• by Karl Greenberg , November 3, 2006

J.D. Power & Associates, best known for its automotive research, has just released its second national survey of what consumers look for in major appliances, and which brands they prefer.

Kenmore Elite ranked highest for cooking appliances, and Samsung ranked highest in the refrigerator segment for the second year.

Samsung got high marks for operational features, such as noise level and energy efficiency, price, and styling.

For laundry appliances, LG ranked highest for washers, and Bosch for dryers.

Dale Haines, senior director of the home builder practice at J.D. Power, said performance trumps price, particularly in the kitchen appliances category.

The study measures consumer satisfaction based on operation, features, ease of use, styling, price and warranty.