KitchenAid dishwashers sit in a data void: almost no one talks about them online, which itself tells you something about mindshare. The few mentions skew vintage (an inherited unit from decades back) or trivial (wine glass holders), leaving zero signal on cleaning power, noise, or whether a 2023 model holds up past year two. When a major appliance generates this little chatter in an era of relentless product discourse, trust is a gamble. Skip this unless you've seen it run in a friend's kitchen and can live with guessing on longevity.
Smeg sells you the retro-chic kitchen dream, but the appliance underneath is a gamble wrapped in gorgeous sheet metal. Heating elements have a documented habit of dying every few years, and replacements cost enough to make you wince twice, once at the bill and once at the realization you're locked into premium-priced maintenance for life. Cleaning is fine, not great, and you're paying a steep markup over Bosch or Miele for looks alone. Buy this if the aesthetic is worth the repair lottery and you've budgeted for parts; otherwise, get something boring that actually lasts.