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Head-to-head · Best Dishwashers

KitchenAid KDTM604KPS vs Miele G 7266 SCVi

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Miele G 7266 SCVi comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.5 vs 4.7). The gap is mostly about Buyers who keep appliances 15+ years, have hard water that benefits from a built-in softener, want a fully-integrated panel-ready install, and are willing to pay double the LG LDTH7972S price for measurably lower long-term failure rates. — read the strengths below before deciding.

KitchenAid KDTM604KPS
Ranked #2 in Best Dishwashers
KitchenAid KDTM604KPS
$1,199

The KitchenAid KDTM604KPS is the dishwasher to buy when third-rack capacity matters most. KitchenAid's FreeFlex Third Rack is the deepest in the market, with its own wash jets and a stemware drying bar that genuinely help, and the rest of the machine is a competent 44 dBA performer with the brand's usual better-than-average reliability.

Strengths
  • — FreeFlex Third Rack is the deepest third rack on the market with its own rotating wash jets and stemware drying bar
  • — 44 dBA operation is quiet enough for open-plan kitchens
  • — ProWash sensor cycle scales wash time and water temperature to actual soil load
Watch-outs
  • — Only 5 wash cycles, fewer than the Bosch 800's 8 or the LG LDTH7972S's 10
  • — 44 dBA is competitive but loses to the Bosch 800's 42 dBA
  • — No app-based smart features; not Wi-Fi connected
$1,199 · Buy at kitchenaid.comFull review →
Miele G 7266 SCVi
Higher ratedRanked #4 in Best Dishwashers
Miele G 7266 SCVi
$1,999

The Miele G 7266 SCVi is the buy-it-once dishwasher. It's tested to a 20-year service life, has Miele's industry-low 5.6% twelve-month service rate, and its AutoOpen door delivers drying that Bosch and KitchenAid only approach with electric heating elements. The catch is the cycle time and the $2,000 price — both are real trade-offs.

Strengths
  • — Tested for the equivalent of 20 years of service life — longest of any consumer dishwasher
  • — AutoOpen door pops ajar after the cycle, letting steam escape and air-drying dishes
  • — 42 dBA cabinet is as quiet as the Bosch 800 Series despite a deeper feature set
Watch-outs
  • — Panel-ready design requires a custom cabinet panel; not a drop-in stainless install
  • — Cycle time runs long — Consumer Reports judged it 'poor' on cycle time for full heavy loads
  • — $2,000 price tag is roughly double the LG LDTH7972S for the same noise level
$1,999 · Buy at mieleusa.comFull review →

How they stack up

KitchenAid KDTM604KPS

Best third rack of anything in this comparison — bigger, deeper, and with its own wash jets that the Bosch 800 SHX78CM5N rack does not have. Slightly louder than the Bosch SHX78CM5N (44 vs 42 dBA) and noticeably louder than the Miele G 7266 SCVi. Cleans well but does not match the Bosch SHX78CM5N's 99.97% Heavy-cycle figure. Drying with the Fan-Enabled ProDry is good but loses to the Bosch's zeolite CrystalDry on plastics. Quieter and far more capable than the LG LDTH7972S on rack flexibility; the LG counters with TrueSteam and Wi-Fi.

Miele G 7266 SCVi

The longevity story is its real differentiator over the Bosch 800 SHX78CM5N — same noise level, but Miele's 5.6% service rate beats Bosch's 7.8% on Yale's 33,000-call dataset. AutoOpen drying is a real step above the KitchenAid KDTM604KPS Fan-Enabled ProDry and roughly matches the Bosch 800's CrystalDry on plastics. Far quieter than the LG LDTH7972S Heavy cycle and miles ahead of the Farberware FCD06ABBWHA. The 9-cycle program list is the most flexible in this comparison.

Specs side-by-side

SpecKitchenAid KDTM604KPSMiele G 7266 SCVi
Width24 inches24 inches
Noise Level44 dBA42 dBA
Place Settings1616
Wash Cycles5 (Auto, Heavy, Normal, ProWash, Express)9 (Auto, QuickIntenseWash, ComfortWash, Eco, Pots & Pans, SaniWash, Express, Rinse, Glassware)
Third RackYes, FreeFlex with rotating wash jets and stemware drying barYes, 3D MultiFlex cutlery tray
Energy StarYes, certifiedYes, certified
Drying SystemFan-Enabled ProDryAutoOpen door drying
Warranty1-year full parts and labor2-year full coverage, 20-year tested service life
Water Softener—Built-in
Smart Features—Miele@home Wi-Fi app
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