The Kenmore Intuition vacuum is a corded upright model, offered in a bagged design with a HEPA filter. Depending on the variant, it comes with a variety of attachments, including a turbo brush, a hard-bristle brush, an extension wand, and a 3-in-1 combination tool. It also features a headlight and a brushroll activation switch, but lacks floorhead height adjustment. You can detach the canister portion from the body using the 'Lift-Up' feature to clean areas that its floorhead can't reach.
There are several variants with different colors and accessories. See the Differences Between Variants section for more details.
Our Verdict
The Kenmore Intuition is an excellent choice for a house. This corded upright model performs well regardless of whether your home has bare floor, carpet, or a furry friend who sheds year-round. Dander and dust are no problem either, as its HEPA filter system does an outstanding job keeping dust out of the air, and its self-sealing dirtbag is effective for containing dirt. The only minor issue with this vacuum is its subpar build quality. It feels sturdy enough overall, but some internal components seem somewhat fragile.
Performs well on all surface types and with pet hair.
Corded design is ideal for cleaning large spaces.
HEPA filter keeps all dust well-contained.
Self-sealing dirtbag traps all dust when you dispose of it.
Some fragile internal parts.
The Kenmore Intuition is an amazing option for a small apartment. It'll keep the dust down in a small space since its HEPA filtration system is incredibly effective, trapping nearly all the particles it sucks up, and its self-sealing dirtbag locks away the dust until it's out of your apartment. It makes short work of bare floors and carpet, and pet hair is no problem for this vacuum either. It stores neatly away in a compact space when you're done, and it's self-contained, featuring onboard tool storage and winding clips for its power cord.
Performs well on all surface types and with pet hair.
HEPA filter keeps all dust well-contained.
Self-sealing dirtbag traps all dust when you dispose of it.
Compact design makes it easy to store.
Leaves some pet hair at the center of its floorhead.
The Kenmore Intuition is a decent option for cleaning stairs, as long as you're comfortable carrying a heavy vacuum around. Using it in the floorhead configuration makes it quite heavy, and if you opt to detach its hose for better maneuverability, it will still be challenging to access some hard-to-reach areas. Still, it offers very good overall cleaning performance on a broad range of surface types. The best feature of this vacuum is its superb filtration, which ensures that all the dust you pick up remains in the dirtbag and doesn't escape into the air and all over your staircase.
Easily clears debris of all sizes on both bare and carpeted stair treads.
Picks up most embedded pet hair in carpet in one pass.
HEPA filter keeps all dust well-contained.
Heavy to haul up and down stairs.
- Short vacuum hose.
The Kenmore Intuition is a decent choice to clean car interiors. It does a great job of cleaning automotive fabric and low-pile carpet floor mats, and is excellent at cleaning pet hair using its turbo brush. It also has a crevice tool and extension wand to help you get deep into seams and hard-to-reach places. The cord is long enough that you won't need an extension cord if you bring this out to the driveway or garage. While its build quality is only passable, it's still sturdy enough for the occasional car cleaning. When you're done, there are a fair number of parts to clean and maintain, but it's easy to store in a small space. With all that said, this vacuum is awkward to use in a car in its handheld mode. The detachable canister is heavy to move, and the hose is short, making the task somewhat challenging.
Great performance cleaning automotive fabric.
Excellent performance cleaning pet hair from fabric using its turbo brush.
Complete set of tools for cleaning cars.
Heavy detachable canister.
- Short vacuum hose.
The Kenmore Intuition is very good for bare floors. It clears away a wide mix of debris types on this surface type with little trouble. You'll also find that this vacuum does a good job of cleaning cracks and crevices with its attached floorhead; however, the crevice tool connected to the vacuum hose would be better suited for such a task.
Easily clears debris of all sizes on bare floors.
Effectively lifts debris from cracks.
The Kenmore Intuition delivers great carpet pickup performance. It's excellent on high-pile carpet, where it sucks up everything but deeply embedded fine material. On low-pile carpet, performance is good, and it picks up everything except a bit of large debris.
Easily lifts material of all sizes on carpets.
Fine debris deeply embedded in high-pile carpets might need another pass.
The Kenmore Intuition does a good job picking up pet hair. It removes most pet hair from carpet, even deeply embedded fine hair, but it leaves some at the center of its floorhead. On furniture, its mini turbo brush offers impressive performance, lifting every strand with ease, often in just one pass.
Picks up most embedded pet hair in carpet in one pass.
Picks up nearly all pet hair on furniture using its turbo brush.
Leaves some pet hair at the center of its floorhead.
The Kenmore Intuition has an incredible filter. Its HEPA filter system keeps virtually all dust out of the air, preventing you from breathing it in and from debris settling back down in the room. The self-sealing dirtbags lock away all dirt, so you won't make a mess when you empty the vacuum. This vacuum will be a great option for those with allergies.
HEPA filter keeps all dust well-contained.
Self-sealing dirtbag traps all dust when you dispose of it.
Performance Usages
Changelog
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Updated Jan 16, 2026:
We added text to this review to reflect the new tests introduced in Test Bench 1.4, as well as the new verdicts.
- Updated Jan 16, 2026: We've updated this review to the latest test bench, adding Runtime, Mobility, Air Quality, and Mopping Capabilities sections, as well as a Swappable Battery test. See the Vacuum Test Bench 1.4 changelog.
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Updated Dec 17, 2024:
Added a link to the SEBO FELIX in the Build Quality section of the review to provide an alternative that feels more solidly built.
- Updated Aug 26, 2024: We've updated the scores in the Hard Floor Pick-Up, High-Pile Carpet Pick-Up, Low-Pile Carpet Pick-Up, and Pet-Hair Pick-Up tests to align with a broader data set. For more information about the reasoning for this update, you can look at our forum post.
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Kenmore Intuition vacuum comes in several colors with different tools included.
| Model Name | Tools Included | Color | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BU3040 | 3-in-1 combination tool, dusting brush, Pet HandiMate turbo brush tool, 4 dirtbags | Red | No 'Lift-Up' feature |
| BU4018 | 3-in-1 combination tool, upholstery tool, 4 dirtbags | Purple | |
| BU4020 | Crevice tool, dusting brush, upholstery tool, 1 dirtbag | Red | |
| BU4021 | Pet HandiMate turbo brush tool, upholstery tool, crevice tool, dusting brush, 4 dirtbags | Blue | |
| BU4022 | 3-in-1 combination tool, dusting brush, Pet HandiMate turbo brush tool, upholstery tool, 6 dirtbags | Green | |
| BU4050 | Crevice tool, dusting brush, Pet HandiMate turbo brush tool, upholstery tool, 6 dirtbags | Rose Gold |
You can see our BU4022's label here.
If you encounter a differently equipped variant, please let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review accordingly.
Popular Vacuum Comparisons
The Kenmore Intuition vacuum is a fairly basic upright vacuum that punches well above its weight class. Its best feature is its outstanding HEPA filtration, consisting of a self-sealing dirtbag and a post-motor filter, which not only seals away dust during operation but keeps it contained when you empty it. You'll typically have to go far upmarket to the SEBO FELIX to find another bagged upright vacuum with a HEPA filter. Something much easier to maneuver than the big, bulky Kenmore that still offers HEPA filtration is the Wyze Cordless Vacuum, but you'll give up some performance and debris capacity with this cordless stick model, and emptying it is a lot messier. As far as pickup performance goes, the Kenmore easily handles debris on everything from bare floors to low and high-pile carpet, outperforming more premium uprights like the Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra. All in all, this vacuum is a standout option for anyone looking for a no-frills model that executes on all the fundamentals from pick-up performance to air quality.
If you're looking for alternatives, see our list of recommendations for the best upright vacuums, the best multi-surface vacuums, and the best vacuums for carpets.
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.
The Kenmore Intuition Bagged is a better vacuum than the BISSELL CleanView/CleanView Swivel Pet Rewind. The Kenmore has a HEPA filter and offers better debris pickup. It's also easier to maintain. On the other hand, the BISSELL has slightly lower recurring costs due to its bagless design and marginally lighter construction.
The BISSELL PowerForce Helix and the Kenmore Intuition Bagged have different advantages, and one may suit you better, depending on your needs. The bagless BISSELL has lower recurring costs, has a lighter design, and performs better on low- and high-pile carpets. Meanwhile, the Kenmore is better built, is 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.
The Miele Dynamic U1 PowerLine and the Kenmore Intuition Bagged each have their own advantages. The Miele is much better built, far easier to maintain, and has a much longer overall range. It also has a more powerful motor 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. It also does a much better job of dealing with larger debris across various surface types.
Test Results
This vacuum does a great job of handling debris on hard floors. While a small amount of material might get caught in its floorhead only to fall back out again once the vacuum is shut off, it does a great job of clearing away a wide mix of debris types.
The Kenmore Intuition delivers excellent performance on high-pile carpet. It clears away most large debris, like cereal, and medium-sized debris, like rice, within a single back-and-forth pass. However, you may need to revisit the area again to thoroughly clear away any finer debris that is embedded deeply within the carpet fibers.
This vacuum performs well on low-pile carpet. Its floorhead's bristled roller provides good surface agitation, making it quite effective in dealing with finer debris, such as sand, on this surface type. That said, a small amount of larger debris can be left behind.
Pet hair pickup performance is good. It clears away most hair embedded on low-pile carpet within a single pass, but a small portion might remain at the center of its head.
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.
The Kenmore Intuition vacuum does a good job of cleaning crevices. It can clear away debris in shallow and medium-depth crevices, such as grout lines on a tile floor, with minimal effort. However, to clean deeper cracks more thoroughly, it's best to use the vacuum hose instead.
The Kenmore Intuition vacuum's build quality is passable. It's mostly made of plastic, except for its metal wand, rubber wheels, and handle. Overall, it feels quite sturdily made, 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. If you're searching for a better-built bagged upright, consider the SEBO FELIX.
- 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
This vacuum has decent storage capabilities. Its power cord can be wound around the right side of its body, and there's onboard storage for two of its three included accessories.
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.
This vacuum is corded, so it runs until you complete your cleaning task.
The Kenmore Intuition doesn't have a battery.
The 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.
This 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.
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 scratching 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.
The 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.
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, its 'Lift-Up' feature and on-board tool storage allow you to clean on top of furniture effectively, in spite of its very short vacuum hose.
This vacuum has a good 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.
This vacuum's filtration system is incredible. Almost no dust escapes this vacuum's HEPA filter; dust concentration readings barely register.
The self-sealing dirtbag's flap closes when you pop it out of the mounting clip, sealing away dust in the dirtbag. However, a little dust escapes the dirtbag only to be blocked by the post-motor filter. Throwing the dirtbag away disturbs some of the dust sitting on the dirtbag's surface. It's a small amount of dust, but this system isn't as effective as the self-sealing dirtbag on the higher-end Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog.
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.
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.
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.
