Gorenje GV663B62 (dishwasher Integrated dishwasher with 16 place settings): our review

The plates from a Sunday roast are only part of the job. There is also the gravy jug, the serving bowl and the saucepan that nobody has volunteered to tackle. With 16 place settings, the GV663B62 has a large capacity that leaves room for dishes and saucepans. Place settings are a standardised measure covering plates, glasses and cutlery, though, rather than a promise about how many people you can feed before loading it.

The height-adjustable upper basket makes that space more useful. It gives you scope to reorganise the load around taller items, while the cutlery drawer provides a separate place for everyday utensils. We like that combination for households whose washing-up changes with the menu. A saucepan has never been particularly considerate about sharing space.

Planning to start the dishwasher as the evening film begins? Its declared 43 decibels applies to the eco programme and sits around the average. That average noise level is our main reservation for a kitchen that opens directly into the living room. The figure gives you a reference for arranging your evening; it does not promise an appliance you can forget is running.

For a separate kitchen, the decision may be straightforward: load after dinner and carry on elsewhere. In a shared living space, you might prefer to start earlier, before everyone settles on the sofa. Timing can help here. We would choose this model primarily for its loading arrangements, with the position of the kitchen firmly in mind.

A couple who wait until the dishwasher is full may find the eco programme easy to work around: collect the day's dishes, start after dinner and unload later. Its 200 min duration is long, as with most models. Taking its time is part of how eco saves resources, so the length alone is no reason to dismiss it.

Electricity consumption of 66 kWh/100 cycles sits around the average, as does water consumption of 9.5 L/cycle. Both figures belong to the energy label's eco programme; they do not describe every setting you might select. The energy class is B. We see a practical full-load routine here, without unusually low consumption to make the decision for you. Compare these figures at similar capacities, because a smaller machine using less per cycle is not necessarily using less per plate.

The declared 8 programs represents a wide choice for people who enjoy adjusting settings to the washing-up. Eco is included, although the programme count alone should not decide which setting you choose for a particular load. The useful question is how those choices will fit around meals, work and the next demand for clean crockery.

A reduced programme time option adds flexibility when the day changes. That could matter when lunch has left a full load and you would rather have the dishes available again before dinner. Keep the consumption figures attached to eco, however, rather than assuming they also describe a shortened setting. The option gives you another way to organise the day; eco remains the reference for the declared resource figures.

The Gorenje GV663B62 is fully integrated: a kitchen furniture door covers the front, and that door is not supplied. Include the furniture front and fitting arrangements in your plans before ordering. Its width is 59.8 cm, height 81.6 cm and depth 55.5 cm. Compare each measurement with the available recess rather than assuming that replacing an integrated appliance will be straightforward.

Leave room in your plans for the door opening automatically at the end. This lets steam escape and helps drying, although plastics may still need a wipe. In a compact kitchen, think about that open door alongside the route to the kettle and cupboards. Check warranty cover, delivery, removal of the old appliance and returns arrangements with the retailer while organising the fitting.

The GV663B62 ranks among the best on the site overall, but your kitchen may point you towards a different choice. The reason to look elsewhere should be specific. The Asko DFI544DXXL is better suited to a kitchen open to the living room. The Asko DFI544DXXL has a similar declared noise level, so do not read that recommendation as a dramatic acoustic difference. The Asko DFI544DXXL offers more programmes, with 9 programs giving keen setting adjusters a wider choice.

The Miele G 7980 SCVi AutoDos K2O uses less water, with 8.4 L/cycle on eco reducing consumption per load. The Miele G 7980 SCVi AutoDos K2O also has a longer eco programme, so that lower water use comes with more waiting. How often does your usual load include bulky cookware? Keep that answer close when weighing consumption against the space your washing-up needs.