V just added a $2,700 Miele dishwasher to its Ratings, the most expensive model by far of the almost 200 dishwashers in our tests. For that price you get three adjustable racks, a built-in water softener and a souped-up turbo cycle, among other fancy features. What you won't get is sparkling results as the Miele Futura Diamond G5975SCSF was a mid-pack performer in our tests.
The multitasking Miele has a variety of washing options, including a higher-energy turbo mode said to reduce running time by 30 percent (a normal cycle is 130 minutes) and an "intensive" mode that directs more power to heavily soiled items on the bottom rack while protecting delicate stemware above. A third rack, common on higher-end dishwashers, offers space for stemware as well as large utensils. And interior LEDs light up when you open the door to help you see what you're loading and unloading.
A feature called AutoClose pulls the door tighter after you close it and, when the cycle is complete, releases the latch slightly to aid in drying. The company claims the stainless door resists "fingerprints, scratches and smudges," a plus for busy family kitchens. There's a water softener in case you have hard water you're not already treating. And the warranty is five years, longer than that of most models we've tested.
With such high-end features, we expected top performance and while the Miele Futura Diamond's washing was impressive, dishwashers that cost as little as $600 did just as well or better in our dishwasher tests. It was quiet, but not as quiet as our top-rated Kenmore Elite 12793, which costs exactly half as much. If you're looking for a high-end dishwasher for a custom kitchen and can wait a bit longer, we're almost finished testing four new Bosch dishwashers. Several Bosch models already stand out in our tests, including the Bosch Ascenta SHX3AR7[5]UC, a CR Best Buy at $700.
For $2,700 you can buy all four of the other dishwashers we just tested and have money to spare for dishwasher detergent. Unfortunately, none of them made our list of top dishwasher picks either. They include the Frigidaire Gallery FGHD2472PF, $700; the Bosch Ascenta DLX SHX4AT75UC, $700; the Frigidaire Gallery FGBD2438PF, $500; and the Frigidaire Gallery FGBD2434PF, $400. But since we're continually testing new dishwashers, there are plenty of good performers to choose from that'll fit both your budget and your lifestyle.
