Gorenje GV520E15 built-in dishwasher, 44.8 cm, 9 place settings, class E

A dishwasher under 45 cm wide is made for kitchens where only a narrow module is free in the run of cabinets. Even so, the baskets take 9 place settings – one setting being the plates, glass, cup and cutlery for one person. In a one- or two-person household a full load builds up over a couple of days, while a larger family can run it after every main meal.

On the EU energy label scale from A to G the GV520E15 is rated class E, with an energy consumption of 70 kWh per 100 wash cycles. According to the manufacturer it uses 9 litres of water per cycle, and its rated power is 1760 W. All five programmes are selected on the control panel with a display. There is no dedicated quick wash programme, so the machine is aimed at washing full loads.

The built-in water softener reduces the effect of hard water: fewer marks on your dishes and less limescale inside the machine. The softener needs dishwasher salt to regenerate, and the salt indicator tells you when it has run out. In the same way, the rinse aid indicator reminds you to top up rinse aid so that glasses dry evenly and without streaks.

A built-in dishwasher sits behind a furniture door, where a small leak may go unnoticed for a while. That is why the GV520E15 has a water protection system designed to limit the water supply if a leak occurs. The self-cleaning filter separates food residue from the wash water by itself, so it needs manual cleaning less often than a conventional filter. The display on the panel shows the selected settings.

The machine measures 44.8 × 55 × 81.5 cm (width × depth × height) and weighs 31 kg. The adjustable feet let you set the height and level the body to the worktop and the floor. The power cable is 1.5 m long, so the socket should be close by, for example in the neighbouring cabinet. Whether a full-height furniture panel can be fitted to the door is covered in the installation manual.

The Gorenje GV520E15 suits a small or medium kitchen with a 45 cm space reserved for a dishwasher, and a household of one to three people for whom 9 place settings is enough. It is also a sensible option for a rented flat or a summer house, where simple operation, a water softener and leak protection matter more than a long list of programmes.