The General Electric Over-the-Range Spacemaker XL 36-Inch Microwave JVM3670 provides a solution to the dilemma of which microwave oven to use over a 36-inch range or cooktop. Until the recent introductions of this 36-inch model by General Electric and two others by Jenn-Air and KitchenAid, there have been no over-the-range microwave ovens that look just right in this installation.

General Electric accomplishes this task by simply stretching its smaller XL1800 Spacemaker model to 36 inches. The wider JVM3670 fits nicely into the space over a 36-inch range and costs about $100 more than the smaller model.

The catch is that for $100 more, you get nothing other than 6 inches of filler added to the oven. We had hoped that adding 6 inches to the oven would provide more interior cooking capacity or allow for some exciting features, but General Electric has opted not to re-engineer the product. Instead of offering some value-added features in the additional 6 inches, General Electric has simply extended the exterior size of the unit and added a whopping $100 to the cost.

In spite of the cost, those of us looking to place an attractive microwave oven over a 36-inch cooktop will find that the JVM3670 is a tried and true solution, thanks to its track record as the smaller 30-inch model. The features are every bit the top of line and include an excellent sensor, three types of defrost, a turntable with on/off switch and bright halogen lighting. The ventilation fan, with three speeds and a boost, can be used in both vented and re-circulating installations. We would hesitate, however, to install this microwave/hood combination over high-output, commercial-style gas burners. Our concern is that the draw is not enough to properly vent such a powerful range. Check with your dealer/installer before considering this unit for that type of use.

Just as in General Electric's smaller version of this model, the JVM3670 has very impressive controls. These controls include a variable scrolling display with bilingual (English/Spanish) capability. A comprehensive help program is always at hand to offer cooking advice. You can even adjust the speed of the scroll to your liking.

Thorough shoppers will want to compare this General Electric model to the almost identical Jenn-Air JMV8186A and KitchenAid's unusual KHMS2056. All three models are priced similarly, but the Jenn-Air model and General Electric's JVM3670 offer superior features and better cooking performance.


Pros: Excellent controls, bright halogen lighting for cooking surface, on/off turntable, outstanding sensor, reliable tried and true performance
Cons: Costs substantially more than the same microwave in the 30-inch size

Warranty
1 year, entire appliance and labor; 5 years, magnetron tube