Refrigerators Reviews

Updated November 2007

Best Refrigerators Reviews: (out of 14)
Consumer Reports, Consumer Reports, Choice.com.au

Best Refrigerators: (out of 85)
Whirlpool ET1FHTXM, Frigidaire Gallery FRT18S6A, Amana ABB1922FE

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Fast Answers - Best Refrigerators

Top Rated	What the Research Says
• Whirlpool ET1FHTXM (*est. $860) >> Where to buy	Top-freezer refrigerator. Top-freezer refrigerators make good use of space and perform well temperature-wise. They are also less expensive than other types and, in general, are more reliable than other styles. The Whirlpool ET1FHTXM performs well and is Energy Star rated (which may earn you a rebate from your utility company). It features an interior icemaker and internal water dispenser, plus spill-control glass shelves and gallon storage on the door. It comes in white, black and bisque and has a capacity of about 21 cubic feet.
• Frigidaire Gallery FRT18S6A (*est. $550) >> Where to buy	Smaller, basic top-freezer refrigerator. This inexpensive, reliable Frigidaire refrigerator has an 18 cubic foot capacity, making it about three to six inches narrower than other models. That makes it a good fit for apartments or small tight spaces. Although this Frigidaire refrigerator is not Energy Star rated, reviews say it is still efficient and reliable. It doesn’t have an icemaker, water dispenser or many other extras, but it's a good choice if you simply want the basics. (compare prices)
• Amana ABB1922FE (*est. $1,000) >> Where to buy	Bottom-freezer refrigerator. This configuration has the same advantages as top-freezer refrigerators. Some people find them more convenient, since the more often accessed refrigerator compartment is at eye level. Amana makes the widest range of bottom-freezer refrigerators and most get good scores for temperature performance and ease of use. This model has a pull-out freezer drawer, which owners generally prefer over a swing-out freezer door. The Amana refrigerator is also Energy Star rated and is particularly quiet. It comes in white, bisque, black and stainless steel (*est. $1,300). (compare prices)
• GE GSH25JFT (*est. $1,100) >> Where to buy	Side-by-side refrigerator. Side-by-side refrigerators are a good choice for narrow kitchens where door clearance is an issue, but they are the most repair-prone type of refrigerators, mainly because most have through-the-door ice and water dispensers – the single most repair-prone component on refrigerators. The well-rated GE side-by-side refrigerator has touchpad controls, temperature-controlled deli bins and an ice/water dispenser. It is also Energy Star rated. A stainless steel finish is available, but costs $200 more. (compare prices)
• Amana AFD2535DEW (*est. $1,520) >> Where to buy	French door refrigerator. French door models have two side-by-side refrigerator doors atop a pull-out freezer drawer. Unlike a side-by-side refrigerator, the interior shelving is the full width of the unit. This top-rated Amana model costs less than many French door refrigerators. It has pull-out shelves/bins, a temperature-controlled meat/deli bin, an interior icemaker and internal filtered water dispenser (but no through-the-door dispenser). It is Energy Star rated and available in white, black and bisque. Stainless steel costs $300 more. (compare prices)
• Whirlpool Gold GC3SHEXN (*est. $2,100) >> Where to buy	Counter-depth refrigerator. This Whirlpool side-by-side refrigerator is only 24 inches deep, made to sit nearly flush with your cabinets, mimicking a built-in look for less money than a true built-in. The highly rated Whirlpool Gold has a through-the-door ice and water dispenser, gallon door storage and Energy Star efficiency. A stainless steel finish ($300 extra) is available along with white, black and bisque, but no custom doors are available. (compare prices)
• Sub-Zero 650 (*est. $5,700) >> Where to buy	Built-in refrigerator. This kind of refrigerator lies flush with cabinetry and can be fitted with matching fronts, a custom look that's very expensive. Sub-Zero is the enthusiasts' choice in this category. Even though reviews say this unit is prone to repairs, it's one of the less expensive built-in refrigerators. Its temperature consistency beats out many of its competitors', but it's not Energy Star rated. Some owners complain that the drawers don't slide out far enough and that the icemaker is troublesome.
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What the experts say, our analysis, and more...

When it comes to refrigerators, we found two types of reviewers – those who simply offer lists of "recommended" models, unsupported by side-by-side testing, and publications like Good Housekeeping, Choice, Which? and Consumer Reports that actually test how cold refrigerators get and how much energy they use. We downgraded reviews like those from Consumer Guide that offer no critical analysis and offer only large lists of refrigerators.

Fortunately, performance of most mainstream refrigerators falls into a narrow range of good to excellent. Experts say that refrigerators have become more efficient, spacious and quiet; the comments we read from owners posting comments to Epinions and ThatHomeSite.com's appliance forums bear that out. We find fewer complaints about refrigerators than about other large appliances, such as washing machines. Experts at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) test new refrigerator models for efficiency and summarize those findings in lists of most efficient products. Across the board, refrigerators do well, and the difference in yearly running costs between the most efficient and least efficient refrigerators is generally less than $50 per year.

Given that most refrigerators do well in terms of performance, your primary concern may be overall reliability. If you're interested in a model with a through-the-door icemaker and water dispenser, be aware that this component is responsible for the great majority of repair issues. On average, 20 percent of these refrigerators end up needing repair. Refrigerators with interior icemakers can also be problematic, but not as much as side-by-side or French-door refrigerators with a through-the-door icemaker/dispenser.

Among specific refrigerator brands, Whirlpool and Kenmore side-by-side refrigerators are more reliable than Frigidaire, Maytag, Jenn-Air and Amana side-by-sides. When it comes to refrigerators without an icemaker, Maytag leads in breakdowns by a fair margin, according to large owner surveys. Performance-wise, Maytag doesn't fare much better or worse than others. Unfortunately, none of these owner surveys take into account shake-ups and acquisitions among manufacturers. Back in 2001, Amana was acquired by Maytag, which last year merged with Whirlpool. Whirlpool also makes most refrigerators for the Kenmore label. So that means Whirlpool now includes a huge share of the appliance market with Maytag, Amana, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Estate and a few lesser known brands. GE, Samsung, Sub-Zero, Viking and LG are still independent.

French door refrigerators are gaining in popularity. These models have a double-door refrigerator on top with a full-width freezer on the bottom. We find good reviews for the Maytag Ice20 French Door refrigerator (*est. $2,250) . This feature-loaded refrigerator receives good scores for temperature consistency, low noise and energy efficiency. It offers a through-the-door ice and water dispenser, pull-out shelves and bins, gallon storage on the door and an open-door alarm. However, in testing, this model isn't any better than the Amana AFD2535DEW (*est. $1,520) , which skips the through-the-door ice and water dispenser but is otherwise similar. Given the unreliability of water and ice dispensers in general, the Amana looks like a much better bet if you want a French door refrigerator, even though both companies now fall under the Whirlpool umbrella. ... Continued