A washer that borrows car styling—and sticker shock too

Consumer Reports News: February 08, 2011 04:25 PM

If money is no object, consider the $2,000 Whirlpool Vantage top-loading washer—one of the most expensive we've tested. It merges consumer electronics with automotive styling, and we don't mean the Yugo.

The Vantage WTW7990X is sleek, and has a dark gray metallic finish with a high-gloss shine, chrome accents, and rounded corners. Even the self-lifting lid is made of automotive glass. A color LCD screen is your link to 33 cycles. An eco-monitor tracks energy use, a built-in USB port allows for future upgrades, and LEDs light up the stainless-steel interior. The matching dryer also sells for $2,000.

This top-loading washer is the Porsche of the laundry room, and our latest tests find it's very good overall and top rated. But its wash performance was about the same as the Whirlpool Cabrio WTW5700X, a $660 top-loader that's feature-filled and far from basic. Think of it as a souped-up Corolla.

To see the Vantage in action, watch the video, and check out our latest reports on washers and dryers.

—Kimberly Janeway

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A washer that borrows car styling—and sticker shock too

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