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Smeg's $4k fridge named 'worst ever' in scathing Choice review
A new fridge from designer brand Smeg has been absolutely torn to shreds in a new review by independent consumer testing site Choice, who dubbed it 'the worst fridge ever'.
The new FAB38RCRAU model from the brand retails for a steep $3,990 and promises an attractive mid-century design, but according to the experts, that design comes with a mid-century performance as well.
"This fridge is the worst we've ever seen in decades of testing," Ashley Iredale, a fridge expert for the organisation said of the model.
"It's even more appalling when you consider that it costs a whopping $3,990. You get a 1950s-style aesthetic from this fridge, but you'll also get '50s performance to match."
Ouch.
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Behind the scathing score and comments from the team is what they say is a serious issue with the fridge's temperature stability.
The item was found by the testing to be extremely costly to run and scored a shocking 0% in the temperature-stability test according to Choice's testing.
In other words, it doesn't seem to be guaranteed that the fridge will consistently keep your food refrigerated, or as the Choice review put it, there is 'no temperature stability at all'.
Inside the fridge, the test found that the temperature could fluctuate by up to five degrees, and the freezer was worse with about 10 degrees fluctuation.
"Its alarming range of temperature issues means perishables are likely to go off far more quickly than they should," tester Ashley reports. "Replacing them is an extra cost you'll be paying for the lifetime of the fridge."
Then there was the fact that the report found the fridge's internal temperature was affected by outside conditions, meaning a stinking hot day could wreak havoc with your fridge's cooling powers.
Add to that a very tall style that makes removal and fitting tricky, and 'incredibly expensive' running costs and the fridge got a decided thumbs down from the experts.
Yahoo Lifestyle has contacted Smeg for comment.
It's not the first time a product has been slammed by Choice investigators.
Last year a popular brand of hand sanitiser sold at United petrol stations was pulled from shelves after a Choice test found they had inadequate levels of alcohol to be effective ion combatting the transmission of virus' like Covid-19.
Choice senior campaigner Dean Price explained that the tested sample showed only 52% alcohol, with 60% to 80% alcohol required to make a formula effective in killing viruses like COVID-19 depending on the type of alcohol used.
The organisation's findings prompted the ACCC to introduce new information standards for sanitising products.
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