- The Kenmore Elite 14743 is better than 64% of the dishwashers we tested.
- It is better than 68% of the dishwashers we have tested under $1,500.
- Kenmore Elite 14743 Dishwasher Review
- here are several variations of the Kenmore Elite 14743. These include the Kenmore Elite 14749 and Kenmore Elite 14742. They are very similar to the Kenmore Elite 14743 in most respects.The Kenmore Elite 14743 (MSRP $1,199.99) is a dishwasher in Kenmore's Elite range. It is very similar to the Kenmore Elite 14753, but certain aesthetic features are absent. We think the exterior is less impressive than all the features that lie within: Given the 14743’s front-facing plastic control panel, you might believe it’s closer to a budget dishwasher than anything “Elite.”
But after we put this dishwasher through our usual battery of tests, we found that the cleaning is just as good as its pricier brethren. If you hate hidden controls and don't mind a visible plastic panel, the 14743 is one of the cheapest ways to buy dishwashing of this caliber.
Design & Usability
Doesn’t look the part
You'll have a hard time convincing onlookers that your new Elite costs over $1,000 MSRP—though, to be fair, we’ve spotted sale prices of around $699. Gray plastic on top of stainless steel isn’t fooling anyone. The colors might match, but contrast between the two materials (one shiny, the other flat) makes it difficult to blend in with a sleek stainless kitchen. It might look like it blends in photos, but in person that plastic control panel really jumps out.The Kenmore Elite 14743 View Larger
We don’t like how the controls handle, either. The touch-sensitive buttons don’t always respond, and they only work when the door is closed—eliminating one of the main benefits of a front-control model. Also, while the right side of the control panel has lights to indicate a cycle’s progress, they don't distinguish between washing and drying stages. This, plus the lack of a countdown timer, makes it hard to guess when your wash is going to be finished. Whirlpool has dishwashers with similar controls that handle better, which is a bit of a surprise since Whirlpool makes most of Kenmore's dishwashers.
But if you can get past the cheapened exterior, you’ll find that the 14743’s interior is exactly the same as the 14753. This means a splittable, three-piece cutlery basket, a height adjustment mechanism on the upper rack, a motorized wash arm, and the powerful TurboZone high-intensity spray jets resting in the back. Say what you will about the lackluster exterior, but the 14743’s innards are all business.
We could fit 11 standard place settings and a serving setting inside the 14743, and the highly flexible interior makes it easy to fit some non-standard stuff. Minus the control panel, this Elite's usability is impressive.
Features
All the important stuff is still there.
The wash cycles and extra wash options on the 14743 are almost identical to the selection on the 14753. Even though the aesthetics have been scaled back, core functions are the same. Normal Wash, Pots & Pans, Express Wash, Quick Rinse, and Smart Wash are all present and accounted for, while China Gentle is the only cycle that got the axe.
There are still many ways to customize your wash, including TurboZone for blasting off tough stains. The difference here is the 14743 only has a 4 Hour Delay option, where the 14753 had a more robust Delay that could be set from 1 to 24 hours. Still, given the price difference between the two dishwashers, we think buyers should be willing to give up China Gentle and Delay to save a few hundred bucks.These forward-facing touch controls aren't very responsive. View Larger
