Kenmore Elite 13962

The Kenmore Elite 13962 is one of the most expensive dishwashers we found in reviews, but it offers a lot of features for the money, including a stainless-steel tub, hidden controls, adjustable racks, rotating spray jets, a soil sensor and a control lockout feature. It doesn't include the self-cleaning filter found on the less expensive Maytag JetClean Plus MDB8959AWW (*Est. $660) , but this helps keep noise levels low. The Energy Star-rated 13962 gets high scores in professional tests for its cleaning performance, efficiency and quietness.

Users agree that this model cleans well and quietly, and they say it's also a snap to load. The most common complaint is that it's easy to bump the touch controls by accident, and some users dislike having to clean the filter by hand. Reports of mechanical problems are rare, and Kenmore Elite dishwashers as a whole get good ratings for their reliability. This machine comes in white, black and bisque, with stainless steel and wood finishes available for about $70 more.

ConsumerReports.org includes the Kenmore Elite 13962 in its tests of dishwashers, and roughly a dozen users post reviews. We found feedback from more than 125 owners at Sears.com, the only site that sells Kenmore appliances. The annual survey of appliance owners by J.D. Power and Associates provides an overview of user opinions on the Kenmore Elite brand as a whole.