Bosch Serie 6 KGN36HI32 fridge freezer review

Read our full review of the best fridge freezers.

First impressions of the Bosch Serie 6 KGN36HI32 fridge freezer

This fridge freezer has a bit more going on aesthetically than some of the other models we tested – there's a digital temperature display and control panel on the front, shiny stainless steel doors that look ultra smart (but do tend to attract fingerprints), and two long handles that are fairly subtle, but not as neat as the recessed alternative on some brands. Inside, there appears to be plenty of space, and the cameras are an intriguing addition.

Is the Bosch Serie 6 KGN36HI32 fridge freezer easy to set up?

Like most fridge freezers, this requires a period for the coolant to settle before plugging in and then a wait for the appliance to cool before adding food. The Home Connect app, which allows you to control the fridge freezer from your phone, adds an additional element. The instructions are straightforward but you do need to download the app and sync the appliance to your phone. The main instruction booklet is clear, with all sections well signposted.

What is the overall quality like?

Both exterior and interior have the appearance and feel of quality, lasting materials. However, we felt that for the price, the fact that fingerprints showed up on the front was a disappointing design oversight. Plus, the camera positioning in the door hindered the movement of shelves.

Capacity vs usable space

The fridge holds 234 litres, and overall spacing and the ratio of drawers to shelves is good. The fridge door storage would offer greater flexibility if the camera didn't prohibit any adjusting of shelf position. The freezer holds 86 litres and with all three drawers and shelves easily removable, there's plenty of space for items large or small.

What's the handle like?

There are plastic handles bolted on both doors, with a brushed stainless steel finish on the front. Aesthetically, we prefer a recessed handle, which generally also feels more durable, but in this case, the handles are very firmly attached and easy to grip with plenty of finger room.

What are the shelving options in the fridge?

There are three glass shelves in the main compartment, plus a fourth if you remove the meat drawer. There's also a wine rack. These can be switched around and spacing is sufficient to make them very useable.

There are three door shelves too, but as mentioned, these can't be moved – and the lowest two shelves are not spaced far enough apart to allow clearance for an open wine bottle.

How are the fridge drawers?

There's a smaller drawer in which you can adjust the temperature between zero and four degrees – this is suitable for preserving meat and fish, and you can even use it to store ice cream so that it's just right for scooping. But, it's not tall enough for a bigger piece of meat, such as a whole chicken. There's also a larger, generously sized drawer for fruit and vegetables. It has a humidity gauge on it to help with preservation.

What benefits does the freezer offer?

There are three sizeable freezer drawers. These can be removed along with the glass shelves underneath to create maximum storage space within. There's a 'super freeze' setting to chill the compartment down and the appliance automatically defrosts.

How's the overall visibility?

We liked the transparent drawers in the fridge, which gave maximum viewing potential. The freezer drawers do have a white plastic base. There are metal strips on the door shelves too, but these only marginally obscure contents. Overall, visibility is good.

Is it easy to control and monitor temperature?

There's a control panel on the front of the fridge. It's suitably high up, so it will avoid the attention of young children. With '+' and '-' options, it's very easy to change the temperature, which is displayed clearly for both fridge and freezer. There are 'super cooling' and 'super freezing' options for both the fridge and freezer respectively. Bosch suggest using the super cooling option for chilling large amounts of food at once, or for cooling drinks quickly. Super freezing, on the other hand, is for freezing large amounts of fresh food.

Temperature can be controlled from an app on your smartphone and the interface is very simple. You select fridge or freezer, then slide the circular gauge around until you hit the temperature you want.

You can also keep an eye on your fridge contents from the app. The cameras only work when the fridge door is closed (they're not spying on you, thankfully!) so if you're at the supermarket wondering if you need more butter or a pint of milk, you can have a quick check to see.

Is there a door alarm?

Yes.

What is its footprint?

The footprint is 187cm (H) x 60cm (W) x 65cm (D).

Is it easy to clean?

The fridge is relatively easy to clean. We found the shelving a little stiff to remove, plus there are some rims and ridges which might gather food, but overall, it's practical. The fridge freezer is called 'easy clean' on the Bosch website, but it was no better than the other brands we tried.

Are there any accessories?

There are three removable egg cup holders, a bottle rack, berry tray and ice cube tray.

Are there any accessories available for purchase?

Recommended cleaning products are available on the website.

Overall star ratings for the Bosch Serie 6 KGN36HI32 fridge freezer

Quality 4.5/5
Practicality 4.5/5
Capacity vs usable space 4.5/5
Temperature control 5/5
Ease of cleaning 4/5
Value for money 4/5

Overall score: 4.4/5

Our conclusion

This fridge freezer is ideal for tech-lovers with deep pockets. Being able to control the temperature and check contents from your mobile is fun and useful but certainly not essential. The appliance does do the essentials well too – it's practical and well made but the price tag is hefty.

Product specifications at a glance

Dimensions:
187cm (H) x 60cm (W) x 65cm (D)
Capacity:
Fridge 234 litres
Freezer 86 litres
Energy efficiency class: A++
Annual energy consumption per year in kWh: 258
Fast freeze: Yes
Automatic defrost: Yes
Reversible door handle: Yes
Separate controls for fridge and freezer: Yes
Fridge can be switched off separately: No
No. of fridge shelves: 3, plus bottle rack
No. of fridge door shelves: 3
No. of fridge drawers: 2
No. of freezer drawers: 3
Digital display: Yes

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This review was last updated in June 2019. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.