Aliris,

Kitchenaid makes really strong dishwashers. That being said, their top of the line models KUD70/KUD60 (or it is KUDE70/60??) are excellent.

What you should consider is how you want the water to heat during the washing process. In short, most KA's (and other American brands) have a heating coil at the bottom. This design is very common, but it's drawback is that it will melt plastics. In all Bosch models, they have an internal water heater. This means that plastics won't melt if you put them on the bottom rack.

Now just going off the top of my head, I believe the KA KUDE70 does NOT have a heating coil. However, I'm not sure of the KUD60 has one or not.

Once you get out of the KA 70 and 60's, they all have heating coils.

Hope this helps!

Here is a link that might be useful: The connection between Mullets and Appliances is scary. Read my blog!

In my experience, the higher end KA (KUDE60) is much quieter than their lower end models (KUDP). The rack configuration differs significantly between KA and Bosch...I would advise taking a box of your dishes, bowls, and pots to your local appliance store and determine whether they fit better in the KA or Bosch.

Agree with warmfridge about capacity and quietness. Assuming you have a good machine, you'll be living with it (and its sounds) for a decade or more. It's worth the effort to determine what's best for you. Quietness always costs more but, with the newer machines having longer cycle times, you'll be listening to more of whatever sounds it makes longer than previously.

I was thinking all of the KA have a heating element. One of their selling points to good drying and the "heating of the tub". The higher end line uses the filter system where the lower end still uses the grinder. The latest models even with a grinder are running 49 decibels, filter models are even quieter.

I've had several KA dishwashers over the years and have liked them all. The one I have now I specifically got because it has a 1 hour cycle (KUDE45)...important during parties. I have found them all to do a great job cleaning dishes, and all the recent (since 1990) ones have been so quiet we can carry on a conversation standing in front of them.

With this new one, my plastics don't melt. They seem to have adjusted the element temp so it gets the water hot without melting the containers, and I can use the heat dry mode as well.

I am today going out to buy a new dishwasher to replace my 6 year old KA that has been repaired twice already. Repair guy doesn't even recommend fixing it anymore. It is a KUDP01IL. It may be a lower end. I also have a 6 year old KA clothes washer that rusted terribly was almost completely rebuilt by KA. The service man-sent by KA themselves, also found something else majorly wrong when he was replacing the drum, outer cabinet, and lid that had rusted after just over 3 years. My KA dryer, 5 years old, has had the humidity sensor replaced twice-once because it was snagging the clothes, and another time it just stoped working. I just had it repaired again because some emergency gas shut off kicked in for no reason. Repairman said it was very clean of lint and should not have kicked in.
I can say I have had outstanding service with KA as they replaced the sensors within days and the clothes washer was out of warranty when they paid for the rebuild.
My repair man says most if not all brands are not built to last as most parts are made overseas. He says Americans want high end things at low prices and this is the only way to get them, but we sacrifice durability for price. I don't know how true that is but I do tend to believe that.
As for now, I am not even considering a KA or Whirlpool(same company). Probably will go Bosch. Only problem being there are few who service Bosch around my parts.