Hotpoint vs Whirlpool Built-in Ovens

Hotpoint and Whirlpool both have strong showings in the affordable part of the built-in oven market. Hotpoint's models here run from £229 for the SA4 544 C IX 71-litre single oven with a twin variable grill, through £249 for the SA4544HIX 71-litre single oven, to £359 for the DD2 540 WH 116-litre double oven. Whirlpool starts at £349 with the Absolute AKZ96220IX 73-litre electric oven, which has a full-width grill and triple glazed door, followed by the AKL309IX 109-litre double oven at £529 and the W7OM44S1P 73-litre single oven at £599. The cheapest Whirlpool is £120 more than the cheapest Hotpoint.

Hotpoint focuses on Multiflow circulation for even heat across shelves, catalytic liners that absorb grease, and an LCD display with programmable timers. Its ovens use either full-width electric grills or twin variable grills, and the DD2 540 WH adds a digital display. Whirlpool describes 6th Sense technology, which adjusts temperature and cooking time automatically, along with up to 15 cooking functions and MultiFlo circulation. Whirlpool's W7OM44S1P uses pyrolytic self-cleaning, while the AKL309IX relies on catalytic self-cleaning, so the two brands take different routes to a clean cavity.

Hotpoint suits buyers who want the lowest entry price, such as a first-time buyer or a landlord furnishing a flat. Its double oven gives two cavities without the cost of a premium brand. Whirlpool suits a household that wants a larger double oven or a single oven with pyrolytic cleaning, and the AKZ96220IX offers a triple glazed door at a price close to Hotpoint's top model.

Bottom line: choose Hotpoint if you want the cheapest reliable oven, from £229 to £359, and choose Whirlpool if you want a 109-litre double oven at £529 or pyrolytic cleaning on the W7OM44S1P at £599.