Panasonic MC-CG902 Canister Vacuum Cleaner

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Avg. consumer rating = 83/100 

The consumer ratings and comments for the Panasonic MC-CG902 Canister Vacuum Cleaner indicate a fairly high level of consumer satisfaction.  This vacuum was also recently given a best buy rating from a popular consumer magazine.  Folks that use this machine like the quality attachments, retractable power cord and the fact that it is good on hard surfaces however some lament that it does not come with a handheld turbine attachment for cleaning pet hair from stairs or upholstery.

Consumer ratings for this machine are compiled in the table below.  We found over 1000 ratings and when averaged these generate a score of 83.4 out of 100.  This is not a bad score.

This is a fairly standard machine with most of the features you would expect on a decent canister vacuum.    The MC-CG902 is a bagged vacuum cleaner powered by a 12 amp motor.  Most consumers indicate that it has good suction.  The power nozzle has a motorized brushbar that makes it effective on carpet, and the brushbar can be turned on and off (off makes it safe for bare floors).    The brushbar has two rows of bristles that help to dislodge dust and debris from carpet.  There is also an overload protector that will turn the nozzle motor off should the brushbar be obstructed.  This helps protect the motor and the belt.   In addition, the machine comes with 4 different height adjustments that accommodate different lengths of carpet.

The power cord is a bit short at 24 feet and something in the neighbourhood of 30 feet would be better but it does come with auto-rewind and this is a feature quite a few people appear to like.  Several tools and attachments are included with this vacuum:
 
- Two chrome wands
- Crevice tool
- Dusting brush
- Floor brush (9 inches wide, nylon)
- Upholstery brush

The attachments fit in a recessed area on the canister itself.

A review of consumer comments has indicated the following common MC-CG902 vacuum likes and dislikes:

PROS
- Comes with HEPA filtration
- On/off switch is conveniently located on the handle
- Retractable power cord
- Seems durable
- Quality attachments
- Good on hard surfaces
- Not too heavy

CONS
- No handheld turbine attachment
- Vacuum hose is a little short for some people

Like many vacuums today the Panasonic MC-CG902 has HEPA filtration.  HEPA is a high level of filtration that removes 99.97% of particles with a diameter of 0.3 microns or larger.  This typically includes dust mites, pet dander, pollen, ragweed, mold spores, etc from the air.  HEPA filtration is a popular feature with those suffering from asthma or allergies.  It should be noted however that a sealed system is often an important vacuum feature when it comes to high quality filtration, and we have not seen the MC-CG902 advertised as having a sealed system.  A sealed system will ensure that all of the air sucked into the vacuum gets passed through the filters before it is exhausted.  Non sealed system vacuum may allow air to pass around the filters or leak out from the vacuum body.    The HEPA filter on the MC-CG902 is not washable and must be replaced at regular intervals, depending on the amount of vacuuming one does and the amount of dirt passing through the filters.

The cleaning path on this Panasonic unit is quite wide at 14 inches and it also has a 360 degree swivel hose (that some consumers feel may be a little short at only 6 feet).  The weight of this unit is hard to nail down as many sources quote different weights (and Panasonic don’t appear to publish this specification).  This is likely due to the quotes being with or without nozzle or attachments.  Some sources indicate the Panasonic MC-CG902 weighs about 13.5 lbs while most sources quote 30 lbs.  Consumer Reports magazine say this vacuum weighs 23 lbs.  Consumers however have not indicated that the vacuum is too heavy.  In fact, some say that it is lightweight.

The Panasonic MC-CG902 come in a burgundy finish and has soft wheels that will not mar floors.  It carries a 1 year parts and labor warranty.  Specific bag, filter and belt information is shown below:

- Dust Bag: Micron C-5 (BG-C506) – these are 2-ply Micron Dust Bags
- HEPA Filter: HEPA (MC-V194H)
- Belt Type: V belt (Type CB-6)

Vacuum Manual
For those looking for more detail consider checking out the Panasonic MC-CG902 Manual.