Models that did best in our tests cost well over $2,000. Paying that kind of money gets you solid construction that comes close to the quality of a gym machine, very good ergonomics, and a wide range of exercise intensity. You also typically get a more generous warranty.

For $1,000 we found a CR Best Buy that lacks the gym-machine feel of the top-rated models but should be fine for most users.

Not Recommended Models:

The Diamondback 460Ef ellipticals we tested had several defects that hampered operation. On one machine, the problem was a misaligned resistance belt. On another 460Ef, the belt slipped during high intensity exercise. We gave the model a Not Recommended rating. The owner's manual for the Nautilus NE 3000 elliptical, powered by an internal generator as you pedal, tells users to "simply pedal at 25 rpm or higher to activate the computer." But when the resistance was set at 16 or higher (on a scale of 0 to 20) and rpm was below 50, the power kept cutting off. The model received a Not Recommended rating for that reason.

The test-result columns are arranged by order of importance in the scoring for each machine. The Ratings rank elliptical exercisers by overall performance. Quick Picks takes other considerations into account, such as value.