Maytag MVWB765FW review: Stains can't hide from this tough Maytag washing machine

I am conflicted about the $899 Maytag MVWB765FW top-load washing machine. It performs well, but its display panel is a complete mess. The various buttons and related LED status lights are all jumbled together, making it hard to find the exact setting you want. Its clumsy design isn't a total deal breaker, but it will take some getting used to. It also used over 38 gallons of water on average per cleaning cycle -- significantly more than most washers we've tested. 

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Maytag MVWB765FW

The Good

Maytag's $899 MVWB765FW top-load washing machine scored high on stain removal.

The Bad

Its cluttered display panel makes it hard to find the settings you want and it uses more energy and water than most.

The Bottom Line

The Maytag MVWB765FW can easily get the job done, but its annoying display panel might slow you down.

The MVWB765FW is a fine washer, but you can find even better performance on the $600 Kenmore 25132, and without any display wonkiness or excessive water usage. 

This Maytag washer cleans well, but should you buy it?

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The MVWB765FW up close

The Maytag MVWB765FW's specs are pretty strong stacked up against some of its similarly priced competition. It has roughly the same cubic foot capacity and number of cycles as the $830 Kenmore 26132. Its 356-kilowatt-hour estimated yearly energy consumption is quite high, though, particularly compared to its counterparts. 

It also used over 38 gallons of water on average per normal cycle. Before testing the MVWB765FW, the Kenmore 25132's water usage was among the highest for the top-loaders we've reviewed at about 20 gallons per cycle. And, unlike either the Kenmore 26132 or Samsung's $899 WA52M7750AW, this midrange Maytag washer has an agitator. 

Agitators are plastic spindles that stick up from the bottom of the washer drum. They're a legacy from old-school top-load design that has trickled over to select (typically lower-end) washers today. The majority of designs now use lower-profile impellers, which take up less space and are often more efficient.

Maytag's MVWB765FW also has an odd display. The manufacturer wanted to mimic some of the more premium display styles with a brushed-metal-look paint and integrated buttons. But the result wasn't particularly successful. The button design is chaotic and it isn't always easy to find what you're looking for. 

Performance

The MVWB765FW sort of makes up for its quirky design with solid performance. Specifically, it removed 43 percent of the stains on our fabric test strips. A few washer models we've tested have scored better, but this Maytag's result is still among the best. Here's an overview of how much of each individual stain remained after a cleaning cycle compared to Kenmore's 26132 and Samsung's WA52M7750AW. 

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Maytag's MVWB765FW was also fairly gentle on clothes with 245 attached, frayed threads at or over 2 millimeters long. Head over to our "How we test washing machines" page for more details on this. Basically, though, we run thin pieces of fabric through a cleaning cycle and count the number frayed fibers post-wash. The higher the number, the tougher that washer is on clothes. While a 245-count is fine, Kenmore's 26132 had just 197 attached, frayed threads and Samsung's WA52M7750AW averaged 227. 

Is this the Maytag for you?

The $899 Maytag MVWB765FW top-load washing machine is a decent choice. Its display panel is frustrating to use, but the washer ultimately does what it's supposed to -- removes tough stains. That can't be said for every model we test, which earns the MVWB765FW some points. Still, there are less expensive top loaders available that perform better than this oddly-designed Maytag.