Karcher K3 Power Control Car and Home Pressure Washer, yellow

Product Information

The K3 is built well (as all Karcher pressure washers are, in our experience) and it’s also quite compact, so it’s easy to store when not in use. The built-in handle and wheels allow you to easily move it around, although at just 4.4kg, it’s easy enough to just use the regular handle and carry it to where you want to. Its secret weapon is its Power Control Gun and matching Vario Power spray lance. You can switch between three different pressure settings and adjust the spray pattern with a twist of the nozzle; you can switch from a high-powered jet to a softer, flatter spray in a jiffy. Whether you’re washing mud off the car or trying to blast mould and algae from your patio, you get what you need without having to lug around a bunch of different tools. 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. Although the K4 has some plastic parts, it seems to be of higher quality and is a bit more stable than the K3. The parts do not wobble or vibrate as much and the pressure hose is much more flexible. As you might expect, the K3 is just as effective at cleaning cars, as it is bikes, though again we found that it was possible to go up a couple of notches on the Power Control screen for a bit more cleaning power. You just need to make sure you don’t get too close to the object you’re spraying, or spend too long on one area.

Key specs – Size: 40.2 x 30.6 x 58.8cm (LWH); Weight: 11.5kg; Max pressure: 130 bar; Water flow rate: Max 420l/hr; High-pressure gun: G-160-Q Power Control; Lances: Vario Power, Dirt Blaster; Hose length: 8m; Cable length: 5m; Cleaning area: 30m² per hour; Motor power: 1,800W Overall, the K4 Power Control offers more than the K3. For people who want to use the device frequently for larger objects, such as an SUV, the K4 is better suited. Included with the K3 is the adjustable Vario Power spray lance, and you also get a Dirt Blaster spray lance which is specifically for cleaning stubborn dirt on patios.The general build quality does not feel particularly good, with both the K2 and the K3. There are many plastic parts, and the devices feel correspondingly cheap.

Cleaning is comfortable and unproblematic with the K4 Power control as well as with the K3. Both have a display for the pressure on the gun, the same vario lance, and dirt blaster lance. The K4 pressure hose has a couple of advantages; it is one metre longer and a bit more flexible, which makes it easier to work with, especially on larger objects such as SUVs or vans. VersatilityIn this post we compare the Kärcher K3 Power Control with the K4 Power Control (the K3 Compact is no longer manufactured). Along with the Power Control models, there is also the Premium Power Control version. The only difference is the hose reel, otherwise they are identical, so we won’t go into more detail here. There is enough space to store the gun, lances, power cable and pressure hose, the design is well thought out in this respect. Effortlessly apply Detergent - Easily apply detergent as you work to any surface with the built-in detergent suction tube

As with the Muc-Off pressure washer, the K3 is a strictly home-only affair, due to the need for mains power and an external water supply. Bosch recently released the Fontus, a lithium battery-powered portable pressure washer with a built-in 15L water tank, which is much more suited to that task, if that’s what you’re after. Performance and cleaning capabilities The K3 Power Control delivers a bit more water pressure than the K2 Power Control. According to the manufacturer, the K3 can clean more surface area in one hour than the K2. In practice, however, we could hardly notice any difference. The K2 cleans just as thoroughly as the K3. ComfortThere’s also a useful step-by-step guide to show you how to clean whatever it is — the bike-specific guide was admittedly quite handy, but it’s unlikely you’ll use the app again once you’ve got the hang of the settings. There are no big differences here; with both devices you can basically clean everything. Both can be equipped with the usual accessories for patios, cars, or guttering, etc. Price We have tested both models and will show you the most important differences. Kärcher K3 Power Control vs K4 Power Control comparison table Model