Like a lot of people, when looking for a new dishwasher, I've done quite a bit of research to find out which is the best machine to buy. I've read a lot of dishwasher ratings and reviews, most of which rate Bosch home appliances highly. I've also seen Bosch dishwashers in the shops, but even though they look fantastic, they do tend to come with quite a price tag. That's why I'm asking this question - are Bosch dishwashers really worth spending that little bit extra on?
Reliability
Bosch home appliances are produced by Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH, a German manufacturing company who also produce the Siemens brand. German manufacturers generally have an excellent reputation. Certainly, this is something that attracts me to the Bosch dishwashers. The experts also seem to agree that Bosch is a reliable brand. Malcolm Coles of Which magazine is quoted as saying: "Bosch (and Miele) are brands you can trust and they're not going to leave you with dishwashers full of dirty dishes or vacs that won't suck." A survey of nearly 15,000 Which readers, showed Bosch as one of the top brands for reliability.
Categories of Bosch Dishwashers
Bosch dishwashers are divided into four categories, Classixx, Avantixx, Exxcel and Logixx. In fact, you can find these categories in all the lines of Bosch home appliances. The Classixx range is the cheapest and most basic of the four categories. Avantixx builds on the Classixx, adding some nice features, such as the two-stage Rackmatic basket system and the Aquasensor which senses how dirty the water is and adjusts programme time, temperature and water accordingly. The Exxcel model has a greatly increased range of features, including Vario and VarioFlex Basket System, Express Wash, Auto Clean (selecting auto clean tells the dishwasher to automatically select the correct programme), IntensiveZone (for heavily soiled pots and pans), Hygiene Extra for a hotter final rinse and DosageAssist. The Logixx models add Vario Drawer to replace the cutlery basket and feature increased energy efficiency.
Energy Efficiency
This is one of my major requirements in a new appliance. Bosch home appliances are recommended by the Energy Saving Trust, so from that I think we can gather that they are probably quite efficient as far as energy-saving goes. It's also clear from the promotional material on their website and in the appliance shops, that the company are heavily promoting the energy efficiency of their Bosch home appliances. The Exxcel and the Logixx feature Bosch's new ActiveWater system which claims to use water in the most efficient way possible by maximising water efficiency during rinse cycles and improving pump performance. Below are the details of energy consumption for the three more energy-efficient models.
Avantixx
Consumption in programme Economy 50:
13 litres water, 1.05 kwh Energy, 140 min duration
Exxcel
Consumption in programme
Economy 50: 12 litres water, 1.05 kwh Energy, 140 min duration
Logixx
Consumption in programme Economy 50:
10 litres water, 0.97 kwh energy, 140 min duration
So...Should You Invest?
I believe so. If price is an issue, it's a good idea to look at the Bosch Classix range which come in at an affordable price whilst still giving a great performance. It doesn't have the energy efficiency of the more expensive models (although it still competes well with other brands), but it does give fantastic cleaning results according to Which magazine and to the many dishwasher ratings that I've read. However it's the Exxcel and Logixx that are the most outstanding. Yes, they come at a higher price but the build, features and energy-efficiency make them a wise purchase.
