CR's lowest-cost, recommended model is the Bosch SHX5AEM5N. Owners seem to like it too. Before buying, I'd recommended you take a few dishes to the store to be sure they fit well. Home Depot, Lowes, or maybe Best Buy should have it on display.

Miele - with the auto door open feature at the end of the cycle that release the steam. Everything comes out dry.

Miele G5050 series. Less complex and recommended by the Miele service tech for our area.

I’ve had both a Bosch and Kitchen Aid in the last 11 years. The KA wins hands down. Holds more, loads easier. These days, most machines, even basic, have three racks and wash/dry well. Check out the KA 204 and 404.

I've had one Miele and three Bosch. Very happy with Bosch - better than the top of the line Miele I had and at half the price. Quiet is very important to me though along with reliability.

I’ve had high end KA and Bosch. Both good. The problem with the model KA I had was the steam was directed out of the side of the door which eventually damaged my cabinets.

If you are looking for a sub 1K option, look at any Maytag that’s $700 or more.

I've had GE Profile, Maytag, KitchenAid Architect Series, Bosch 800 Series, and Frigidaire Gallery.

I would not recommend the GE Profile or KitchenAid.

The Maytag lasted, but it's no longer made and the "new" versions aren't the same. It also had the heating element for drying (ditto the GE & KA), so you had to be careful where you put some items.

I strongly recommend the Bosch. I like the 3rd rack and the fact that there is no heated dry element so you can put things anywhere - including plastics.

I don't know yet about the Frigidaire - it's in the new house, so we've only used it for three weeks. It feels very flimsy and doesn't seem to clean as well as the Bosch. (We will likely replace it with a Bosch in the next year or two.)

Details:

• The GE did not last long on our well water, which was only slightly hard & slightly acidic. The motor had to be replaced twice b/f we replaced it with the Maytag.
• The Maytag was great, but it was from the late 1990s and when we remodeled (2008) we donated it to our church
• When we remodeled in 2008, we selected the KitchenAid - it never cleaned that well. (We had to use the Heavy Duty to have any chance of getting the dishes clean.)
• We had to replace the KA in 2014 and replaced it with the Bosch. It was still going strong when we sold our house last month (April 2025). We had no issue whatsoever in the 11 years we had it.

Bottom Line: I recommend a Bosch. It will last longer than cheaper DWs and, in the end, will be less expensive overall.

Just bought my 2nd miele….. looks like they do continuous quality improvement because its not a high end model yet it cleans better than the last one w not fancy detergent and i think it holds more inthe lower rack.

Bosch.

I like my Kitchenaid. It cleans well, and it was the only dishwasher I saw that had a usable third rack. The other dishwashers out at the time (about three years ago) had a third rack where you could only fit flat things like cutlery, but I can fit bowls in my kitchenaid third row. its also quiet when it runs.

I’ve seen a lot of complaints about GE since they were purchased by Haier, so maybe buyer beware. I love my KA that was installed in 1986, but no one make them like they used to, so don’t expect yours to last as long as mine has. That said, KA is owned by Whirlpool, still a good appliance manufacturer, and I prefer American dishwashers for their capacity and drying, if nothing else. European dishwashers tend to be smaller.

My next dishwasher may be the Maytag MDB8959SKZ, also manufactured by Whirlpool. It came in as the runner up to the Miele G5008 in Wirecutter testing, but has a better (heated) dry cycle. It’s also $450 less than the Miele. Their best Budget pick is actually the Whirlpool WDTA50SAKZ. It cleaned the best in the under $700 category.

I don’t love buying appliances. Regardless of recommendations I get the overwhelming feeling you also have to be lucky to get a good one, which sort of stïnks. I hope you find what you need.

" has a better (heated) dry cycle. "

Interesting you say that, because one of the things I like about my Bosch is that it doesn't have a heated dry cycle.

To each their own, I suppose.

The Bosh Crystal Dry (Zeolite mineral) technology surpasses everything else from my experience even low density plastics.

Whirlpool bought KitchenAid in 1986, ancient history in the appliance world. They segued the KA dishwasher design to WP over a period of several years.

Whirlpool bought Maytag in 2006. Amana, Admiral, and Magic Chef came along with that deal.

boba1: "The Bosh Crystal Dry (Zeolite mineral) technology surpasses everything..."

Yes but the least-expensive SGX78C55UC is $1350 vs the SHX5AEM5N at $900. Is it worth 50% more for that over simply opening the door -- which you'll have to do eventually anyway?

" over simply opening the door "

Actually, keeping the door closed longer actually helps the drying process, in my experience. It seems counterintuitive, but I think it's because the way it dries has something to do with the different cooling temperatures between the interior walls and the material of the items inside.

This is also so helpful!! Thank you!

Toronto Veterinarian: "Actually, keeping the door closed longer actually helps the drying process..."

Relative evaporation rates:

• 90 degrees F at 80% humidity (e.g., inside dishwasher): 1.0
• 72 degrees at 50% humidity: 1.39 (door open; 39% faster evaporation)
• 72 degrees at 40% humidity: 1.65 (door open; 65% faster evaporation)

I've had Bosch, Miele, Asko and KitchenAid. The last two that I have purchased for different homes were KitchenAid. All of these were above mid-range, but not the top of the line. I can't say anything bad about any of them. They all did the job. I have discovered that I don't need a lot of bells and whistles. Why pay for that? So, mid range it is. I like the KitchenAid and would recommend it. My husband likes how it loads and the usable third rack. He hated the Asko. I like that everything is dry when the cycle is complete, unlike Bosch. To each his own. I'd recommend KA.

Coming from a Miele and two Bosches, I recently bought a house with a KA and I have to say that after probably less than a dozen cycles of light duty loads, I’m ready to replace it. First off the wide tine placement keeps the plates spaced inefficiently far apart as compared to the European models, and next I find myself pre-rinsing (washing?) because things like cheese don’t clean up. Using the same Finish Quantum tabs as at home. Can’t tell you the model off-hand, but it’s from 2017 and does not have third rack. On a positive note it’s just as quiet as the rest.

foodonastump: "next I find myself pre-rinsing (washing?) because things like cheese don’t clean up."

Buy some powder detergent such as Cascade Complete and put some in the small, pre-wash dispenser. Then both the first and and second wash cycles will wash with detergent, rather than only the second. Don't pre-rinse; that just "fools" the dishwasher's sensor into thinking the dishes are clean(er).

Thank you I’ll try that.

You are suppose to protect the identity of the cookie thief.

bosch.