Your needs, this model
Does it fit your priorities?
Can I get a 64-ounce jar and all three documented programs in the new package?
Yes. The page lists a 64-ounce low-profile container and Smoothie, Hot Soup and Frozen Dessert programs; the manual confirms the program control categories.
Explore this need in the finder →Does the E520 keep manual adjustment when I do not want a program?
Yes. The product page says its speed can be adjusted during a blend, and the manual describes variable-speed operation as well as the three programs.
Explore this need in the finder →Do the two 24-ounce Chilly Tumblers mean this is sold with two blending-cup blade assemblies?
No. The product page lists Chilly Tumblers with straws for drinks; it does not list them as blending cups or include a Personal Cup Adapter. The E520 manual describes that adapter as a separate compatible accessory.
Explore this need in the finder →The current US Vitamix E520 listing is a package, not just a blender base: it includes a low-profile 64-ounce container, a matching tamper and two 24-ounce Chilly Tumblers with straws. Its control panel adds three automatic program categories—Smoothies, Hot Soup and Frozen Desserts—to variable-speed adjustment and Pulse. That combination is useful for a household that wants preset cycles and a drink cup for each of two people. It is not automatically the right choice if the extra drinkware is unwanted or if manual-only control is the priority.
The listing names Black US and Slate US finishes. Its included tumblers are shown as cups for carrying drinks; they are not described as blender vessels with a blade assembly. The E520 manual separately describes an optional compatible 20-ounce blending cup used with a Personal Cup Adapter. Do not treat the Chilly Tumblers as that system just because both can hold a smoothie after blending. The supplied blending container remains the 64-ounce low-profile jar.
Program cycles are an added choice, not a replacement for the dial
The E520 manual describes Smoothies, Frozen Desserts and Soup programs, with the product page calling the soup cycle Hot Soup. The same page says users can adjust variable speed during blending, and the manual documents a variable-speed dial and Pulse. The difference from the new E320 is therefore not “automatic versus manual” in an absolute sense: E320 offers manual speed and Pulse, while E520 adds the three program selections. If you tend to set speed by feel and rarely use a preset, the E320 may give you the larger jar without paying for a feature you do not use.
Programs are useful shortcuts, but a recipe category does not guarantee that every ingredient amount or texture will suit the cycle. The manual tells users to follow recipe load order, begin hot liquids at the lowest speed and avoid overfilling. It also describes Pulse behavior when a program is selected. Treat the presets as manufacturer-defined routines that can simplify a familiar task, not as a promise that the machine senses whether a recipe is perfect.
What the 64-ounce package does—and does not—say
The E520’s low-profile 64-ounce jar is the largest listed capacity among the three new Explorian packages reviewed here; E320 is also 64 ounces, and E310 is 48. Vitamix gives the E520 a 2 HP rating, while the E320 page lists 2.2 HP. Those are maker-stated ratings, not an independent comparison of power at the blade, blend quality, noise or speed. The different numbers cannot establish that one will handle every thick recipe more successfully.
Counter clearance should be verified rather than inferred from the phrase “low profile.” The product page lists 9 × 7.5 × 17.5 inches; the E520 manual gives 17 inches high with the container, 8 inches wide and 11 inches deep. The figures do not align exactly. Measure the shelf and footprint you have, and ask Vitamix for confirmation before buying for a very tight counter location.
Care, compatibility and warranty
The manual says legacy C- and G-Series containers work with the Explorian base, while Self-Detect containers do not. Use only a compatible container and its corresponding lid and tamper. For thick blends, the manual describes using the supplied tamper through the secured lid and sets cautions on how full the container should be and how long the tamper should be used. For hot liquids, begin at speed 1, leave space at the top and keep hands away from the lid opening.
The E520 manual gives a warm-water-and-dish-soap jar-cleaning routine that takes 30 to 60 seconds, and identifies the jar as suitable for dishwasher cleaning. Unplug the machine before cleaning; never immerse the motor base. The current US product page says 7-Year Full Warranty, and the manual calls the term a 7-Year Full Machine Warranty for household use. Check the written terms on the exact offer, particularly for the separate tumblers or other accessories.
Choose this E520 package if you want the 64-ounce jar, adjustable speed, Pulse, three program categories and two separate drink tumblers in one listed offer. Choose E320 if manual controls are enough, or E310 when a 48-ounce jar better matches your usual batch. The E520 is not a personal blender system just because tumblers are in the box, and its manufacturer ratings are not comparative test data. Verify dimensions, package and warranty before checkout.
Key details at a glance
| Manufacturer-listed container capacity | 64 oz |
|---|---|
| Included container style | Low-profile 64-ounce container |
| Speed and Pulse controls | Variable-speed dial and Pulse, plus three automatic program selections. |
| Named programs/control modes | 3 |
| Program categories | The manual describes Smoothies, Frozen Desserts and Soup programs; the product page labels the soup cycle Hot Soup. |
| Manufacturer-stated motor horsepower | 2 HP |
| Published machine warranty term | 7 years |
| Warranty scope and wording | The exact US product page says 7-Year Full Warranty; the E520 manual calls it a 7-Year Full Machine Warranty for household use. This is the machine package term, not a term for every separate accessory. |
| Manufacturer offer condition | new |
| Chilly tumblers in listed package | 2 |
| Each listed Chilly tumbler | 24 oz |
| Published machine weight | 10.2 lb |
| Footprint and height note | The product page lists 9 x 7.5 x 17.5 in.; the manual gives 17 in. height with jar, 8 in. width and 11 in. depth. Published footprint values conflict; verify clearance before a tight fit. |
| Container compatibility | The E520 manual says legacy C- and G-Series containers work on Explorian bases; Self-Detect containers do not. The included Chilly tumblers are described as drink cups; the manual treats compatible 20-ounce blending cups as a separate optional Personal Cup Adapter setup. |
| Cleaning and heat guidance | The E520 manual's container routine uses warm water and dish soap for 30–60 seconds. Begin hot-liquid blending on speed 1, keep the lid secured and use only the matching tamper; never immerse the motor base. |
Use the exact model’s instructions for operating limits, supplied equipment and version differences.
Sources for this assessment
Choose around the way you blend.
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