Why You Can Trust CNET Whirlpool WTW8700EC review: Is this smart, stain-fighting washer worth it?
Whirlpool's $1,399 Smart Cabrio washer is pretty great, but you'll pay a premium for its Wi-Fi features.
Whirlpool's WTW8700EC, also called the "Smart Cabrio," is a seriously stylish $1,399 washing machine. In addition to its integrated touchscreen, transparent lid and glossy gray finish, this top-loader also excels at removing stains. Its large 5.3-cubic-foot capacity holds a lot of clothes, and its app features are actually pretty smart. The Smart Cabrio is a solid washer, but you can find models that perform better for less money -- if you don't mind giving up the Wi-Fi smarts.
Whirlpool WTW8700EC
The Good
The Bad
The Bottom Line
A smarter washer?
The Whirlpool Smart Cabrio's glossy gray finish, transparent lid and integrated touchscreen stand out alongside less design-focused washers. But how does it compare to other high-end models when it comes to specs? Let's take a look:
Get alerts when the washer finishes a cleaning cycle.
In terms of capacity, the 5.3-cubic-foot Smart Cabrio is comparable to Kenmore's 29133. Kenmore borrows design templates from other appliance manufacturers, but typically makes subtle tweaks to their appearance and list of features. The Kenmore 29133 was actually modeled after another Whirlpool washer -- the WTW8500DC. While the WTW8500DC isn't identical to the Smart Cabrio, the Kenmore 29133 and the Smart Cabrio have very similar specs and performance (we'll get to that part later).
I do wish the Cabrio Smart had a few more settings on its display, though. It doesn't have an "extra hot" water temperature option and 10 cleaning cycles is on the low side for a high-end model like this.
The Cabrio Smart uses roughly the same average amount of water per cleaning cycle as Kenmore's 29133 -- 17.4 gallons, compared to the 29133's 17.7 gallons. But the Kenmore Elite 31633 used just 15.6 gallons of water per cycle, while having a significantly larger 6.2-cubic-foot capacity and the best cleaning performance to date.
The Cabrio Smart also adds in smart functionality. The related Whirlpool app for Android and iPhone gives you access to your washer's status straight from your phone. You can also start and stop cycles remotely, but you have to make sure to enable the "Remote Start" button on the washer first. Having to physically push a button on the washer to use it remotely somewhat defeats the purpose of remote access. Still, it's the best app-washer integration we've seen yet. You can also get alerts when a cleaning cycle ends. I love that feature because I regularly forget I have clothes in the washer.
The Smart Cabrio can be linked with the Nest Learning Thermostat's home and away status, too. If the washer knows you're away from home, it will spin your clothes periodically to keep them fresh. There's also a Whirlpool IFTTT channel for smart washers. But when I tried to download it, I got the following message: "The item you've requested is not currently available in the U.S. Store, but it is available in the U.K. Store. Click Change Store to view this item." Too bad.
Performance
Check out this article to learn more about how we test washers. Basically, we run three identical cleaning cycles with stain strips and mechanical action strips. Stain strips are long strips of fabric with individual squares coated in skin oil (sebum), mineral oil (carbon), blood, cocoa and red wine. Mechanical action strips are larger fabric squares with five prepunched holes.
For the fabric strips, we calculate the percentage of the original stains remaining after running through a cleaning cycle. The mechanical action strips run through the same cleaning cycle and tell us how tough or gentle the washer's "normal" cycle is on clothes. The higher the count of loose strands of fabric post-cycle, the tougher the machine.
Whirlpool's Smart Cabrio got the third best stain removal score of any top-loader we've tested so far -- an average of 45 percent of the original stains remained on the test strips after a cleaning cycle. Here's a more detailed look at its stain results:
- Skin oil: 46 percent stain remaining
- Mineral oil: 49 percent stain remaining
- Blood: 24 percent stain remaining
- Cocoa: 54 percent stain remaining
- Red wine: 54 percent stain remaining
Only Kenmore's 29133 and 31633 performed better here, with an average of 44 and 41 percent of their original stains remaining.
When it comes to wear and tear, the Smart Cabrio normal cycle was very gentle on clothes. It averaged just 185 frayed threads, compared to the Kenmore 31633's average of 251 threads per wash cycle, the Kenmore 29133's 239 threads and the LG WT1801HVA's 243 threads.
Comparing the Smart Cabrio's stains to its competition.
The verdict
Whirlpool's $1,399 Smart Cabrio, model number WTW8700EC, is worth strong consideration. Still, is it worth it's high price? That's up to you. You're paying for its modern design and impressive performance, but you're also paying a premium for its smart features. If its Wi-Fi capabilities aren't of interest to you, you'll want to consider Kenmore's 31633 and 29133. Both models performed slightly better than the Cabrio Smart, and you can often find the expensive 31633 heavily discounted at Sears.