This is LG's attempt to make a top-loader feel modern, huge 5.5 cu. Ft. Tub, 29-minute TurboWash cycles, smart alerts, but it can't escape the physics problem all impeller washers share: clothes float above the waterline on heavy loads and come out half-cleaned. You'll burn extra rinse cycles chasing detergent residue off dark clothing, and the agitator fins tear within two years even under light use. Buy it if you need top-loading convenience and can live with mediocre cleaning on work jeans or gym clothes; skip it if a front-loader fits your laundry room, because one at this price will simply wash better.
This compact front-loader built its name on machines that genuinely ran 15-20 years with almost no repairs, the kind of longevity that makes $2000-3000 feel reasonable. The newer W2 and Nova models show a troubling slide: rattling and ticking noises on brand-new units, TwinDos detergent systems clogging within months, and service reps dismissing legitimate complaints as non-defects while refusing warranty coverage. The 2.4 cubic foot drum is the other constraint, perfect for tight spaces and couples but forcing American families into multiple loads for king bedding or bulky items a standard washer handles in one. Buy an older W1 if you can find it and need the compact footprint; skip current stock unless you're prepared to fight for warranty service or pay steep out-of-pocket repair bills.