You can also use a detergent with all appliances. However, this is a little easier with the Power Control models thanks to the “plug n clean” system. Simply put the bottle upside down on the respective inlet and you are ready to go.

In 2019 Karcher rebased compact models of their pressure washer range, for example, you can buy a Karcher K2 Full Control, or K4 Full control, and you can also get a Karcher K2 Compact, or Karcher K4 compact. The Karcher K5 is a more powerful machine than the Karcher K4 as it has a higher maximum pressure rating and maximum flow rate. The Karcher K5 has a flow rate of 500 L/ hour and maximum pressure of 145 bar. The Karcher K4 has a flow rate of 420 L/ hour and maximum pressure of 130 bar. We have analysed all available customer testimonials on the most important online shops for the individual models. We found that, on average, 90% of all buyers were satisfied with their appliances. If you are buying a pressure washer primarily for car washing and cleaning, then there are a few things to look at when purchasing.When it comes to using the detergent, this model uses the plug n clean system which we do think is a big improvement on the suction tube alternative. Simply plug the bottle of detergent into the pressure washer and it can now be used with the detergent setting on the LED trigger gun. Keep in mind that this unit comes without the detergent, however, there are provisions for purchasing it with some useful accessories including the detergent at a slightly higher price. There is an LED-Display on the trigger gun that allows you to comfortably monitor the different power settings (from soft to hard). Karcher Smart Control For tasks that don’t take too long and don’t have too much of a dirty area to be cleaned, the small models are usually Ok. It clearly has the best price-performance ratio of all Kärcher models. The device is of good quality and has enough power to clean all heavily soiled objects comfortably and reliably in an average household.

Instead of having a detergent compartment, the K4 Compact Pressure Washer is designed with a suction tube which helps keep costs down, this allows you to draw detergent from a separate container. In addition, the pressure washer is supplied with a vario lance so you can select the correct pressure for the job at hand as well as a dirtblaster lance that offers specific cleaning capabilities and is great for removing stains and embedded dirt. Both machines are very powerful and capable of cleaning cars, outdoor furniture and patio flags. The extra power of the K5 can come in handy when cleaning patios and fences, but won’t make a huge difference when just cleaning a car. Summary: A good value-for-money pressure washer that offers good performance, lots of handy features and storage/transport solutions. We would definitely choose this over the cheaper K4 Compact. With this being a K4, it features a 1.8 kW water-cooled motor (versus a 1.4 kW air-cooled motor found on the K2’s). Maximum pressure is 130 bar which is 18% higher than the K2. Water flow rate is 420 litres per hour (17% increase versus the K2). With this level of performance, an area of 30 square meters can be covered in an hour (which is up an impressive 50% versus the K2’s 20 square meters per hour). T-350 surface cleaner capable of cleaning up to five times faster than when using a standard lance*Like all other Karcher models, the K4 Compact Pressure Washer benefits from a 3-year guarantee for full peace of mind. Our recommendation Connect the app, however, and you can tell the K5 what you’re trying to clean, and it will set the required pressure and tell you how to adjust the lance for every stage, so as you clean the car or power-wash the driveway, you’re using the right spray pattern and setting for every step. Buy the Home version and Kärcher also bundles the T5 Surface cleaner for a thorough clean of any hard surfaces in your garden. You pay a lot for the smart features, and we’re not sure that using the app to control the lance is really that convenient. Still, if you want the ultimate in high-tech pressure washers, nothing else even comes close. From our Karcher K4 compact review, you can tell that it’s a standard pressure washer that would do a decent job for mid-range applications.