★★★★★ 4
Works ok, but not perfect. Manage expectations.
Size: 7.5" x 8.7" x 1.4"
My goal was to reduce or eliminate bad particulate odors coming in from outside while driving, as drive through areas with high particulate pollution. Sure, recirc mode exists, but then cars fill up with CO2 quickly, and high concentrations of CO2 makes you drowsy and have slow reaction times, etc. So I looked into better cabin air filters.
My Subaru has an easy-to-access cabin air filter. I learned how to properly change it via online videos, because the dealership wants over $50 just to change the filter, and it only takes a few minutes! The OEM filter I took out is not that good, and only meant for larger particulates, to protect the HVAC system. It reminded me of the cheaper (but not cheapest) furnace air handler filters.
Placing this new filter in and testing it, it does block more airflow, which is to be expected from a finer filter. My car's blower has 7 running speeds (plus off), and I needed to turn it up one notch higher to get about the same airflow, versus the previous filter.
The filter seems to work, somewhat. If behind a diesel truck, I still smell it. Same with cigarette smoke from a car in front. It doesn't block vape vapors at all, it seems. However, maybe I was expecting too much. The infographic for this filter clearly shows the size of particulate it can handle, which I appreciate very much. Diesel exhaust is a very fine particulate, smaller than this filter can filter. I also wonder if outside air is getting around the filter in the filter housing, since it just slides in, like a furnace air handler filter. It has a good fit though, in my car at least.
What I need is an even finer filter, but that would likely block a lot more airflow. There are various manufacturers of high-end cabin air filters, but I don't know if they match or exceed the quality of this one.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2025
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