With the increasing pollution in urban areas, having a good car air purifier is becoming more and more important. The best car air purifiers are effective in eliminating dust, pollen, harmful gases, germs, microbes, and bad odors from the air in your car, allowing you to breathe in only the good stuff. These purifiers use three main systems (or a combination of them): HEPA filters, ozone generators, and ion generators.
To help you choose the best air purifier for your car, we have compiled and reviewed our favorite products on the market. While all our recommendations remove harmful particles from the air and eliminate odor, they vary in price, capacity, and the system they use for air purification. We have also included a useful buying guide that will clarify which factors you should consider when choosing the best car air purifier for your needs.
- Best Overall: PHILIPS GoPure Compact 200
- Best Value for Money: iCyberCore Odor Eliminating Car Purifier
- Best for Large Vehicles: Air Oasis AA250NGFU Air Angel
- Best Budget Option: LUOYIMAN Portable Air Purifier
1. Best Overall: Philips GoPure Compact 200
Our top pick for the best car air purifier is the Philips GoPure Compact 200 Car Air Purifier. This product is very effective in improving air quality, getting rid of odor, and filtering dust particles and fur from the air. We recommend this purifier for individuals who spend a lot of time in their car, people suffering from allergies, smokers, pet-owners or those living in polluted urban areas. The GoPure is not a good choice if you are on a tighter budget.
Pros:
The Philips GoPure combines a HEPA filter with HESA technology to effectively eliminate 99% of bacteria, harmful gases, smoke, dust, pollen, odor, and fur from the car. The GoPure circulates the air through the HEPA filter, which absorbs the harmful particles, before releasing clean air back into the vehicle. The HESA technology keeps the odor particles trapped and is especially efficient in removing residue from tobacco smoke (nicotine), which makes it a good choice for smokers.
Since the HEPA filter traps dust particles, pet fur, and pollen, this car air purifier is an excellent choice for individuals suffering from allergies.
The GoPure works quite quickly and efficiently. It will begin to change the air quality in the car moments after it’s plugged in. It can reduce odors within minutes, and completely eliminate them within days.
The GoPure is also quite easy to use and maintain. There’s an automatic power button and two purifying speeds. Additionally, the display on this model communicates when the filter needs to be replaced. It also gives reports about the current air quality with colorful lights – blue means excellent, yellow means fair, and red means poor.
As the GoPure is a sizeable model, it can move quite a bit of air, making it a great choice for larger vehicles.
Cons:
While the GoPure is one of the most powerful and effective products on our list, it does come at a higher price point.
Another thing to consider here is the upkeep cost. Purifiers which use HEPA filters need to have them replaced regularly, as particle residue builds up over time. The product does not come with additional filters, and each filter is meant to last up to a year on average (or 350 hours of labor). This means you’ll have to spend approximately $40 annually on a new filter.
Another possible issue with the GoPure is that it’s a bit bulky. Although the product comes with mounting hardware for the car’s dashboard, its 6×3” size makes it less suitable for smaller vehicles.
2. Best Value for Money: iCyberCore Odor Eliminating Car Purifier
iCyberCore Odor Eliminating Car Purifier
The iCyberCore Odor Eliminating Car Purifier is an effective purifier that comes at a highly affordable price. The combination of ionization and ozone-releasing technology allows this air purifier to both purify the air and eliminate odor. This product is a budget-friendly and compact option, which makes it a great choice for smaller cars.
Pros:
The iCyberCore simultaneously cleans the air and reduces odor. This is because it functions by employing both negative ions and ozone to purify the air in your car. The negative ions eliminate harmful particles and bacteria, and the ozone reduces odor by trapping odor particles, along with allergens and pollutants. High ozone emission can have adverse side-effects on individuals with respiratory problems, but this device releases ozone in quantities within the safety limit.
Satisfied customers, including pet-owners, smokers, and moms dealing with dried milk and food smells, have attested to this product’s ability to remove any unpleasant odor from the car, leaving it smelling clean and fresh.
The iCyberCore doesn’t make noise, either. As the product doesn’t have any moving parts, it operates quietly without disturbing you as you drive.
This product is quite space-efficient, as it will fit into the cigarette lighter socket (or equivalent) of any car. As the purifier is compact and doesn’t take up any additional space, it’s a good choice for even the smallest of vehicles.
This purifier is also easy to maintain because it comes with 2 USB ports and a 3-in-1 charging cable, which can be used to charge other devices as well.
Cons:
Even though the product doesn’t have any moving parts, some customers have reported that it emits a low-pitched buzz that some may find annoying.
Another issue with this product is that it lacks the capacity to be effective for larger vehicles, especially in removing strong scents (such as cigarette smoke or mildew).
3. Best for Large Vehicles: Air Oasis AA250NGFU Air Angel
The Air Angel from Air Oasis is the best choice for purifying the air in large cars. It has the capacity to eliminate harmful particles and odors from spaces of up to 250 square feet, and it works using a combination of ionization and ozone-release. The Air Angel is also portable and can be used for car and home use, which adds to its value.
Pros:
One of the best features of the Air Angel is its powerful air-purifying capability, which allows it to remove up to 99% of air pollutants, including germs, allergens, and gas particles. The ionizer in the Air Angel creates a static charge which sticks physical particles, such as dust, allergens, and pet dander, to the nearest surface, removing them from the air. The germicidal UV light, a feature unique to this air purifier, kills any germs and viruses in the environment.
Additionally, the Air Angel releases ozone to eliminate up to 99% of odors and to provide microbial protection.
This product is a great choice for people seeking to have a purifier near them at all times. It’s easily portable, it has adapters for both car and home use, and it has the capacity to purify areas of up to 250 square feet. This allows the Air Angel to double as an office or a bedroom purifier.
The Air Angel is also very easy to set up and maintain. The strong adhesive base allows you to stick it on any surface, at the same time ensuring that the purifier doesn’t move while you drive. In terms of maintenance, the purifier operates on batteries, so all you’d need to do is change the battery cell once a year. The user-friendly interface of the purifier lets you know when the battery needs to be changed.
This device is also easy to customize. It comes with settings that allow you to control the speed of the fan and the output of negative ions depending on your needs or the size of the car/room.
Cons:
The ozone that the purifier produces has a strong smell which may be unpleasant within the confines of a vehicle.
Additionally, the presence of ozone makes this product unfavorable for people suffering from respiratory problems.
This product also comes at a steeper price, so it’s not a good budget-friendly option.
4. Best Budget Option: LUOYIMAN Portable Air Purifier
The Luoyiman Portable Air Purifier is our top budget-friendly-yet-effective car air purifier. This product uses ozone to eliminate harmful particles and odors. We recommend this product for individuals on a tighter budget, as well as smokers and pet-owners.
Pros:
The Luoyiman is an affordable solution for getting rid of harmful gas particles and the smell of smoke, food, or pets. This is because it’s an ozone generator, and ozone works by trapping odor and formaldehyde (harmful gas) particles in the air.
The way ozone traps particles in the air also helps to protect your car from dust and allergens, which makes it a great choice for allergy sufferers.
The unit self-monitors the ozone production, keeping it at a safe level.
The Luoyiman functions quite quickly, so it’s a great choice for cars of any size, as it will swiftly leave them smelling clean and fresh.
The purifier is easy to use and maintain. It only needs to be charged before use, after which it can work non-stop for up to 36 hours.
Cons:
While the ozone levels are monitored by the device, it’s still not the best choice for individuals suffering from regular respiratory problems.
Additionally, the Luoyiman needs to be charged for 2 hours before use, which some may find inconvenient.
Conclusion
Our recommendation for the best car air purifier is the Philips GoPure Compact 200. The HEPA filter makes it the most efficient purifier at getting rid of all harmful particles in the air – including pollutants, allergens, germs, and odors. Additionally, as it’s an ozone-free option, it’s a great choice for people with sensitive respiratory systems. Yet, this option is on the pricier side.
If you are on a tighter budget and looking for a cheaper purifier, the Luoyiman Portable Air Purifier is the way to go. This product is especially great at eliminating smells and harmful gas particles.
If you need something which is both powerful and portable, the Air Angel from Oasis is a great choice. This versatile purifier’s adapter allows it to be used in both cars and homes or offices, an option that lacks in the Philips GoPure.
On the other hand, if you want a purifier strictly for a smaller-sized car, a more budget-friendly option is the iCyberCore. This product is easy to maintain, light on the wallet, and compact enough for a smaller vehicle.
If you still aren’t sure which car air purifier is best suited to your needs, read on to our buying guide to find out which factors you may wish to consider while choosing.
Buying Guide
Budget
Consider how much you’re willing to spend on your new car air purifier. If you are looking for a more powerful, durable and effective product, you may be looking at a cost above $100. On the other hand, if you are looking for a simple solution for getting rid of more basic pollutants and car odors, there are great budget-friendly options below $30.
Purifying Capacity
Some air purifiers are best suited for smaller cars, while others are effective at purifying the air in larger spaces. If you are looking for something that will clean the air in larger cars or something that has the potential to be used indoors, the Air Angel is a good choice. On the other hand, if you just need something for a smaller car, or don’t spend too much time driving, one of the cheaper products is a good option for you.
Purifying System
Car air purifiers generally use one of three technologies or a combination of them: ion generators, ozone generators, and HEPA filters.
Ion generators are generally quite affordable. The negative ions stick to particles in the air such as microbes, dust, and pollen, which makes them a good choice for people dealing with allergies. The particles then fall on the ground of the car, so that you won’t inhale them, but you still need to clean your car regularly.
Ozone generators use ozone to trap odor and gas particles in the air, making them a good choice to fight smells and deal with gas emissions. Like ion generators, ozone generators stick the particles to the nearest surface, so you’d need to regularly scrub your car down. They are also useful in trapping microbes and germs. Although these products release small amounts of ozone, below the harmful levels that can make you feel sick, they still are not a great choice for individuals with respiratory problems and may leave an ozone smell behind.
HEPA filters are one of the most efficient methods for air purification. Purifiers that use HEPA circulate the air through the filter to clean it. After the HEPA filter captures the harmful particles from the air, the purifier releases the clean air back into your car. Although HEPA filters need to be regularly replaced, and purifiers that use them come at steeper prices, they don’t have any of the possible side effects of ozone generators and are more effective than ion generators. They are ideal for people suffering from allergies, those living in polluted areas, and families with children.
What’s Next?
Hopefully, you found our review of the best car air purifiers, along with our buying guide, useful for finding the ideal option for your needs. To get more information about each recommended product, you can follow the title links to learn their price, in-depth specifications, and customer reviews.
Make sure to get the inside scoop on air purifiers for your home or office, too! We’ve got you covered with all the latest buying guides, featured reviews, and fun blog posts.
You can also swing by our contact page to drop us a line if you have questions, comments, or any other feedback for us.
In the meantime, enjoy that clean air!