Kitchenaid is fascinating brand. On the one hand, it appears to be battling it out with LG and Samsung for cheap “slide in” range category. Yet, on the other, it releases some expensive and thoughtful pieces to better compete with the high end brands like Wolf and Thermador. It almost seems at odds with itself, and for us in the appliance world it constantly leaves us scratching our heads.

Case in point, the relatively solid and commercial quality Kitchenaid KGCU467VSS gas range-top definitely gives off the feeling it was designed while eyeing the higher end appliance market. It is obvious Kitchenaid was looking to capture those customers who want the “Commercial” quality of Wolf or Thermador, but can’t get over the price.

Kitchenaid Rangetop Review

Kitchenaid’s Rangetop Burner layout and design look strikingly similar to Viking’s

Kitchenaid’s “Commercial Style” Rangetop looks, at first glance, almost identical to Viking’s. In fact they likely used the Viking as a guide in designing their very first Rangetop for production. They look like siblings. The grates are continuous and flush all the way across for easy pot movement. The sealed burner design looks nearly identical.

Unlike the Viking, there are three different power levels represented on this rangetop. There are (2) 20,000 btu dual-flame “Power Burners” which are for the heavy heat cooking and boiling needs. There are (3) 15,000 btu “professional” burners, and (1) 9,000 btu “simmer/melt” burner for low heat needs.

The big logo plaque in the center lines up perfectly with my belt buckle.

A big, brash “Kitchenaid” logo placard adorns the front of the rangetop, dead center – and while we don’t have an issue with our branded appliances, this placard is so big and bulky that it is a bit distracting while cooking. It also sits right in line where our belt buckle hits the rangetop. Long-term, I would imagine this shiny logo plaque scratched up to high-heaven.

The knobs are a bit disappointing, both in shape and in feel. They are very similar in shape to Thermador’s knob, but the fit and finish isn’t up to par. The knobs feel “tinny” and rough, as if they didn’t even bother to polish them before painting. The printing on our test model was slightly crooked. While convenient and thoughtful, the old-school machine stamped “FRONT” and “REAR” labels on the knob collars looks cheap to the eye. All this calls attention to the price.

Stamped knob rings and fuzzy printed lettering lacks the elegance needed to elevate the fit and finish to the next level.

Kitchenaid paid very special attention to the competition before releasing and pricing this model. To see just how smart Kitchenaid was in their pricing, take a look at the top 3 “commercial-style” rangetops on the market currently:

As you can see, the pricing on each comes in between $3,000-$4,000. While the Kitchenaid Gas Rangetop can be picked up at various big-box retailers for around $2,500.

A smart move by Kitchenaid, and a good deal for the consumer. Fit and finish on the range as a whole and a slim 1 year warranty are likely what got them to that price, but for those looking to save some money while still packing serious cooking heat, this range is definitely one to take note of.

Check out our other range reviews and our other appliance reviews.