I'd recommend the Hoover Jovis Turbo Power, which, contrary to what others have said regarding handheld vacuum cleaners, is quite powerful with its 4 power settings, just so long as you remember to empty it after each time you use it. I bought mine about a year ago from Argos and find it saves getting the big hoover out when the place needs a quick going over. I don't have a car but my nephew often uses it to clean his car and is also impressed by its power. Mine is not the model for hoovering up liquids or spills, although one is available (I think it's about a tenner more than the model I have).