Vitamix Propel Series 510 Professional-Grade Blender, 3 Programs, Black

Why it's worth it

The Propel 510 pairs a 2 HP motor with a 48-ounce container, so it's shorter and lighter than the rest of the lineup. Three programs, ten speeds and a pulse function cover the same everyday jobs in smaller batches.

Most Vitamix containers are built for a family. If you're making one smoothie, a 64-ounce jar means thin ingredients splash up the sides while the blades spin in air underneath. The 510's 48-ounce container fixes that. It's the right size for one or two servings, and at 17.5 inches on the base it's the shortest full-size machine here.

Small doesn't mean underpowered. The 2 HP motor is the same rating as the classic 5200, and it handles the same work: kale stalks, dates, frozen berries, nuts, spices. Owners moving over from NutriBullets and mid-tier blenders consistently note that seeds and skins finally disappear, which is the single most common reason people upgrade in the first place.

From our review of 8 vitamix blenders and accessories

What we like

• +Most Vitamix containers are built for a family
• +Small doesn't mean underpowered
• +It's also a reasonable pick for a cramped kitchen generally

What to know

• –The 48-ounce container is the whole point and the whole limitation
• –Like every blender here, it's loud
• –You get three programs, not four, and no self-detect