Bottom-freezer refrigerators

Lower freezers put the main compartment at eye level

Among bottom-freezer refrigerators, we saw the best recommendations for the Kenmore 76252 (*Est. $1,300). Features in this 21.9-cubic-foot refrigerator include a factory-installed ice maker, two removable freezer baskets, twin humidity-controlled crispers, four door-mounted and adjustable clear bins, electronic controls with a digital display and adjustable spill-proof glass shelves. The Kenmore 76252 refrigerator is Energy Star-qualified to the latest standards, so it is relatively inexpensive to operate. In tests, it does an excellent job maintaining temperature, though its ice-making ability is only so-so. User feedback at Sears.com and elsewhere is limited, but largely positive. In addition to white, this refrigerator is offered in stainless steel as the Kenmore 76253 (*Est. $1,530), black as the Kenmore 76259 (*Est. $1,300) and bisque as the Kenmore 76254 (*Est. $1,300).

For a lot less, the Amana ABB1921DEW (*Est. $800) might be worth considering. It receives good scores in one professional test, but owner reviews are mixed, with many users complaining of reliability problems and build quality. Like the LG refrigerator above, this 19-cubic-foot fridge has a swing-out freezer door, but adds a wire slide-out freezer drawer. There is also a freezer light, which is sometimes rare among bottom-freezer refrigerators but common for this brand. Its sound-insulation package makes it one of the more quiet refrigerators on the market. The Amana doesn't have a water dispenser or ice maker, though an ice maker is optional. It has gallon door storage and humidity-controlled crisper drawers. This Amana bottom-freezer refrigerator is available in white only.

If you want a larger bottom-freezer refrigerator, the Amana ABB2221FEW (*Est. $900) has a 22.1-cubic-foot capacity. This model scores well for temperature control and costs less than other refrigerators of its size. Like the smaller Amana refrigerator above, this model has a swing-out door. A slide-out freezer basket, adjustable door buckets, adjustable split glass shelves and a freezer light are also included. There are also two humidity-controlled crisper drawers and an ice maker, but no water dispenser. The Amana ABB2221FEW comes in white; a black version (the Amana ABB2221FEB) is also available.

We also saw a recommendation for the Amana ABB2222FEW (*Est. $1,050), but aside from great energy efficiency (it is Energy Star-qualified) and the convenience of a pull-out drawer, this is a fairly basic refrigerator considering its price. Even the ice maker is an extra-cost accessory. The refrigerator comes in white, but is also available in black as the Amana ABB2222FEB (*Est. $1,050), in bisque as the Amana ABB2222FEQ (*Est. $1,050) and silver as the Amana ABB2222FED (*Est. $1,200).

Note that while these Amana refrigerators score well with professional reviewers, users sometimes have a different opinion. To be sure, many are happy with their Amana bottom freezers. However, we also saw a larger-than-expected number of consumer complaints regarding reliability -- specifically, premature compressor failure. Amana bottom-freezer refrigerators have a fairly high repair rate compared to other brands, and although J. D. Power and Associates' customer satisfaction survey doesn't specifically rate refrigerators with bottom freezers, Amana's French-door and side-by-side models receive below-average rankings. Their top-freezer models are rated about average.