In this article, you’ll learn about the ten best luxury appliance brands, their strengths and some possible drawbacks.
You’ll learn about a few problems with luxury brands that nobody’s talking about. I’ll also show you how to prevent all of them with a little planning.
Ultimately, this article will help you start your kitchen.
Table of Contents
JennAir
JennAir won best new products at the Architectural Digest show back in 2018 with their current lineup. Their highly styled products are now available in the Rise and Noir series.
JennAir’s pro ranges were always popular, but these series changed the brand’s look and perception.
The wall ovens have always been amongst the easiest to use. JennAir wall ovens will calculate time, temperature and even show you how the food will look before cooking it.
The whole line is well-styled and available with WiFi connectivity.
However, their line has been plagued by poor availability. It hasn’t really evolved much since the 2018 introduction.
Fisher and Paykel
Fish and Paykel have some impressive pro ranges. They feature a combination of induction and gas burners.
Their 48-inch is half gas at 23,000 and 15,000 BTU burners, with the other half being induction. They also offer more affordable column style refrigerators.
Their double-drawer dishwasher has always been different, and their wall ovens offer a wide variety of cooking modes.
All Fisher and Paykel pro appliances offer a five year warranty. It’s limited in terms of selection. Columns are only offered in 30, 24 and 18 inch widths, but 36 inch is the most popular.
Viking
In many ways, Viking was the very first luxury brand, debuting the first pro range in the 1980s.
Over the years, they added other appliances to round out a whole suite. Their best range is Tuscany and their series seven range.
Seven Series range also has the most powerful 23,000 BTU seled burners. Their new Rose Bold range is also beautiful.
Lastly, they have a promising new refrigerator line after years of issues. Viking has been plagued by service related issues in the past, especially for refrigerators and wall ovens. It’s worth checking with your local dealer before you buy.
BlueStar
Their new dual fuel range looks promising when it debuts in a few months, but for now, the Platinum Series gas ranges have the highest output at 25,000 BTU, with the only pure convection system in gas.
BlueStar’s ranges are available in five different series, and you can buy any type of pro range from 24 to 60 inches.
You have a French top, grill, griddle and even a series with French doors in a limited size. Their pro refrigerators are all metal on the inside and are designed to fit a sheet pan.
Also, you can completely customize your range with a thousand different colors and ten trim options. For colors and customizations, BlueStar will be the best on this list, and 75% of BlueStar ranges are customized.
Without question, if you want a unique look in your kitchen, BlueStar is your best choice next to La Cornue and the ranges are excellent.
However, BlueStar is not for everyone. Their ranges are basic without clocks and certainly without smart functionality.
Unlike the others, BlueStar is not a full line of appliances, it’s just cooking and refrigeration.
Monogram
Monogram is all new. The features are compelling. The ranged feature 23,000 BTU sealed burners, infrared grills and articulating display clock.
Refrigerators have an interesting design with cold airflow above each shelf and a crisper to expressly chill or thaw out your food.
Dishwashers have specially designed bottle washers and they have a decent rebate program and excellent smart functionality with their Smart HQ app tied to Hestan Cue for cooking automatically.
However, their selection is fairly limited on the range side.
Signature Kitchen Suite
SKS is the fastest growing premium line, mostly because it’s available. However, the product is worth considering for its features.
Their 48 inch range is 23,000, 15,000 BTU sealed burners along with induction and sous vide. Their simmer is now the best at a constant 100 BTU.
The main ovens are convection full steam on the side oven. The column-style refrigerators have the largest internal capacity and are all stainless on the inside.
SKS is WiFi enabled through LG’s ThinQ app. SKS may not have the brand reputation of the others, but they’re worth considering and their warranty is excellent.
The parent company, LG, is the most reliable brand. However, they have a limited number of product. They have sous vide, but they don’t have a grill.
Thermador
Thermador had changed their styling of their lineup a couple of years ago. Their strength has always been cooking with their burner and extralow simmering feature.
Thermador professional ranges are reasonable and are available in two series. The Pro Harmony, and Pro Grand with the availability of steam in a larger 48 and 60 inch sizes.
They also have the most extensive line of integrated refrigerators with new stainless interiors. Refrigerators have better bin storage and allow you to push to open and pull with a handle.
The dishwashers have zeolite, a volcanic element for a 20 minute wash and dry cycle when it’s available.
Thermador has the most wall oven combinations and side swing doors, steam ovens and combination wall ovens. Incorporated one of the best WiFi experiences with their Home Connect app as well.
Although their cooking appliances are new, they feature only single convection. They also lack the menu driven controls like Wolf and Miele.
Like many other manufacturers, Thermador has had availability issues.
Miele
Miele is a great brand with great styling. Many companies have copied their once unique styling. Ten years ago, Miele developed their menu driven MasterChef program with steam assist.
Steam assist features in wall ovens and pro range ovens. It uses three bursts of moisture. It’s great for caramelizing food and baking bread.
Miele’s, pro ranges and steam ovens have the m-touch controls make them also easy to use. So you don’t have to learn how to operate a steam oven, just hit a button.
Miele’s newest G7000 low priced G5000 series dishwashers and compact laundry are some of the best in the industry.
Miele’s contemporary style may not fit in every kitchen. Although the controls are advanced, you have no WiFi and it can’t be operated remotely on your phone.
The ranges need a refresh, especially the output. Their new G7000 series cooking will be out later in 2023.
True
I almost want a game room just for one of these refrigerators. You can buy a True in a 36, 42 or 48 inch refrigerator, or in a designer refrigerator, freezer, beverage or wine column.
The units have eleven color options and six hinge accents available. It’s interesting looking at all the possible combos on a website, like a cobalt fridge and brass hinges.
True is all stainless and impressive in terms of installation, with or without a glass window. Most of their lineup is approved and rated, even for the outside.
However, you can’t place a panel on a True refrigerator. They only sell refrigerators, freezers and ice makers.
Gaggenau
Speaking of unique, if you want truly unique appliances, then Gaggenau is a good consideration. They were designed by Bang & Olufsen, the Danish modernist designers.
The products are reliable and offer the most modes if you really like to cook. Along with their side swing ovens, they also have a 36 inch commercial looking pizza oven.
Gaggenau is the best you can buy for precision cooking. Their controls in Gaggenau are mode-driven rather than intuitive like a Miele or Wolf.
You can do more with Gaggenau, but you do have to spend time learning.
La Cornue
La Cornue, Sub-Zero and Wolf are tied for first place for the best appliance brands for 2023.
You’re probably leaning towards one or the other because there’s such different products.
So let’s start with La Cornue.
La Cornue is beautiful and will enhance your kitchens look like a piece of furniture. However, your ability to customize the range truly sets La Cornue apart. Or how about a pink Susan Castle range? You can customize the range’s cooktop into any configuration.
Your La Cornue range could have an induction cooktop, grill, gas burner, wok burner, griddle or even a French top. It’s all made to order, so almost any combination is possible.
The oven has an arch top for natural convection and can be customized on electric or gas. Electric is better for baking, whereas gas heat is better for roasting and broiling.
On larger sizes, you can buy one of each, which you cannot do in any other brand.
La Cornue has over 50 colors and ten trims to compliment any styles, or you can even customize one of your own.
They also offer the lower price Cornuefe in a few sizes with standard convection and no customization.
Although it’s greatlooking and customizable, La Cornue has no smart functionality, not even a clock and timer.
Sub-Zero
Sub-Zero and Wolf are still the most well known luxury appliance companies. They are American owned and operated.
They have the most refrigerators offered in various sizes, with a focus on keeping food fresher longer and features consist of vacuum sealed doors, air filtration and air scrubber.
Sub-Zero’s air scrubber cleans ethylene gases off spoiling foods to keep food fresh. They’re also the best at preserving wine by keeping light, heat, humidity and vibration from destroying the tans of your wine.
Sub-Zero’s three series, the Pro series, which is stainless inside and outside to emulate a restaurant refrigerator.
Then they have the built-in series with a compressor on the top, and the designer series, made to fit seamlessly with your cabinets. Both can be panelized.
The Wolf line has menu-driven controls. Wolf’s dual-fuel oven features their VertiCross convection blowers.
They provide a more consistent heat than the standard convection fan. Their gourmet function allows you to choose the food and how you like it cooked. The oven calculates time, temperature and even rack position.
Along with BlueStar and La Cornue, Wolf offers a French top configuration to cook many foods at different temperatures on the same surface, along with a full array of speed and steam cooking products as well.
Wolf and Sub-Zero have some of the most reliable luxury appliances sold, based on over 40,000 service calls logged by our service department just last year.
Sub-Zero may have the most features, but is also the most expensive refrigerator on the market next to True.
Wolf’s gas, pro ranges need update for self-cleaning and a bit more output. Although their grill, griddle and French top are amongst the best.
Current lead times are longer than usual due to their well earned popularity.
Problems
Now, let’s talk about problems for all the brands.
Delivery is a problem. Before you buy your appliances, make sure you have a good delivery service available.
Delivery team needs to fit and navigate a 600 pound refrigerator, stove into your home on increasingly soft floors and a tight space.
Google reviews for the delivery experience before you buy appliances from any store.
Installation wasn’t always a problem, a contractor was usually under contract to install your appliance, but many are pushing back on installation of appliances.
Service is the biggest problem in this industry. You must inquire and vet service before the sale. If the dealer doesn’t have service, find out who they refer to. Ask, investigate and read reviews.
The average technician can’t handle your Thermador range with a steam oven. Find out who can and buy the brand with the best available service.
Availability is anywhere from 6-14 months. In 2019, it was 4-8 weeks, with special orders like La Cornue being about 6 months.
So buy your appliance at the start your project so you can be assured you have them when needed.
Key Takeaways
Luxury appliances have evolved to be some of the most advanced products in your home.
However, service is a problem in certain areas. You may think you would see that Lexus or Mercedes service treatment.
In fact, most companies on this list do not operate service departments.
Besides exploring your options, it’s very important to know the service behind all these brands before you buy.
If you love cooking on a pro range or an induction cooking surface or even in a steam oven, just make sure you can get it fixed.