Whirlpool's dishwasher GU2700XTS appeals to Americans' need for speed with a quick 30 minute wash cycle. This cycle is not for heavily soiled items, but it's perfect for washing cocktail glasses and lightly soiled appetizer plates. Best of all, these items will be clean in half the normal time, leaving you with a dishwasher that's ready to handle the dishes from your main course.

Busy families who appreciate this quick cycle may also find the delay timer to be a helpful addition. With this feature, you can load the dishes, and immediately jump in the shower without losing your hot water. The dishes will begin washing at a time you choose from 1-9 hours later.

We found the GU2700XTS to be a fairly quiet model. In fact chances are very good that it's far quieter than your old dishwasher. With a sound output of just 57 decibels, it's as quiet as the quietest and most expensive models of just a few years ago. When it comes to quietness, Whirlpool's GU2700XTS, like many better dishwashers, has come a long way in just a short time. It's now possible to carry on a conversation after dinner without having to leave the kitchen.

The interior of this model, although not stainless steel, has the added benefit of slate gray walls. This color serves to conceal any of the potential discoloration common to white-walled dishwashers. Gray gives the dishwasher the premium look of stainless without the added costs associated with using it as a component. The expense of added insulation is also less than with the noisier and more expensive stainless steel.

In addition to quiet operation, the GU2700XTS has excellent cleaning power. Equipped with Whirlpool's PowerScour technology, this model has targeted spray jets that expose more of your dishes to pressurized water. The practical benefit of this is less rinsing and pre-soaking, and the removal of a higher percentage of baked-on food.

The loading of this model is just one more thing we found to like. The adjustable tines and clips are fairly standard for a model in this price range, but the adjustable upper rack was an unexpected bonus. With this feature, you can raise the upper rack, easily accommodating large pots, platters and bowls on the bottom. If you need even more room, the upper rack can be completely removed. Although an option, it does seem rather impractical to use all that water and energy to run only a few large items on the bottom.

Like many dishwashers in this price range, the Whirlpool GU2700XTS utilizes sensor technology. In this case, the adaptive wash cycle uses two sensors to determine the amount of soil on the dishes. The load is then adjusted to the optimal cycle and running time.

Other convenience features our reviewers noted were a handy utensil holder and a countdown timer. The utensil holder serves to keep items such as whisks and spatulas in place, while the timer lets the impatient know when clean dishes will be ready to go.

An attractive model, this dishwasher is well-featured for the price. Unlike more expensive models, the Whirlpool GU2700XTS doesn't offer hidden controls and a stainless-steel interior, but it does a super job of cleaning and is quiet enough to be easy on the ears.


Pros: Offers quiet operation, excellent cleaning power and an adjustable upper rack
Cons: Lacks hidden control panel and more expensive stainless interior

Warranty
1 year