All About the Sebo Evolution
Should you choose a Sebo Evolution? Is the Sebo Evolution a good machine? Let’s find out (Links in this article open in a new tab in most browsers so you can investigate and not lose this page).
On the whole, the Sebo Evolution is a decent commercial and robust vacuum cleaner with very few known faults.
Launched in 2014, there are three different widths available.
- The Sebo Evolution 300 is 30cm wide (left above)
- The Sebo Evolution 350 is 35cm wide (centre above)
- The Sebo Evolution 450 is 45cm wide (right above)
Wikipedia makes some erroneous claims about the model:
“this range is literally an “evolution” of the old BS36/46 commercial, incorporating refreshed styling similar to the BS36/46. In the UK, this range replaces the 370 Comfort uprights.”
That is utter nonsense. The BS36 evolved to become the BS360 in 2017, the Evolution was launched in 2014. And the 370 Comfort has pretty much zero in common with the Evolution. And they too were discontinued after the Evolution was introduced. Really, who writes Wikipedia?
The Sebo Evolution has no lineage in Sebo history that we can see. It appeared in 2014 using a few X series parts and BS bags and brush strips, but the rest of it is unique to the range.
The Sebo Evolution: The Good Points
Here’s some of the good points about the Sebo Evolution:
- The power cable can be replaced in moments by anyone
- The motor is the same tried and tested German Domel (Ametek Italia on post-2017 models) as found in the X and XP Sebo machines
- The onboard hose is cheap and easy to replace
- The brush strip is easy to replace, with a hard floor variant as well (3 sizes)
- They take BS36 bags which are easy to get. Even cheaper if you use aftermarket bags
- The internal tower filter is nice and cheap to buy
- They are quite robust and well suited to a commercial environment.
The Sebo Evolution: The Bad Points
There aren’t many, but there’s one of two things that niggle us about the Sebo Evolution:
- People often don’t fit the cable correctly because they don’t read the instruction book. This causes the cutting out issue described here
- They have a side kick power switch (seen in orange on the photo below) on the side of the cleaner head. It’s a bit Marmite. You love it or hate it.
Our opinion differs slightly for each of the three models. So here’s what we think.
The Sebo Evolution 300
Good all round little commercial machine, not particularly expensive and will do the job quite well. However, for only about a tenner more, you can buy the Sebo XP10, which has a self-levelling feature whereas the Evolution has a manual height adjustment. We prefer the XP10 over an Evolution 300 personally.
The Sebo Evolution 350
Much loved by nursing homes, the 350 is capable like its smaller brother above. However, also look at the Sebo XP20 which has the self-levelling feature. Also, look at the Sebo BS360 which is the world’s best-selling commercial vacuum cleaner. The BS360 has two motors whereas the Evolution 350 has only one. For our money, we’d choose the BS360 over the Evolution 350.
The Sebo Evolution 450
We’re not a big fan of the Evolution 450. It’s a bit ungainly. If you want a wide machine, we think the Sebo XP30 or the Sebo BS460 to be technically superior. For that reason, we don’t stock the Evolution 450.
While there is nothing particularly wrong with the Sebo Evolution vacuums, they’re not one of our personal favourites. And here’s why: where do they sit in the range?
If you want a capable all-round single motor commercial machine, why not choose one from the self-levelling XP range that comes in three widths also, the XP10, XP20 and XP30?
If you want a robust commercial machine with changeable brush strips, why not choose the twin motor BS360 or BS460?
For us, we can’t think of a single question for which the Sebo Evolution is a better answer than an XP or a BS model would be. That doesn’t make it a bad machine, far from it. It’s just a confusing range to insert right between two other capable ranges. The Sebo Evolution in many respects seems an odd machine in Sebo’s lineup.
But they do have a following. Some people love the Evolution. If you like the look of the Evolution range, we sell them. Well, two of them.
Credit for the first two photos goes to our friend and customer @richardlee1985
The Sebo Shop – part of Manchester Vacs – are approved Sebo dealers offering the full range of domestic and commercial Sebo vacuums together with consumables and spare parts.
