At a Glance
If you are looking for the best dishwasher, then Miele and Thermador are serious considerations.
Miele has always been known for manufacturing reliable, long-lasting dishwashers.
The BSH Home Appliances Corporation manufactures Thermador. Their new dishwasher, the Thermador Star Sapphire, has different technology to wash and dry your dishes in 20 minutes.
In this article, we'll review Miele's and Thermador's top dishwashers, their unique features, racks, and how well they dry your dishes.
Then we'll cover why you should choose one over the other. In the end, you will know which may be right for you.
Miele
Based and founded in the 19th century in Germany, Miele was known for manufacturing cream separators, butter churns, and tub washing machines.
Throughout the years, Miele has introduced numerous products from kitchen appliances to motor vehicles.
However, they still manufacture 98% of the components in their dishwashers (only the rollers are outsourced). As a result, Miele is known for reliability and longer life.
Thermador
Thermador is a fully owned subsidiary of Bosch who is the second largest appliance manufacturer in the world.
The Thermador brand specializes in cooking appliances such as ovens, ranges, cooktops, refrigerators, and dishwashers.
Their dishwashers are now manufactured in North Carolina in the worlds largest dishwasher manufacturing plant.
They have a brand new technology allowing you to wash and dry in just 20 minutes.
Futura Diamond G6987SCVIK2O - $3,099
Features:
- 42 dba or can use the extra quiet setting option that’s 39 dba’s
- 5-year warranty
- Knock2Open: Tap twice on the front panel and the door will automatically open about 4 inches
- Mobile app to determine how much time is left on the cycle (miele@mobile)
- Comes panel ready
- 16 place settings
- 3D cutlery tray
- EcoTech Heat Storage: Dishwasher uses heat from the previous cycle to pre-heat the incoming water to save energy
- BrilliantLight: Beautiful lighting inside to aid in visibility of loading & unloading
- Auto opening drying
- Auto sensor technology: Determines the soil level or the dishes and adjusts time accordingly
Futura Diamond Cycles
- Normal
- QuickIntenseWash – less than 1 hour
- Pots & Pans
- SaniWash
- Rinse & Hold
- Chine & Crystal
- ExtraQuiet
- Clean Machine
- Grates & Filters
- Energy Saver
- Economy
- SensorWash
- Tall Items
- Glass – no rinse aid
Thermador Star Sapphire DWHD870WFP - $2,799
Features:
- Star Dry: This uses zeolite technology. Zeolite is a naturally occurring volcanic mineral that heats up when water passes over it. This technology works great for drying plastics, and it will reduce the need to towel dry. You also never have to worry about replacing it.
- Star Speed: This feature makes washing dishes easy while you are entertaining. This will give you a full 20-minute wash after the water preheats. Once this is done, you can wash up to five loads back to back without any additional preheating. This gives you the flexibility to preheat your dishwasher while you are eating or entertaining, and then wash you and your guests' dishes afterward.
- Star Glow: This feature allows you to customize your interior lighting. You can adjust the brightness up to four different levels, choose between 6 levels or blue or white light, and you can even create your custom color using the Home Connect App.
- Time Remaining Power Beam: This will produce an optical display that will shine down onto the floor. This will tell you how much time is left in your wash, and if the dishwasher is in a pre-wash, cleaning, rinsing or drying cycle.
- Extra Tall Item Sprinkler: This will allow you to wash items up to 22 inches in height once the top rack is removed.
- Extra Dry: During the final rinse in the cycle, the water temperature will increase. This will improve drying results.
Star Sapphire Cycles
- Pots and Pans
- Auto
- Normal
- Glass
- Handwash
- 1 Hour Wash
- Star Speed
- Quick Wash
- Rinse
Additional Optional Cycles
- Power Boost: Increases the water pressure and temperature on the lower rack for heavy duty cleaning
- Save Time: Heats water faster and helps with the drying time
- Half Load
- Sanitize
- Star Dry
Miele vs. Thermador
Reliability
Most Reliable Dishwashers for 2019:
| Service Qty | Shipped Qty | Service Ratio | |
| Signature Kitchen Suite | 0 | 17 | 0.00 % |
| Whirlpool | 44 | 1030 | 4.27 % |
| Gaggenau | 2 | 42 | 4.76 % |
| LG Electronics | 4 | 78 | 5.13 % |
| Samsung | 85 | 915 | 9.29 % |
| Maytag | 3 | 29 | 10.34 % |
| Bosch Appliances | 303 | 2735 | 11.08 % |
| Miele | 155 | 1078 | 14.38 % |
| Kitchenaid | 115 | 705 | 16.31 % |
| Thermador | 123 | 711 | 17.30 % |
| Jenn-Air | 170 | 908 | 18.72 % |
| Blomberg | 6 | 28 | 21.43 % |
| Fisher & Paykel | 42 | 175 | 24.00 % |
| Bosch - Benchmark | 38 | 158 | 24.05 % |
| Asko | 47 | 195 | 24.10 % |
| Amana | 3 | 11 | 27.27 % |
| Frigidaire | 10 | 22 | 45.45 % |
| Frigidaire Gallery | 5 | 8 | 62.50 % |
| Electrolux | 2 | 2 | 100.00 % |
| Frigidaire Professional | 2 | 2 | 100.00 % |
| Grand Total | 1159 | 8852 | 13.09 % |
For comparison, here our our previous reliability statistics from 2017. In 2017, we logged 30,761 service calls.
Most Reliable Dishwashers for 2018:
| Service Qty | Shipped Qty | Service Ratio | |
| Electrolux | 13 | 11 | 118.18 % |
| Gaggenau | 8 | 19 | 42.11 % |
| Fisher & Paykel | 43 | 142 | 30.28 % |
| LG Electronics | 4 | 21 | 19.05 % |
| Jenn-Air | 101 | 575 | 17.57 % |
| Blomberg | 10 | 57 | 17.54 % |
| Frigidaire Gallery | 32 | 196 | 16.33 % |
| Thermador | 125 | 954 | 13.10 % |
| Asko | 20 | 164 | 12.20 % |
| Maytag | 10 | 89 | 11.24 % |
| Bosch Appliances | 273 | 2622 | 10.41 % |
| Frigidaire Professional | 6 | 59 | 10.17 % |
| Kitchenaid | 73 | 766 | 9.53 % |
| Samsung | 24 | 285 | 8.42 % |
| Miele | 67 | 1126 | 5.95 % |
| Frigidaire | 29 | 508 | 5.71 % |
| Amana | 4 | 72 | 5.56 % |
| Bosch - Benchmark | 15 | 287 | 5.23 % |
| Whirlpool | 11 | 779 | 1.41 % |
| Grand Total | 868 | 8739 | 9.93 % |
Miele had a tough year last year with 1 batch of frozen motors spiking its numbers from 5.95% to over 14% in 2018. That number will decline.
Thermador is now manufactured in Bosch's’ facility, so their number should drop to 11% in 2019.
Of the two, Miele would be slightly more reliable to buy going forward.
Racks
Both are excellent, but Miele is the most flexible. The orange tabs can adjust and flip up. The tines in the bottom can be removed to fit your odd tray or platter.
Miele Adjustable Rack
Miele Adjustable Rack
Wash System
Both will wash your dishes, but Miele has that extra spray arm on the top. Both have third racks, so that arm helps the silverware.
Miele 3rd Rack
Thermador 3rd Rack
Warranty
Thermador offers a 2-year manufacturer warranty while the Miele offers a 5-year manufacturer warranty.
Ability To Dry Plastics
Miele used to be the standard as the best drying dishwasher. The Lumen Diamond has two ports at the bottom of the dishwasher.
These ports channel air to the outside walls and steam inside are attracted to the cooler sides and dissipated.
The dishwasher will also pop open automatically at the end of the cycle to speed the drying process (it actually works).
Thermador now uses Zeolite in the dishwasher. Don’t worry, it's sealed and you never have to replace it.
It is an element derived from volcanic ash and is used in supplements. Zeolite is also used in hazardous waste cleanups.
Zeolite absorbs water and emits heat - both speed the wash and dry cycles.
We tested Thermador's Star Sapphire Zeolite drying claim of a 20-minute wash and dry cycle.
It worked and is now the standard for drying dishes.
Thermador Star Sapphire Dishwasher Test
Special Features
Miele has cycles for almost every type of dish or glass. They even have a cycle for stove grates and range hood filters.
They have a Knock2Open door so you do not need a handle. It's a nice touch for a contemporary kitchen.
All About Miele Dishwashers
Thermador has the 20-minute wash and dry cycle versus 60 minutes for a Miele. You can wash up to 5 loads in 20 minutes after a 20-minute prewash.
As I said before, it works on light to medium soiled dishes.
Promotions
Thermador has a $1,499 credit when buying qualifying cooking. If you buy a Thermador pro range, this dishwasher becomes $1,399.
Miele has a 10% off deal in whole kitchen packages. The price would drop to $2,798.
Should You Buy a Thermador or Miele Dishwasher?
If you are buying a Thermador kitchen, it becomes an easy decision. Buy the dishwasher for $1,399.
However, Miele would be a bit more reliable. The racks and wash system are technically better.
Thermador can wash and dry in 20 minutes. That is also pretty compelling.
Additional Resources
Get our free Dishwasher Buying Guide with tips, trends, and reviews of all the major brands. Over 510,000 people have already found answers in a Yale guide.
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A Note About Pricing
Pricing on this blog is for reference only and may include time sensitive rebates. We make every attempt to provide accurate pricing at time of publishing. Please call the stores for most accurate price.
