The KitchenAid 200 series dishwasher was a top-seller last year, even surpassing its main competitors, Bosch and Miele. However, this year, KitchenAid made some changes to the line.
It's interesting to note that one of KitchenAid's main competitors is actually KitchenAid itself.
Let's dive into the details of the KitchenAid 200 series dishwasher. We'll explore its features for cycles, washing and drying systems, and even take a peek at reliability stats based on real service calls.
Plus, we'll compare the KitchenAid 200 series against its competitors, including Bosch, Miele, Beko, and even KitchenAid's own 400 series dishwashers.
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The KitchenAid 200 series dishwasher offers three different styles to choose from - one with a towel bar handle (KDTE204KPS), one with controls on the face (KDFE204), and one panel-ready for a custom cabinet front.
However, the panel-ready version set to release in 2021 protrudes past the cabinet, lacking the seamless look of its competitors like Bosch, Miele, and Beko dishwashers.
KitchenAid 200 Series Prices
Determining the price of the KitchenAid 200 series dishwasher can be a bit tricky.
Like most manufacturers, KitchenAid often promotes their products during holidays such as Black Friday, Labor Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, and July 4th.
Last year, the price range for the 200 series was $749-$899, but most of the time it was priced at $749-$799. Due to limited availability caused by Covid and supply chain issues, the price has remained non-promotional and higher, similar to other brands.
The KitchenAid 200 series dishwasher has a silence rating of 39 dB, which is significantly lower than most of its competitors at 44 dB.
However, you should never make your buying decision based solely on quietness.
While 39 dB is impressive, the threshold for quietness in a dishwasher is 44 dB, which means that any dishwasher with a noise level of 44 dB or less is sufficiently quiet.
It's worth noting that KitchenAid's better M series dishwashers have a noise level of 44 dB.
Read More: Quietest Dishwashers By Decibel Rating
KitchenAid's wash system is impressive, with three main levels on the top and under each basket.
This system outperforms Bosch's two-plus sprinkler head on the top but falls slightly behind Miele's three full wash arms.
If you're looking for even better performance, consider KitchenAid's 400 series with four levels, including a focused spray from the third rack, but at a higher price point of $200 more.
The better KitchenAid dishwashers also have an additional filter, so you wash with cleaner water.
Racks are decent and standard. It has the 3rd rack for silverware. You may like this as it allows more room on the bottom rack without a silverware bin. Bosch, Miele, and Beko are pretty comparable.
Better racks in the KitchenAid or Miele 3D sliding cutlery racks will cost $200-500 more.
This KitchenAid employs a heating element and condensation dry to dry your dishwasher.
Condensation is a fancy term for using residual heat from the wash along with JetDry or other finishing rinses to dry your dishes.
Most dishwasher brands like Bosch operate purely through condensation with the heating element.
Miele has a better system of allowing air from your kitchen to the side of your dishwasher. The moist heat is attracted to the cooler side and dissipated as water.
KitchenAid's 400 series uses a similar method and adds a fan to pull the air inside the dishwasher.
The best cycle to this dishwasher is the Pro Wash cycle with a soil sensor to adjust based on time and temperature base.
It has longer cycles and plenty of options to add heat and delay the wash as well.
While it’s surprising that it doesn’t have a delicate wash.
Miele and Bosch, at the same price, don’t either. Only Beko does, but they are a feature-oriented machine.
Dishwasher Reliability for 2020
| Service Ratio | |
| Asko | 54.21% |
| Jenn-Air | 38.13% |
| Bosch Benchmark | 35.71% |
| Fisher & Paykel | 29.02% |
| Miele | 20.49% |
| Maytag | 20.00% |
| Gaggenau | 15.38% |
| Thermador | 14.45% |
| KitchenAid | 13.08% |
| Café Appliances | 12.00% |
| Bosch | 11.14% |
| Samsung | 10.33% |
| LG | 6.17% |
| Cove | 4.55% |
| Ge Appliances | 2.70% |
| Whirlpool | 2.58% |
| Grand Total | 13.55% |
At one time, KitchenAid was less reliable than Bosch, and now they are statistically similar at 13.08% for KitchenAid and 11.14% for Bosch.
Read More: Most Reliable Dishwashers
First, KitchenAid should have kept the Bottle Wash. It was a separate set of sprays on the top rack designed for bottles.
It worked.
They could also design a panel-ready dishwasher to fit in with your cabinets. It protrudes to look like a dishwasher with a panel instead of a cabinet front.
It looks bad when compared to the seamless Bosch, Beko, and Miele dishwashers.
The SHS863 is one of Bosch best selling dishwashers. For cycles, it has the Speed60 cycle for a wash and dries in 60 minutes. Bosch is a bit more reliable. You can add a custom cabinet front to a Bosch dishwasher.
KitchenAid has a better wash system, a bit better on the dry with a heating element, and is quieter.
It should be noted that Bosch will be in short supply for the next 6 months. Covid has hit their supply chain particularly hard.
Read More: KitchenAid Vs. Bosch Dishwashers
Miele has a better wash and the best drying in its price range. (Bosch has better starting at $1200). You can also panel the Miele.
KitchenAid is measurably and noticeably quieter at 39 Vs. 46 dB and more reliable due to some recent minor problems with Miele.
Read More: KitchenAid Vs. Miele Dishwashers
Who is Beko? They are a huge Turkish company trying to gain a foothold in the US by basically selling a premium product at a discount.
Beko is 39 dB with special cycles and a separate intense spray for pots and pans. It has the most cycles, including Wi-Fi. It can even be paneled.
Read More: Beko vs. KitchenAid Dishwashers
The 600 series has four dishwashers currently. I am sure they will add more.
The 600 series has a bigger third rack. It also has better drying, and better wash capability with the second rack's intense spray.
It has a better filtering system, so you wash with cleaner water.
Yet the less expensive series is quieter at 39 dB compared to 44 dB.
It depends. The dishwasher price swings from $749-949.
At $749, the feature set is unmatched.
On its own, the washing system is decent; the drying and cycles are adequate.
However, at higher prices, there may be better options around the same price or higher in Bosch, but especially the better KitchenAid M series with a better wash, dry, and especially rack system.
Ultimately, the 200 series should be considered especially under $850.
Additional Resources
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