A steam generator iron is a steam iron that has been split in two. The tank and the boiler sit in a separate base, connected to the iron by a hose, and that one change is what makes the difference: far more water can be held, and the steam arrives in greater quantity and at higher pressure than any self-contained iron manages. The recorded test ran to 40 steam generators, and its winner is the Tefal Express Protect SV9202.
The case for the format is straightforward. More steam means the fibres lift and relax faster, so creases come out in fewer passes. Because the water is boiled in the base rather than in the iron, the soleplate does not spit, and clothes do not come out with wet patches — a failure that is common with ordinary steam irons. You also stop refilling every few shirts, and you still have plenty of steam available at low temperature settings. If you iron regularly, this is the format to buy; if you iron occasionally, an ordinary steam iron is smaller, cheaper and easier to store.
The Picks
Test winner — Tefal Express Protect SV9202
The winner took the title on the balance of steam, handling and price rather than on any single headline figure. It delivered 54 grams per minute of continuous steam in testing — a solid rather than spectacular number, and the testers were explicit that machines with more steam exist, but almost always cost considerably more. What mattered more was that the output held up: the steam rate stayed put in continuous use instead of tailing off, which is the failure that makes a nominally powerful iron frustrating in practice.
It heats quickly and then beeps to say it is ready, which the testers noted is unusual in this category and welcome. Over fine silk and cotton towels alike the soleplate — a Durilium AirGlide Autoclean coating — glided easily and the creases came out promptly, and despite the steam volume the laundry did not come out wet. There is a vertical steam mode for garments that can only be treated on the hanger. Temperature is set automatically to suit the fabric; in testing everything came out crease-free, and not even a delicate silk dress was scorched.
The tank holds up to 1.8 litres and can be topped up at the tap mid-session, so ordinary tap water is all it needs. Against limescale there is an anti-scale collector that twists out of the iron; the testers found it quick and simple to handle, while noting they could not judge the manufacturer's claim that it preserves steam power over the long run.
The one real drawback is that the iron will not stand on its end. Its shape is rounded enough that it has no base to rest on, so it can only be parked on the station itself. That is far from unique to this machine — many models in the test shared it — but it does mean bending down to the station if it is on the floor.
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The alternative — Tefal Pro Express Protect GV9225
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Dearer than the winner and just as convincing on performance. The testers were candid that three of their four recommendations came from one manufacturer, and put it down to Tefal simply knowing what matters in this category.
Temperature is again automatic, and moving from jeans to cotton to fine jersey caused no trouble — an initial worry about scorching or under-pressing proved unfounded. It steams horizontally and vertically with no noticeable difference in quality between the two. Nothing dripped onto the laundry. The manufacturer attributes this to a "Protect System" that converts water droplets into steam; the testers' verdict was that some of this is marketing language, but that the steam output and the absence of water marks spoke for themselves.
The steam arrives with enough pressure that ironing goes quickly — at times, the testers said, it felt like standing in a laundry. There is an anti-scale collector, as on most machines at this level. The practical advantage over the winner is that this one can be stood on the ironing board, which matters because it is one of the larger machines in the test and you may not want to lift the whole station up there. The 1.8-litre tank is removable, so refills during a session are quick.
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The compact one — Rowenta Compact Steam Pro DG7623
Not cheap, but less expensive than many, and it earns its place on ironing performance. It takes the word "steam" seriously: both the volume and the finished result convinced the testers, the soleplate moves smoothly over the fabric, and the tip reaches the fiddly areas without a fight. Its real selling point is that it does all this without taking up much room.
On a large load you may need to top the tank up, which can be done while it runs — a small water jug makes it easier. Like most machines here it has an anti-scale system, and this one is comfortable to operate.
Two things to know before buying. The mains plug goes into the underside of the base, which is fiddly once there is water in the tank. And the tank does not detach, so emptying the residue means carrying the whole station to the sink. In exchange, the iron itself can be stood upright on the board.
The manufacturer offers an Eco steam system claimed to cut energy and water use by 30 per cent at unchanged efficiency. The testers could not verify that claim and made no finding on it, though they noted that water consumption did not appear unusual against machines from other manufacturers.
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The eco option — Tefal Pro Express Eco GV9E21
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The most expensive of the recommendations, and the testers were direct about the trade: cheaper machines exist in the same Pro Express range, and what the Eco version mainly adds is a sustainability promise. Whether that is worth the difference is a decision they left to the reader.
They were equally direct about what they could and could not check. The manufacturer's figures — up to 45 per cent energy saved in eco mode, more than 40 per cent recycled material in the machine and 70 per cent of it recyclable — could not be independently verified within the test. What was verifiable is that the packaging uses no plastic or polystyrene, which at least makes the "Eco" label legible, though other manufacturers increasingly do the same.
What they could test was the ironing, and that convinced. The soleplate glides effortlessly, the steam burst is immense and shifts stubborn creases, and a single pass was almost always enough to clear a shirt. Vertical steaming works well. Smart Temp means no programme or temperature to select — you simply iron over anything that can be ironed, delicate items included where the care label allows. There is an integrated anti-scale programme, and a velcro strap that keeps the cable tidy so nobody trips over it.
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Also Tested
Philips PerfectCare Series 7000 PSG7030/20. Expensive, with convincing steam output and automatic adjustment for each new fabric, so ironing moves quickly. One quirk is worth knowing: nothing happens at all until at least 500 millilitres have gone into the tank. The testers ignored this at first and were baffled by the blinking. Steam output adapts automatically, temperature is handled by the machine, and one pass over the laundry was usually enough.
Braun CareStyle 7 Pro IS 7286. The most modern-feeling iron of the group, in the hand and in its design. Hold the continuous-steam button and it produces a genuinely substantial flow with no further input; a second setting, marked with two steam clouds, adds a burst on top. The FreeGlide 3D soleplate slides easily. Settings are plentiful, and the price is on the higher side.
Philips PerfectCare Series 6000 PSG6064/80. Built around comfort: notably quiet, with velcro cable ties and automatic temperature. A silk dress and a pair of jeans both came out crease-free without a wait and without scorching, and the glide is good. The one reservation is steam output, which convinced the testers rather less than the winner and the other recommendations at similar money.
