Bosch is known for their reliability and now offers four induction ranges. Except two of the ranges aren’t made by Bosch, and that could be a problem.
So in this article, you’ll learn the differences between all these ranges plus their pros and certainly their cons. At the end, we’ll reveal the two you should consider, and the two should wait and see, to put it politely.
Table of Contents
Slide-In vs. Front Control
The model HII8057 and the HIIP057 are slide ins. While, the other two, the HIS8655 and the HIS8055 are front control.
Slide-ins sit over the countertop, so you don’t have the seam between the range and cabinet
for foods and liquids to seep in between.
However, it doesn’t exactly replace your existing freestanding range. You’ll likely have some minor countertop modifications depending on your range.
The HIS8655 and the HIS8055, front controls, are designed to replace your current thirty inch freestanding or front control range.
If you have any concerns about what you have, check if the cooktop overhangs your countertop.
Size
The HIIS8655 is thirty six inches wide while the other three are the standard thirty inches. That’s obvious.
We’ll discuss this in more detail later in the article, especially regarding oven capacity.
Burners
There’s no much difference between the the benchmark HIIP057 and the HIIP8057 series sliding. They both are sliding convection. The oven sizes are the same at 4.6 cubic feet, which is smaller than the average. At 5.3 for the other brands.
They both have warming drawers as well, so you can cook and serve at different times for up to three hours, if you love serving dehydrated microwave food.
They have the same output at 3,700, two 3,600 and a 2,200 watt burner. Which is better than the average on a boost setting.
The only difference is the benchmark has a bridge burner to connect the front and back burners for a griddle or odd shaped dish and just $300 more. That’s the main difference.
However, the thirty inch freestanding, the HIS8055 is different. The burners are like the non bridged eight hundred series, but the oven is smaller at three point nine cubic feet.
It doesn’t have a warming drop below. Yet it’s priced at $4,399 or $300 more. The thirty six inch has even less capacity at 3.7 cubic feet.
Reliability
The Bosch induction slide ends with most reliable induction range in the market at just 5.4% needing service within the first year versus 10.4% for all the other brands combined.
We can’t say that about the freestanding units because Bosch slide ins are made by Bosch in the US, while freestanding units are made by Smeg in Italy.
I think Smeg designs beautiful appliances. However, Italian companies like Smeg and Bertazzoni and Iulvey are known for style, not durability, and certainly not support and repair after the sale.
One good takeaway is that Bosch will now handle service logistics, which is excellent.
Key Takeaways
So you have two similar slide in ranges with a simple burner difference with two freestanding units with small capacity and no warming drawers made by a different company at a higher price.
The slide in is better for new construction with bigger oven and better features. But do you try the freestanding or place your existing stove without modifying your cabinets.