European companies have been at the forefront of energy efficiency for a long time now. Miele and Asko were both among the first to be imported into the American market. They changed the way Americans bought dishwashers.
European-style dishwashers were the first to have stainless steel interiors which were more germ and odor resistant to plastic dishwashers.
The other major change was a much quieter dishwasher. As floor plans opened up with a combination of living room and kitchen, this became more appealing.
However, Asko and Miele became very different dishwashers and very different companies. We will look at both, so you can determine the right product for yourself.
Miele Dishwashers
Miele is one of the most precise appliance companies in the world taking German engineering to a level of quality we see in space exploration. They manufacture down to the component level in their factory guaranteeing quality in all their products.
In reliability, they are among the least serviced appliance sold at Yale today. No surprise coming from a company whose slogan is “Immer besser” translating to “Forever Better”.
Miele products are produced in Germany.
Asko Dishwashers
Asko had a humble start from a Swedish farmer, which is ironically similar to Maytag. They expanded into the United States in the 1990’s to sell dishwashers and laundry.
Asko was first owned by Asea of Sweden, then Merloni of Italy. After Merloni was bankrupt, the assets were purchased by Goranje of Slovenia. Unlike Miele, Asko has had several different owners in a relatively shorter period of time.
Let's look at some dishwashers.
Asko vs. Miele Dishwashers Comparison
Asko D5636XXLHS/TH - $1,499
Features:
- 10 Wash Cycles - Plenty of options for different plates, glass, and cutlery
- Turbo Drying Plus
- Aqua Safe
- All Metal Spray Arms
- Child Lock - Safety from being opened during a cycle
- Stainless Tall-Tub - Reduces chances of odor
- 46 Decibels - Quiet compares to a low conversation
- Multi-Position Wine Rack - Allows for little movement
Hallmarks of an Asko dishwasher are its tough graphite racks and all stainless wash arms. Asko is the only heated element dry for a European brand.
Miele G6165SCVISF - $1,499
Features:
- 11 Wash Programs
- 3D Cutlery Tray - New cutlery tray design with more flexibility for different utensils
- Water Softener - If you have hard water it will reduce etching and marks on dishes
- 5 Different Dry Cycles - Depending on energy efficiency and time
- 45 Decibels - Quiet compares to a low conversation
- Delay Start - Better flexibility with your daily schedule
- China Crystal Setting - Miele is the one dishwasher recommended by Riedel for their china
- Clean Touch Steel - Less chance for fingerprints and other marks
Hallmarks of Miele are the three level wash and dry cycles along with the cutlery basket up top.
Asko D5656XXLHS/PH - $1,999
Features:
- 11 Wash Cycles
- 17 Place Setting Capacity
- 44 Decibels - Quieter than a low conversation
- XL Tall-Tub - Flush design has more height for tall plates and glasses
- Adjustable Center Cutlery Rack - Can be used for dishes as well or removed if needed
- All Metal Spray Arms - No plastic means no worry of warping
- Water Filtration System - Cleaner water reduces chance of leftover food on dry plates
- Turbo Dry - Fan assisted dry for quicker cycles
- Water Heater - Will heat water up on its own for better condensation dry
- Child Lock - Safety from being opened during a cycle
- Delay Start - Better flexibility with your daily schedule
- China Crystal Setting - Gentler cycle for more delicate items
Miele G6985SCVI K2O - $2,599
Features:
- 42 Decibels - Very quiet, as quiet as a whisper
- 14 Wash Programs - Lots of wash options for different plates, glass, and cutlery
- 31-Minute Wash and Dry - Best used with Miele tablets
- 10 Special Programs - Allows for more options with energy saving modes
- 3D Cutlery Tray - New cutlery tray design with more flexibility for different utensils
- Turbo Mode - Allows for a powerful wash
- Quick Wash - All wash no dry if you need plates cleaned quickly
- Water Heater - Will heat water up on its own for better condensation dry
- China Crystal Setting - Miele is the one dishwasher recommended by Riedel for their china
- Auto Open Drying - Opens during the dry mode for a faster dry
- Delay Start - Better flexibility for your daily schedule
- Remote Vision Capability - Will monitor your dishwasher and contact Miele if there is an issue
- Knock to Open - Great feature allows for handling less
- Fits seamlessly in any kitchen
- 5 Year Warranty
Asko vs. Miele: Which is Better?
One thing to keep in mind is both brands are super premium. Both have plenty of features.
Asko has improved in some of their mechanisms such as their stability, dry cycles, and their racking configuration. They are also the only dishwasher to have all metal spray arms for better reliability.
Their top model has so many different features it will cover almost every wash scenario. It is a solid machine, probably the most solid dishwasher on the market.
Miele, however, is still the best dishwasher on the market. It will be quieter than an Asko.
Rather than adding heat to an already hot dishwasher, Miele has a better drying method. They have an intake at the bottom of their dishwashers which allows air into the side wall of the dishwasher. The heat inside of the dishwasher is attracted to the colder wall and dissipated.
In terms of reliability, Miele is about 10% more reliable than an Asko dishwasher according to our own service database of 20,000 plus service calls per year.
Both are good dishwashers. Asko will have more cycles and an all-metal interior, Miele will dry better as well as be more reliable.
Additional Resources
Want to learn more about dishwashers? Download our free Dishwasher Buying Guide for detailed reviews of Miele, Asko, and all the best brands. Over 250,000 people have read a Yale Guide.
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Editor's Note: This article was originally published on November 12, 2012 and has been updated for accuracy, comprehensiveness and freshness.
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