Why You Can Trust CNET Electrolux EFLW317TIW review: This basic Electrolux washing machine cleans well for less
Electrolux's $879 EFLW317TIW only has a few features, but it performs better than most washers we've tested.
Electrolux's $879 EFLW317TIW is a surprisingly simple front-load washing machine considering its midrange price. It has just five cleaning cycles and only three adjustments each for water temperature, soil level and spin speed. That's significantly less than competing washers, most of which have a least 11 cycles and four temp, soil and spin settings. Given its limited features, I'd expect the EFLW317TIW to be more affordable, but you can find it on sale pretty easily. And, bonus: This washer did a very good job removing stains, scoring almost as well as the $899 Electrolux EFLW417SIW.
Electrolux EFLW317TIW
The Good
The Bad
The Bottom Line
You won't be disappointed with the EFLW317TIW if you want a simple washer with above-average cleaning performance, but you might as well spend the extra 20 bucks and get the better-performing EFLW417SIW.
A simple washer
The Electrolux EFLW317TIW is a nice-looking washer. You get the same circular digital screen and touchscreen-style controls as the EFLW417SIW. The controls don't have the tactile feel of buttons, which might take some getting used to, but they are responsive. Both the 300- and the 400-series models have white color finishes, but I prefer the EFLW417SIW's dark gray display panel over the EFLW317TIW's light gray version.
Look below to see how the Electrolux EFLW317TIW compares to Maytag's MVWB765FW, Samsung's WA52M7750AW and Kenmore's 26132:
Comparing washing machines
| Electrolux EFLW317TIW | Maytag MVWB765FW | Samsung WA52M7750AW | Kenmore 26132 | |
| Price | $879 | $899 | $899 | $830 |
| Color finish | White | White | White | White |
| Capacity | 4.3 cubic feet | 4.7 cubic feet | 5.2 cubic feet | 4.8 cubic feet |
| # of cycles | 5 | 11 | 13 | 11 |
| Energy consumption | 55 kWh/year | 356 kWh/year | 180 kWh/year | 169 kWh/year |
| Dimensions (width, height, depth) | 27 x 38 x 31.5 inches | 27.5 x 42 x 27 inches | 27 x 46 x 29.3 inches | 27.5 x 37 x 27.9 inches |
| App | No | No | Samsung SmartCare | No |
All of the EFLW317TIW's main competitors have 11 cleaning cycles and 4.7-cubic-foot capacities at minimum. In contrast, this Electrolux washer has just five cycles and a smaller 4.3-cubic-foot capacity. It also doesn't have a related app or any other integrated smarts. Again, if you're looking for a lot of settings and options, the EFLW317TIW isn't for you.
Wear and tear fabric before and after a cleaning cycle.
Cleaning power
To judge a washer's performance, we measure how well it removes stains and how tough -- or gentle -- it is on clothes. The stains come in the form of long fabric strips coated in skin oil (sebum), mineral oil (carbon), blood, cocoa and red wine. Wear and tear is scored using fabric squares with five holes punched in the shape of an "X".
After a cleaning cycle, we calculate how much of the original stains are left on each stain strip. We also count the number of attached, frayed threads that formed inside each of the fabric square holes. The higher the numbers, the worse the washer did. Want to know more about how we test washers? Click here.
The EFLW317TIW got an excellent stain removal score, with just 42 percent of the original stains remaining on average. Even so, the EFLW417SIW did even better here with just 40 percent of its original stains remaining. Check out the graphic below to compare stain-by-stain performance with the EFLW317TIW's direct competition.
The EFLW317TIW was tough on clothes. It had 315 attached, frayed threads on average after a cleaning cycle. But the EFLW417SIW was roughly as tough on clothes with 312 frayed threads. Maytag's MVWB765FW had a 245-count, Samsung's WA52M7750AW had a 227-count and Kenmore's 26132 had a 197-count.
The takeaway
Electrolux's $879 EFLW317TIW front-load washing machine does a good job of removing stains. Its display is also incredibly straightforward and easy to use -- with just five cycles, you won't have to spend much time selecting from a bunch of options. It's a solid choice overall, but you should strongly consider spending the extra $20 on the EFLW417SIW -- it scored higher on stain removal, has seven cleaning cycles and a slightly better design.