Should you buy appliances at IKEA?

Finding out how IKEA appliances stack up Ross McLaughlin found out how appliances made by a company known for cheap furniture compare to more expensive models.

Although IKEA is known for its affordable home décor, you can also make it a one-stop shop and buy your appliances there. But how do the budget-friendly retailer’s appliances stack up to the competition?

Even though some of the names are odd, most of the appliances are manufactured by Whirlpool. Consumer Reports recently tested a variety of appliances available at IKEA, including ranges, refrigerators, dishwashers, a cooktop and a microwave.

Dishwashers

The $379 Lagan dishwasher tested was noisy and the cycle time was long at 160 minutes. But the $499 dishwasher, the Renlig, did an excellent job cleaning and drying dishes, and took only 115 minutes.

Oven range

The Betrodd gas range for $899 did a better job cooking than some non-IKEA models that cost $2,000 more. It gave very good baking results and has a convection mode. But it didn’t do a good job broiling burgers.

Refrigerators

The $1,799 Nutid french-door refrigerator has excellent temperature control and energy efficiency, performing better than similar refrigerators that are double the price.

For a complete list of the other models tested click here.

If you’re installing more than one large appliance, shopping in one place can be convenient. All but the Lagan line are covered by a five-year warranty. The industry standard is just one year.