I just bought a Bosch Benchmark induction cooktop and was concerned about the same thing but I don't find it to be a problem. Also with the Benchmark you can create a larger hob on the left side by combining zones and I have found that to be a great feature for something like an oval dutch oven. If you think about it, if you can manage to get a heavy pan to the front of the cooktop, a couple more inches isn't going to make a difference. My concern was more about having the hob back under the exhaust fan but it's in a house with a proper range hood that's higher than the OTR microwave that I'm used to. Overall I really like it though it's taken me a while to get used to the lack of individual controls for each hob. I decided Bosch was the best option, in part based on reviews, and that I'd just have to get used to the things I was concerned about which I have.

I recently bought the Bosch 800 Series and the elements placement can be improved. I wish the 9" burner was at the front instead of the two 6" - it is my most used element and it sits way too far to reach comfortably. You do get used to it eventually and might need to wipe your backsplash more often (learned the hard way after a nasty oil splatter that my grout had absorbed by the time I saw it). That seemed a better deal than the Benchmark series and I was worried the flexible element will be finicky to use, which was a wild guess of mine. I wish I got the Benchmark. My old Bosch gas range was from the Benchmark series which I installed 6 months ago but replaced with induction and you can definitely feel the downgrade with the oven - the door doesn't close as smoothly, no telescopic rack, etc. If you're trying to pick between the 800 and Benchmark, go with the Benchmark. Happy cooking!

Sweet Potato. Thank you. I took a cast iron 12" skillet to the showroom and decided the placement of the large burner just wouldn't work for me. So I bought the GE Profile. I liked the Cafe better but hard to get ahold of right now in my area.

You gave me something important to look into for my kitchen update. My current range has rear controls and most grease splatters are caught on the porcelain and not so much on the tile backsplash behind it. I need to see what I might use for a backsplash that isn't grouted tile!

I have the LG LSE4617ST, the predecessor to the LG LSIS6338F whose performance is top-notch in CR's testing. Its largest induction element is at the front and it is less than $4K. In its tests, the performance of the Bosch HIS8055U was significantly worse.

• Home Depot: https://www.homedepot.com/p/323154805
• Best Buy: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/lg-studio-6-3-cu-ft-freestanding-electric-induction-true-convection-range-with-easyclean-instaview-and-air-fry-stainless-steel/6528627.p

The LSIL6336F with fewer features is only $2500 (https://www.bestbuy.com/site/reviews/lg-6-3-cu-ft-slide-in-electric-induction-true-convection-range-with-easyclean-and-air-fry-stainless-steel/6536404)

Compare the spec sheets to see the differences.