On brand alone, I'd pick KA. KA is owned by Whirlpool and is their high-end brand. I suspect the two products are going to be fairly similar - there might be slight differences in features and/or appearance. I had a Whirpool for over 20 years - it was still going strong when I renovated the kitchen and put in a KA which is now almost 7 years old and is doing fine.

We have a Whirlpool and love it. It cleans well and is relatively quiet. I love that the silverware container is on the door. I don't know if the Kitchenaid has the same set up or not, but I don't think so. The silverware in the door frees up so much space in the racks for larger items. In our new build we are getting another WP only in stainless

I just ordered a KA based on reviews,interior size, noise level and energy use. Between the two models you're looking at, the KA is a little quieter. It also has a hard food grinder (disposal....that part won't be so quiet). If energy savings is an important factor in your decision, you could find out which cost less to operate. After cleaning, top on my list were noise level and energy use. Size mattered too. I went after a Bosch but the tub size and lack of tine configuration changed my mind. My first dw in this house was a Whirlpool. It lasted 17 years.
Monica

I have the KA KUDC20FVSS that hopefully will be installed this week. I picked it because of a rebate offer at the time and a little quieter I'm hoping.

First, know that KA and Whirlpool DW's are essentially the same machines - same design, many of the same parts, similar performance. The main distinguishing feature between KA and WP historically has been that WP interiors are plastic, KA interiors are stainless. Don't know if that's still the case but it's easy enough to check. Other things being equal, stainless gives slightly better noise performance than plastic and can give somewhat better drying performance, particularly if heated dry isn't used since it retains more heat and provides a better surface for condensation. Some also like stainless for cosmetic reasons, particulary if your water is high in iron that can stain. I would (and did) choose KA but you're the only one that can decide if that sounds like it's worth $100 to you. Unless you get a lemon, you'll get a decent DW either way.

I'm chiming in late here but I've pretty much decided on the one Whirlpool model that does have SS interior. It's a Whirlpool Gold model. Reason being the silverware basket. With WP, that basket can go a couple of different places inside the DW, the normal place being in the door. This allows more stuff to be put on the bottom rack. To me that is worth it. If I want to get one large sink instead of a double bowl, then I need to be able to pack as much in the DW as possible and run it every night. I hate dishes on towels on the countertop.

I have the Whirlpool GU2475XTVY and have been very pleased with it. I went through the usual process of looking at every model under the sun before selecting the one that I did. My requirements was a stainless steel exterior with integrated controls. Several fit that bill, but only the Whirlpool did so at a far lower price, plus gave me options I really wanted such as a cutlery rack that can go on the door or on the rack, and hold down clips for plastic items so they donÂt flip over.

Biggest plus is that the steam vent is located on the front rather than on the top edge, so no blasting the underside of the counter with steam. For me that was essential, since I have ceramic tile countertops with a wood edge. The vent is small and does not (to my eye) detract from the aesthetics of a clean, uniform front.

Cleaning performance is great. Everything comes out spotless, with no pre-rinsing.

The only downside is that it is not the quietest out there. Not at all objectionable, but a few more decibels than the Bosch or KA.

I have the KitchenAid & love it. Inlaws got a new Whirlpool not so long ago and there is no comparison. The hard food grinder and filter system in my middle of the road KitchenAid are far superior to Whirlpool's filter/trap system only. Let's put it this way--my husband uses only paper cups & plates when he goes over to his parents because of the poorer cleaning quality he sees with his parents' DW vs. ours. With the KA, we have hardly ever had any issues with cleaning results, quietness is ok (you can hear it, but it doesn't interfere with conversations or TV), you really don't hear the food grinder doing its thing, either, and the stacking configuration allows for maximum filling of the dish racks.

We're getting ready to build & will have 2 DWs--both will be KitchenAid. Hope this helps! Let us know what you decide.

Whirlpool makes KitchenAid appliances