Did you know the air inside your car is up to 15 times more polluted than the outside air?
Although your car has air filters, they can’t block ultrafine traffic pollutants or remove cabin odors. In addition to your vehicle’s HVAC filter, a portable car air purifier will be beneficial in many ways.
In this post, I will reveal to you the 7 best air purifiers for your beloved car. You will also get insights on how to select car air purifiers for various situations.
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If you’re in a hurry, check out our best picks:
[amazon table=”4888″]In-Car Air Pollution
The air inside a car’s cabin can be polluted in three ways:
- Other vehicle emissions can enter through ventilation (PM, NOx, CO, SO2).
- In-cabin pollution (smoking, VOCs off-gassing from cabin materials).
- Bio-aerosols from passengers (pathogens buildup through coughing, sneezing, or breathing).
Car Air Purifiers Checklist:
✓ True HEPA filter air purifier
True HEPA filters are the highest-grade particle filter available in the market. These dense filters are made from fiberglass materials and can trap ultrafine particles effectively.
Additionally, an activated carbon filter layer will help remove gases (odors and VOCs) from the cabin.
✓ Suitable size
Think about where you want to put the air purifier in your car cabin. There are multiple ways you can place a portable air purifier inside your car:
- On the dashboard.
- Inside the cupholder.
- Behind the headrest.
- On the seat.
It will help you pick faster.
✓ Convenient power source
There are mainly three types of car air purifiers based on power source:
- USB-powered: You can power them using a USB car charger with USB A or USB C port.
- 12V Car Power Outlet: You can connect them straight into the 12V car power outlet.
- Battery-powered: No external power is needed. On a single charge, they can run for 4 hours to 8 hours.
Decide which one is most convenient for you.
Check out our top picks >>> The 10 Best Desktop Air Purifiers.
List of The 7 Best Car Air Purifiers:
1. Pure Enrichment Mini
Our #1 pick for car air purifier is the Pure Enrichment Mini for its aesthetics, 2-stage filtrations, and outstanding customer ratings. This battery-powered mini air purifier is available in five colors to match your unique car interior.
Besides design, the car air purifier comes with a 3-stage air purification system. They include an activated carbon pre-filter and a True HEPA filter. The combined filtration will remove both fine particles and cabin odors.
The Pure Enrichment Mini is simple to operate. You can turn the purifier ON or OFF from a single button and set the fan speed.
It will run for roughly 2.5 hours on a single charge at the highest fan speed and 12 hours at the lowest fan speed. Some users complained about the quick battery drain issue. However, it comes with a fast-charging USB-C port. You will be able to recharge it quickly, or you can leave it always plugged in.
When it comes to size, the Pure Enrichment Mini is small enough to place it in the cupholder.
Filtrations: Activated carbon pre-filter and True HEPA filter.
Power Source: Rechargeable battery, USB-C charging port.
Placement in the Car: Cupholder.
Replacement Filter: ~ $9, 6 months usage (check availability & filter price).
Pros & Cons:
[i2pc][i2pros]3-stage filter, True HEPA and carbon pre-filterBeautiful design, available in 5 colors
Lightweight, suitable to place into cars cupholder
Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery
Fast charging with the USB-C charging port[/i2pros][i2cons]No filter replacement indicator
No power brick in the box[/i2cons][/i2pc]
2. IQAir Atem Car Air Purifier
If you are looking for a higher-grade filter air purifier to remove ultrafine pollutants, the IQAir Atem Car Air Purifier is for you. Designed to use in cars, it comes with a variety of mounting accessories.
You can easily mount it on the back of the car seat using the headrest accessories kit. This placement will ensure efficient air circulation inside the cabin without taking much space.
To filter out the pollutants in your car, IQAir Atem comes with a 2-stage HyperHEPA Plus filter. It will remove both ultrafine traffic pollutants and fumes from your vehicle. So, you can enjoy a healthy ride by keeping this air purifier on.
IQAir Atem is also app-enabled (android, iOS), which allows you to unlock more features.
Filtrations: 2-in-1 H13 HEPA and activated carbon filter.
Power Source: 12V car power outlet.
Placement in the Car: Mountable on the headrest.
Replacement filter price: ~ $79, 12 months usage (check availability & filter price on IQAir).
Pros & Cons:
[i2pc][i2pros]Combined particle (HyperHEPA) and gas-phase (activated carbon) filterComes with car mount kit including 12V car power adapter
270-degree air intake, 3 level fan speed
App control, filter replacement indicator
Sleek design, simple to use
Multipurpose usage, you can use it as a desktop model using the Atem Desk Accessory Kit (sold separately)[/i2pros][i2cons]Expensive compared to other models[/i2cons][/i2pc]
3. Westinghouse 1804 Air Purifier
Our #3 pick is the Westinghouse 1804, a portable air purifier with a unique design and filtrations. Great for travel, it weighs only 2 pounds and comes with a leather strap as a handle. The purifier is perfect for use in your sedan, SUV, or truck.
The Westinghouse mini air purifier uses electronic NCCO filtrations similar to PCO technology. This method transforms odors and other toxic fumes into harmless elements such as water molecules and carbon dioxide.
Besides the NCCO, the air purifier also has a physical particle filter (H13-grade True HEPA). It can trap 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns, including fine dust, exhaust particles, smoke residue, and others.
You have to replace the HEPA filter every 4-6 months, and the filter is not expensive.
The Westinghouse 1804 comes with a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery that lasts up to 8 hours. Also, you can run it using by connecting the USB cord to your car’s power outlet.
Filtrations: True HEPA and NCCO filtration.
Power Source: Rechargeable battery, USB-A port (adapter included).
Placement in the Car: Not specific.
Replacement filter price: ~ $34, up to 6 months usage (check availability & filter price).
Pros & Cons:
[i2pc][i2pros]Unique design, leather carrying strapAvailable in 4 color variants
Higher-grade H13 HEPA particle filter
NCCO filtration neutralizes odors and fumes
Long-lasting battery; USB cord and power brick included
CARB-approved for safe ozone emission[/i2pros][i2cons]Even small amounts of ozone may not be healthy for asthma sufferers[/i2cons][/i2pc]
4. LG PuriCare Mini Air Purifier
At 1.2 pounds, the LG PuriCare Mini Air Purifier is suitable to use in the car. You can take it on your travels, in and out of the country. This battery-powered air purifier can run for up to 8 hours on a single charge.
Certified by Intertek, the LG PuriCare Mini Air Purifier can filter 99% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns. This includes fine dust, smoke, and allergens.
It has Twin Tornado dual fans. They create more powerful airflow and fill the car cabin with fresh, clean air faster. While purifying the air, it’s ultra-quiet. This means it will not interrupt your concentration while on the road. As a result, you can drive safely.
This mini air purifier is also smart. It can run automatically based on its built-in dust sensor reading. Also, you can control and check the filter status from the LG PuriCare Mini app (android, iOS) via Bluetooth pairing.
Filtrations: 2-in-1 pre-filter and dust filter.
Power Source: Rechargeable battery, USB-C charging port.
Placement in the Car: Not specific.
Replacement filter price: ~ $14, 6 months usage (check availability & filter price).
Pros & Cons:
[i2pc][i2pros]Super-portable, available in Black and WhiteEfficient 2-stage particle filter
Air quality sensor with 4-level indicator light
App control via Bluetooth
Battery-powered, fast USB-C charging port
Independently LAB-tested, British Alergy Foundation approved[/i2pros][i2cons]No carbon filter to remove odors[/i2cons][/i2pc]
5. Wynd Essential Air Purifier
Our #5 pick is another battery-powered car air purifier with multipurpose usage. The Wynd Essential Air Purifier weighs less than a pound, no bigger than a water bottle which means it can fit in the cupholder perfectly.
Wynd Essential comes with a 360-degree pleated particle filter to capture in-car airborne pollutants. However, it doesn’t have a gas-phase filter to remove cabin odors. The filter lasts up to 6 months and is inexpensive.
The Wynd Essential will last for about 8 hours on medium fan speed settings on a single charge. The USB-C port will allow you to charge it faster.
The Essential model doesn’t come with a built-in air quality sensor available in the Plus model. Also, the Wynd Plus model is app-enabled to unlock more convenient control.
Filtrations: 360-degree pleated particle filter.
Power Source: Rechargeable battery, USB-C charging port.
Placement in the Car: Cupholder.
Replacement filter price: ~ $15, 3 to 6 months usage (check availability & filter price).
Pros & Cons:
[i2pc][i2pros]Compact design, multipurpose usage360-degree particle filter
Battery-powered, lasts up to 8 hours
LED night light[/i2pros][i2cons]No carbon filter, particle filter is not True HEPA
Slightly expensive[/i2cons][/i2pc]
6. Yawkica Mini Air Purifier
Here is another cupholder air purifier, the Yawkica Mini. Since it’s portable, the purifier will provide you with fresh, clean air when you need it most. You can also add it to your travel essentials list.
Yawkica Mini comes with a rechargeable battery with a capacity of 4,000mAh. It takes 3 hours to charge the battery fully. To recharge the purifier, you can use a power bank, car charger, or even your laptop (unless you want to drain your laptop battery).
The purifier has a three-stage filtration system that includes a 2-in-1 carbon pre-filter and a True HEPA filter. It will trap fine dust and vehicle exhaust particles as small as 0.3 microns. The carbon filter layer will adsorb cabin VOCs and odors.
The unit has a fragrance pad where you can add essential oils. This allows you to enjoy fragrant air as you drive.
Filtrations: 2-in-1 carbon pre-filter and HEPA filter.
Power Source: Rechargeable battery, USB-C charging port.
Placement in the Car: Cupholder.
Replacement filter price: ~ $9, 6 months usage (check availability & filter price).
Pros & Cons:
[i2pc][i2pros]360-degree air inlet designRemove both particles and gases
Simple to operate
Multipurpose usage
Rechargeable, Fast USB-C charging port[/i2pros][i2cons]No filter replacement indicator[/i2cons][/i2pc]
7. The Three Musketeers M1
At 9 by 17 cm and 270 grams, The Three Musketeers M1 is one of the most low-priced car air purifiers.
This compact air purifier comes with a 3-in-1 filter cartridge: pre, HEPA, and carbon. As air flows through the filter, airborne particles and odors will be trapped by the combined filter.
What you need to know is that the purifier has 3 fan speed settings. It delivers a maximum of 6 cubic feet of air per minute, suitable for a compact car.
The air purifier also consumes around 0.5W. As such, it will not drain your car battery. It doesn’t have a built-in battery and comes with a USB-A power cable.
Filtrations: 3-in-1 pre-filter, H11 HEPA, and carbon filter.
Power Source: USB-A outlet.
Placement in the Car: Not specific.
Replacement filter price: ~ $10, 3 months usage (check availability & filter price).
Pros & Cons:
[i2pc][i2pros]H11-grade HEPA filter to capture particlesCarbon composition to remove cabin odors
3 level fan speed setting
Low power consumption
Compact and lightweight
Inexpensive[/i2pros][i2cons]Ozone may be emitted from the Ionizer
No filter replacement indicator[/i2cons][/i2pc]
Conclusion
An air purifier for your car can be a worthy investment. They play a vital role when outdoor traffic pollution is high, and you cannot even open the car windows.
Some car air purifiers come with ionizers. They release negative ions to remove pollutants from the air. If you intend to buy a model with an ionizer, make sure it’s CARB certified.
If you are looking for the best car air purifiers on the market, we recommend the models reviewed above.
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