EmailBest Reviewed
Dishwashers
- Best-value dishwasher Kenmore 13742 *Est. $560
- Best luxury dishwasher Bosch SHX98M09UC *Est. $1550
- Best basic dishwasher Whirlpool DU1055XTVQ *Est. $400
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Best-value dishwasher
- Excellent cleaning ability
- Fairly quiet
- Price
- Efficient
- Fewer features than competing models
- Plastic tub
In comparison tests, the Kenmore 13742 dishwasher performs well all around. It doesn't have quite as many features and isn't as quiet as the Bosch SHX98M09UC (*Est. $1,550), another dishwasher that's highly rated and more stylish, but twice as expensive. Owners posting at Sears.com give the Kenmore 13742 dishwasher higher scores than many other models, praising its quiet operation, although some owners feel the dishwasher's performance is inconsistent. A few reviewers also complain about parts failing or breaking, as well as the lack of a stainless-steel tub. Altogether, while the Kenmore 13742 isn't the nicest-looking dishwasher, it's a good blend of reliability, performance and price.
We found the best review of the Kenmore 13742 in ConsumerReports.org, which compares the Kenmore dishwasher to 46 other models, rating each for cleaning performance, noise and loading flexibility. ConsumerReports.org also allows owners to post reviews. J.D. Power and Associates reports in its 2009 kitchen appliances study that Kenmore ranks about average, but no specific models are rated. We found about 80 owner reviews for this model posted on the Sears website and another 150 at Buzzillions.com.
Our Sources
1. ConsumerReports.org
ConsumerReports.org includes the Kenmore 13742 and several other Kenmore dishwashers in its test of nearly 50 models. Consumer Reports also allows readers to contribute reviews and posts the results of a subscriber survey on brand reliability.
Review: Dishwashers: Ratings, How to Choose, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, Aug. 2009
2. Sears.com
The majority of owner-reviewers posting to Sears.com give the Kenmore 13742 high marks for cleaning and quiet operation. At the time of our visit, about 80 owner reviews contribute to an average rating of 3.5 stars out of five. Complaints focus on reliability, and one owner says this dishwasher doesn't clean as well as the 15-year-old model it replaced.
Review: White Kenmore 24 in. Built-In Dishwasher, Contributors to Sears.com
Almost 3,500 people participated in this survey about dishwashers. Brands are rated in six categories, including performance, price, features, ease of use, style and warranty. Kenmore dishwashers receive satisfactory marks in all categories. This article does not recommend or rate specific models.
Review: 2009 Home Appliances Study: Dishwashers, Editors of J.D. Power and Associates, Aug. 26, 2009
At ConsumerGuide.com, the Kenmore 13742 receives a CG Budget Buy award, but the review appears to be based on the dishwasher's features and price. There's no indication that the dishwasher was actually tested. Still, this review is worth a look for its detailed discussion of how the Kenmore's features compare to similarly priced dishwashers.
Review: Expert Review: Kenmore 13742 Built-in Dishwasher, Editors of ConsumerGuide.com, Apr. 25, 2008
Buzzillions.com compiles user reviews from other sites. The Kenmore 13742 has about 150 owner reviews that give it an average rating of 3.6 stars out of five. Owners say it's a good value for the money, but some note that the dishwasher's plastic parts seem flimsy.
Review: Kenmore 24 in. Built-in Dishwasher, Contributors to Buzzillions.com
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