Kenmore Elite 97203

The Kenmore Elite 97203 is an electric range with an induction cooktop. Instead of heating the burners directly, it generates an electromagnetic field that heats up the cookware directly (provided that cookware is made of magnetic materials). It pairs this cooktop with a 6.1-cubic-foot convection oven, plus a separate warming drawer. Additional features include a meat probe and a built-in ventilation fan. In professional tests, this model gets excellent scores across the board for boiling, simmering, baking and broiling.

However, user reviews are less positive. While owners say they love the fast-heating cooktop and convection oven, they also complain that the cooktop layout makes it difficult to use all the burners at once. We saw similar comments about the top-rated Samsung FTQ307NWGX (*Est. $1,930), but the Samsung induction range did not have as many complaints about reliability. Although we found only a handful of reviews for the Kenmore Elite range, two of them contained serious reliability complaints -- one about the burners and another about the ventilation fan. Another review says that the huge oven takes a long time to preheat.

The Kenmore Elite 97203 has been subjected to detailed, thorough testing both at ConsumerReports.org and at Good Housekeeping. User reviews for this range are scarce, however; we found only a handful at Sears.com, the only retail site that sells Kenmore appliances. The annual appliance survey by J.D. Power and Associates provides some general information about the Kenmore Elite brand.