New LG-Based Kenmores Zip To Top Of CR Ratings

[frigilux]

I checked in with CR Online and they had reviewed some new washers, including the recently-introduced LG-made Kenmores.

The relatively affordable model 4027 ($800) now tops CR's rankings, with a score of 85. It received an "Excellent" in cleaning, capacity, energy efficiency and gentleness. It has an 80-minute cycle.

 

[frigilux]

The Kenmore 4051, which sports the new love it/hate it styling, came in 2nd, with a score of 84. Only difference in ratings was that it received a "Very Good" for gentleness. Oh, and it received "Very Good" for noise, compared to the 4027's "Good". Price: $1020.

The TOL LG/Kenmore ($1400) came in 5th, with a score of 83. All three machines rated Excellent for cleaning, capacity, energy efficiency.

 

[mrwash]

Excuse me...

...but do they test if the machines are well built? How long they last? Do they do an endurance test? Thats what I need on deciding if the machine is worth the money it costs. What is a machine which is gentle with clothes if it breaks down a few months after the purchase? Or when it breaks down just when the warranty expired? There are so many threads in here like "Oh no my frontloader is faulty again" or "Nooo, the machine is messed up and I bought it just a few weeks ago."

German CR are not perfect but at least when they test washing machines they will do 1.840 cycles with each machine and thats really a good thing. I don't want to spend a huge amount of money for a machine that consists of plastic inside.

Just ignore my post if they do such tests. I just read the other posts above and couldn't find such a criteria.

 

[danmantn]

Flava' of the week.

 

[supremewhirlpol]

I agree with mrwash, we need durability tests for real world case scenarios. Or maybe real consumers should test them. I wonder how they would perform on heavy loads. I have a suspicion that I will see those machines is 2nd hand stores in the not to distant future. The scary thing is that I see LG machines in 2nd hand stores that aren't even 2 years old!

 

[laundromat]

Customer neglect, abuse and ignorance---

---are the main cause of front loading washer failiers.From items left in pockets, using the wrong detergents or the wrong amount,overloading,leaving the door closed after use, and slamming the doors shut,many problems begin. I'm telling everybody here that I have been to many customer's homes to diagnose and repair these and,other than issues with parts availability and correct diagnosis from L.G.'s end,those who I sold them to that followed the correct procedures,never had any issues whatsoever.They liked them better than any other machine they ever had before and were very pleased with their performance.Those few who did not follow the correct instructions were the ones who had multiple issues.I prefer them over any other brand with Electrolux (Frigidaire)running a close second.They are the only washers and dryers I ever had that had some very interesting ways of operation.connecting a washer and computor that actualy has a brain.I tried numerous times to fool mine and lost everytime especialy when I manualy added more water or used too much detergent.Instead of flooding my floor,it just drained and refilled.It got my dirty clothes very clean and dried them faster than any dryer I ever had before.I just wish that Sears designers would stop the madness with this smoked glass window.

 

[frigilux]

Reliability: According to CR, who claim to have gathered data on washers from over 115,000 surveys, LG front-loaders are the least repair-prone, with 9% needing a repair or having a serious issue.

The other reported brands percentage needing repairs (front-loaders):

11%---Whirlpool and Frigidaire

12%---Kenmore and Bosch

13%---GE and Maytag

 

[mysteryclock]

I would be interested to know if, during a tear-down analysis, those two machines that scored differently were actually the same mechanically inside...

 

[mrb627]

CR

Didn't CR also rave about the Calypso and Neptune TL machines when they hit the market?

 

[frigilux]

They sure did! And to everyone's frustration, it took them two years to report they'd been getting a lot of complaints about excessive wrinkling and tangling with those machines.

I wish they'd test "real world" loads mixed in with their test swatches. Had they washed a load of long-sleeve shirts or sheets these problems would have revealed themselves quickly.

Speaking of those Neptune top-loaders: Talk about a collector's item! They were only made for a couple of years, right? They'll be the Holy Grail of washer collecting in 20 years.

 

[48bencix]

But they should have

The front loaders need an easy to access coin trap in the bottom. Bendix realized this 60 years ago.

Martin

 

[appnut]

front loaders need an easy to access coin trap in the bottom

Martin, LG's product does as well as some GE's I THINK. Miele and Bosch do also. But Whirlpool and Frigidaire and Electrolux dones't. I've not paid attention to any of the other front load brands to know.

 

[jaytag]

Capacity Kills

In my opinion, besides slamming the door and over sudsing, Capacity is what kills most all washers including top loaders. Stuffers. It is worse now with HE washers, since the cycle is longer, people dont want to wait. So they do twice the amount in one load.

 

[mtn1584]

Kenmore.....again......Really????

I cannot understand how the same brand of washer "Kenmore" always winds up at the top of CR ratings.....whether it was top loaders, HE top loaders, front loaders, refrigerators, dishwashers, stoves etc.. it makes me wonder whether if the testers at CR are biased towards Kenmore branded appliances. Nothing against Sears, but how is it that Kenmore always winds up at the top of their ratings, no matter the category?????
Mike

http://ame

 

[mtn1584]

Sorry....there is no link

Sorry...there is no link.
Mike

 

[rp2813]

I bought my '97 Raytheon Amana pair based primarily on CR having top-rated the washer, and secondarily on price point. They were far more affordable than a comparable Kenmore pair, which was lower rated by CR. Looking back, there is absolutely no question about the fact that the Kenmores were superior machines. I just wish the Raytheon Amanas had a reputation preceding them back then, instead of following after them now after disappointing legions of buyers who followed CR's advice.

I have sworn off CR as a result. They don't know how to test, and they clearly don't weigh frequency of repair heavily enough in their scoring process.

 

[joe_in_philly]

In response to mtn1584, I think the answer is that Kenmore versions have been slightly tweaked. My Whirlpool made Kenmore washer (original HE3t) and its Whirlpool sibling (original DuetHT) have slightly different cycles. The Kenmore version has longer cycles, with a longer wash time, as well as slightly longer spin times and a faster top spin speed.

While I don't know if it is still true, Kenmore versions used to have more features than their maker's own brand - my washer has a stain treat option that started the wash temp at warm and heated it to hot while extending the wash time. It can be used on the normal, whitest whites, heavy duty, and sanitary cycles. The Whirlpool sibling (at the time) didn't have that option, although it was built into the heavy duty cycle. A few other options that my Kenmore washer had that Whirlpool did not offer on any of its models were extra low spin speed, tap cold wash temp, and extended spin. I am not sure if this is true when it comes to the LG made Kenmores, but it is possible that the Kenmore cycles have been modified for better washing results.

Another example of how a Kenmore branded, Whirlpool made appliance can differ is the refrigerator I have. The Kenmore version had nicer shelves and a few other options like tilt out freezer door shelves and a slide out freezer tray that the Whirlpool version did not include. Probably as no surprise, the Kenmore version was a bit pricier, too.

 

[launderess]

Kenmore Is Not Simply A Rebadged

Cousin of whatever appliance the maker is producing, but rather something built to Sears specs. Indeed long before Walmart, Sears went to an appliance maker, say Whirlpool and told them what they wanted in terms of changes/enhancements to a particular model. Sears could do this because until recently, they were the largest seller of "major appliances" in the United States.

Also, and this may have changed, but Kenmore appliances are not made on the same assembly line as their cousins. But production is shut down or whatever needs to be done so only the Kenmore product is made, when that run is done, things go back to whatever.

Historically, at least as far as CR ratings go, Kenmore applinaces have usually always ranked higher in reported reliability and such than their brand label cousins. My Frigidare built 18" dishwasher had horrible ratings, but the Kenmore version didn't and indeed still is going strong after ten years.

IIRC, Kenmore branded appliances often have different features, colours and so forth also to make directly comparing them versus the "name" brand difficult.

 

[frigilux]

In addition to what Launderess has pointed out, Sears sometimes contractually bars the parent company's branded appliance from having the same features as the Kenmore for a year or so after it's introduction. For instance, Kenmore-branded front-loaders had a spin speed of 100 or 200 more rpms than the comparable Whirlpool model for awhile.