Range Review

Ranges: Reliability and reviews

Consumer Reports gets top billing in the Our Sources section as having the best, most credible review of ranges. Editors test almost 70 gas, electric and dual-fuel ranges over the course of several months by boiling water, simmering sauces, baking cookies and broiling burgers. Each range's self-cleaning feature is tested with a baked-on mixture of eggs, tapioca, lard, cheese, cherry pie and tomato puree. Good Housekeeping's recent test of 31 freestanding ranges uses similar methodology, but doesn't include a ratings chart. However, the description of results for each range is detailed, and the ranges are ranked from best to worst in each category. This Good Housekeeping report is a huge improvement over past coverage, where editors would highlight just three or four favorites instead of reporting on all tested ranges.

Somewhat helpful is the J.D. Power and Associates Kitchen Appliances Study. For this survey, about 15,000 respondents rated brand reliability. The survey points to Whirlpool Gold as the best brand when it comes to freestanding ranges. Consumer Reports also publishes the results of its reliability survey of over 60,000 readers. This survey is a bit more helpful, because ratings are more specific, with separate survey results for gas and electric ranges.

Reviews say that most ranges, regardless of price, do a pretty good job with the basics, including boiling, simmering, baking and broiling. Differences emerge when it comes to ease of use and ease of cleaning. Convenience features can add flexibility. Many owners are fond of features such as warming drawers, a bridge element and dual elements. Convection ovens, which use a fan to circulate hot air through the oven for better browning, are becoming more common, but they still add $300 or more to the price. You'll also pay more for a stainless-steel or commercial-grade finish.

Reliability is another factor to consider. Gas and dual-fuel ranges tend to have higher repair rates than electric ranges overall. In particular, Viking gas ranges are notably trouble-prone, with owners reporting that about one in three Viking gas ranges requires major repair within six years. By comparison, Hotpoint, Frigidaire and GE gas ranges have an average repair rate of less than 9 percent.

For this reason, although the Viking VDSC530-B (*est. $5,000) is rated the best dual-fuel range in tests at Good Housekeeping, we didn't consider it for inclusion in the ConsumerSearch Best Reviewed chart.