck-on pet hair from fabric surfaces, a hard bristle brush to dislodge stubborn debris, and an extension wand to help you get to hard-to-reach areas. Its 3-in-1 combination tool serves as an all-in-one upholstery cleaner, crevice tool, and dusting brush for gentle surfaces.

Design
Alternative Configuration
Blower Mode
No

The Kenmore Intuition can be used in a semi-handheld configuration thanks to its 'Lift-Up' feature, which allows you to unlatch its body from its upright portion.

Performance
9.4
Performance
Bare Floor Performance (Hardwood, Laminate, Tiles)
Setting Used Brushroll "Off", Suction Control (vent closed)
Large Debris at 0 gal (0L) 97%
Large Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) 97%
Large Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) 96%
Large Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) 95%
Large Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) 94%
Large Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A
Small Debris at 0 gal (0L) 100%
Small Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) 100%
Small Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) 100%
Small Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) 99%
Small Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) 98%
Small Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A

The Kenmore Intuition Vacuum delivers superb performance on bare floors. It easily clears debris like cereal and rice on this kind of surface, with very little drop in performance as its dirt compartment fills up. That said, it may take an extra pass to fully clear pet hair.

7.8
Performance
Low-Pile Carpet Performance
Setting Used Brushroll "On", Suction Control (vent closed)
Large Debris at 0 gal (0L) 88%
Large Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) 88%
Large Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) 87%
Large Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) 87%
Large Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) 86%
Large Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A
Small Debris at 0 gal (0L) 63%
Small Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) 63%
Small Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) 63%
Small Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) 62%
Small Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) 61%
Small Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A

The Kenmore Intuition's performance on low-pile carpet is impressive. It sucks up pet hair without an issue and does an excellent job of clearing larger debris, like sand. That said, it may struggle a little bit with fine material, such as baking soda. Thankfully, its performance remains consistent as its dirtbag fills up.

8.0
Performance
High-Pile Carpet Performance
Setting Used Brushroll "On", Suction Control (vent closed)
Large Debris at 0 gal (0L) 73%
Large Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) 72%
Large Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) 70%
Large Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) 68%
Large Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) 63%
Large Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A
Small Debris at 0 gal (0L) 65%
Small Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) 65%
Small Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) 64%
Small Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) 63%
Small Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) 60%
Small Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A

The Kenmore Intuition Vacuum has great performance on high-pile carpet. It sucks up pet hair without an issue and does a very good job of clearing both fine material, like baking soda, as well as larger debris like sand.

7.8
Performance
Pet Hair Floor Performance
Bare Floor
75%
Low-Pile Carpet
99%
High-Pile Carpet
93%

This vacuum does a good job of dealing with pet hair. It can miss some strands on bare floors but clears away most of it on low and high-pile carpeting.

4.7
Performance
Suction
Maximum Hose Suction
77.8 inHâ‚‚O (19.39 kPa)
Maximum Head Suction
1.4 inHâ‚‚O (0.35 kPa)
Normal Head Suction
1.3 inHâ‚‚O (0.33 kPa)
Setting Used For Normal Brushroll "On", Suction Control (vent closed)
Hose Diameter
1.8" (4.5 cm)

This vacuum's suction performance at its floorhead is poor. Its cleaning head sits somewhat high above the ground and doesn't form all that tight a seal, so it can have a harder time dealing with debris wedged in deeper crevices. That said, suction through its hose is quite strong, so you should have no trouble dealing with stubborn debris when cleaning in its semi-handheld configuration.

8.6
Performance
Airflow
Maximum Hose Airflow
88.5 CFM (2.5 m³/min)

This vacuum has excellent airflow. It won't have much trouble lifting away heavier debris and sucking it into its dirtbag. On that note, its strong airflow indicates that its dirtbag doesn't impose too much penalty on performance in this regard.

7.7
Performance
Noise
Bare Floor
78.4 dBA
Low-Pile Carpet
78.5 dBA

This vacuum is a little noisy, though the sound it emits isn't all that high-pitched, and it won't be overly disruptive if you're cleaning a room with the door completely or even partially closed.

6.0
Performance
Maneuverability

This vacuum has mediocre maneuverability. It rolls well on uneven surfaces, and its rotating head makes it a little easier to maneuver in tight spaces. While you can turn its brushroll on and off, there's no surface height adjustment, so it can occasionally have trouble climbing over electrical cords and rugs. Its bulky body can make it difficult to clean under low-lying furniture like couches and tables. Thankfully, it's 'Lift-Up' feature and on-board tool storage allows you to clean on top of furniture effectively, in spite of its very short vacuum hose.

8.5
Performance
Pet Hair Furniture Performance
Sofa Pickup Post Test

This vacuum does an excellent job of picking up pet hair on fabric furniture when used with its Pet HandiMate tool. It clears all but the smallest of strands within a pass or two. That said, its handle and hose are a little bulky.

Performance
Air Quality
Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)
Yes

This vacuum does a great job of sealing in fine allergens, thanks to its HEPA-rated dirtbags and HEPA post-motor filter, making it a great option if you suffer from allergies.

7.5
Performance
Cracks
Wood Cracks Post Test

The Kenmore Intuition Bagged does a good job of cleaning crevices. It can clear away debris in shallow and medium-depth crevices, like grout lines on a tile floor, without much of a hassle, but if you want to clean deeper cracks more thoroughly, it's best to use the vacuum hose instead.

1.0
Performance
Stains
Stain Pickup Post Test

This vacuum has no impact on stains.

0
Performance
Water
Wet Compatible
No
Water Pickup Post Test

This vacuum isn't designed to deal with liquid spills.

Automation
0
Automation
Physical Automation
Automatic Recharging
No
Automatic Bag Emptying
No
Pathing Algorithm
No Pathing Algorithm
Physical Boundary Markers
No
Scheduled Start Buttons
No
Cycle Control Buttons
No
Navigation Control Buttons
No

This vacuum doesn't have any automation features.

0
Automation
Companion App Automation
App Name
No App
iOS Availability
No
Android Availability
No
Software Boundary Markers (No Go Zones)
No
App Scheduled Start
No
App Cycle Control
No
Navigation Control within App
No