The least expensive Miele with a top third tray for utensils. Look for a last seasons model. Here's one with hidden display. I bought mine off CL. Someone will also recommend a Bosch 300.

You absolutely cannot go wrong with a Miele. Dishwashers is the thing that they have perfected over many decades. Nobody else even comes close.

If you can afford it, get a model that automatically opens the door at the end of the cycle. Miele dishwashers don't have a heated-dry feature. This actually is awesome, as it allows you to place plastic containers anywhere in the dishwasher without fear of damaging them. It also saves energy. But it can be less effective at drying dishes, unless you open the door when the cycle is done. It'll probably still be OK for glass, china, and cutlery. But plastic container stay more wet. An auto-opening door fixes this minor issue.

If you can't afford any Miele, there are other brands that aren't necessarily horrible. But it really depends from model to model. So, really hard to predict how you'll like it over time.

I just got a new Bosch dishwasher. I'm in love with the 3rd rack. It holds all the things that slide thru the normal racks. Utensils, lids to things, ramekins, there is even a knife holder for cooking knives. It's also so quiet that they have a red light that shines on the floor so that you can tell it's on. It's wonderful, I had no idea I cared about the 3rd shelf but I LOVE it.

Just to say, my dishwasher's plastic tub(s) are not worn or deteriorated after 13 years 11 months of use.

Put me down as one of the people who loves the separate flatware "third rack". If you throw your spoons in the traditional basket, you have to make sure that they don't "nest" and so don't get clean. As jwvideo said, it's slightly more fussy to load, but it's way faster to unload. I have mentally designated an area for spoons, a separate area for knives, etc. Then to unload, I can just grab all the knives and put them in the appropriate drawer, and so on, so unloading is fast and easy. I am more likely to be in a hurry when unloading the dishwasher than when loading it, so it works well for me.

Before you buy, take samples of your flatware, big plates, bowls, and any other awkward thing to the showroom to make sure they fit.

I don't hate the flatware rack but I can't use it because my flatware doesn't fit. A separator top for the flatware basket came with my dishwasher, but my flatware doesn't fit that either (it's removeable). In my DW (which was a compromise in many ways), there are spots for cereal bowls. Three of them. If you don't have any big plates or pots. We rarely have mugs and conserve glasses, so we keep the tines down on the top rack and can put a few flat there, and still wash dinner plates. Remember when they tell you the machine will hold service for 8 or 12, they're choosing the dishes that will fit, not your dishes.

If you don't need fancy cycles or a custom cabinet panel, you don't need the top of the line. Most people use one setting most of the time (though it might be a different choice among those available). In general, mid-level from a good line is just as good.

Stainless steel tub helps with condensation drying (rather than heated dry). If you want a heater, there are still some American DW's that have them, but they might not be as good on general washing.

If your DW is far from your water heater, or if you have your hot water temperature limited for baby/elderly safety, you might want a DW with an on board heater. Some DW's just heat the water using a set amount of power for a set time, while others let you actually set the temperature or temperature range.

For any appliance purchase, reading the user manuals online can be very instructive.

We recently purchased our second Miele DW, the Dimension (G 6785). When our Optima bit the dust a few weeks ago, we knew we wanted another Miele DW. We considered both the Dimension, and the model one below it, the Crystal (G 6665). Both offer Quick Intense Wash cycles and Auto Open at the end of the dry time. With the Dimension you get a few more wash cycles, a Clean Machine Cycle, 44 db (vs 45 db on the Crystal), and slightly different middle and bottom rack configurations. Price difference between the two models is $100.

I was already a fan of Optima's cutlery tray (aka third rack). Like nightflyer, I mentally designated different sections or zones for different flatware items, teaspoons here, forks there, etc. when we first started using the DW. Once you do that, it doesn't take much added time to load the tray (really), and unloading is much quicker than using a basket. Both the Crystal and the Dimension offer the new 3D cutlery tray, and I have to say, after using it only a few weeks, I like it even more than I thought I would. The ability to lower the center portion of the tray, means I can wash bulkier items like soup ladles with my flatware instead of them taking up space in the middle rack. Another bonus, is that the rack's tines have been upgraded, and things seem to stay put better when pulling the tray out or pushing it back into the DW.

We put importance on quietness in selecting our last dishwasher as our kitchen opens up into a great room and we didn't want noise projecting into this area. Adjustable rack was nice. I don't think we've used but 3 of the 8 wash cycles in the 13 years we've had this. We went with Bosch.

Update: I ended up with a Kitchen Aid. We'll see how it goes. I had criteria, but not all fit in the budget, so there were tradeoffs. Wish me luck!