The Hisense RL170D4BWE is a compact under-counter larder fridge designed to give you a decent amount of chilled storage without taking over your kitchen. With a 133-litre capacity and simple white finish, it’s aimed squarely at smaller households, flats, and anyone adding an extra fridge to a utility room or garage.
Hisense has built a reputation for offering practical appliances at sensible prices, and this model follows that formula. It keeps the feature set straightforward, focusing on everyday usability rather than clever extras you might never use.
With an impressive 4.8 out of 5 rating from around 480 reviews, it’s clearly a well-liked choice among owners, especially if you want reliable cooling on a budget and don’t need a built-in freezer compartment.
The RL170D4BWE is a strong fit for smaller households, couples or single occupants who want a reliable under-counter fridge without paying for lots of bells and whistles. Its 133-litre capacity is enough for roughly seven bags of shopping, which suits weekly top-up shops rather than bulk buying.
It’s also a good option as a second fridge in a utility room, garage or annex. If you already have a fridge-freezer but need extra chilled space for drinks, meal-prep containers or entertaining, the simple layout and adjustable shelves make it easy to tailor to occasional use.
Budget-conscious buyers will appreciate that this is very much a value-focused model. The E energy rating (formerly A++) and low 90 kWh yearly consumption help keep running costs down, while the basic spec avoids paying for premium features you might not miss in a smaller fridge.
If you’re after a fuss-free appliance that just gets on with keeping food cold, with a reversible door to suit your layout and a dedicated salad crisper to keep greens tidy and fresher, this Hisense will tick most of the right boxes.
The 133-litre capacity is generous for an under-counter fridge and easily swallows a weekly shop for one or two people, especially with three shelves and a decent-sized salad crisper to keep fruit and veg organised.
Adjustable shelves give you flexibility to create taller spaces for items like bottles, jugs or leftover dishes, which makes a real difference in a compact fridge.
The auto defrost function is a big everyday convenience. By managing condensation and ice build-up for you, it saves you from having to regularly switch off and scrape out the interior.
Energy use is low at around 90 kWh per year, which should keep running costs modest for an appliance that’s on 24/7, and the LED interior light is bright and efficient.
A reversible door and adjustable feet mean it’s easy to position in a variety of kitchen layouts, and the strong user rating suggests day-to-day reliability and satisfaction are high.
The feature set is basic: there’s no open-door alarm, no dedicated fresh zone, and no special airflow system, so you’re not getting the more advanced food-care tech found on pricier models.
Noise is quoted at 40 dB, which is perfectly acceptable but not especially quiet for very open-plan living spaces where you might notice the hum more.
There’s no digital display or smart controls, so you’ll be relying on a simple internal dial for temperature adjustment, which may feel old-fashioned to those used to more modern interfaces.
The two-year manufacturer’s warranty is decent but not exceptional; some rivals in refrigeration offer longer cover on parts or the compressor.
Day to day, the RL170D4BWE is designed to be straightforward. At 84.5 cm tall, it tucks neatly under a standard worktop, and the 56 cm width makes it slightly slimmer than some under-counter models, which is handy in tighter kitchens. Adjustable feet help it sit level on uneven floors, improving the door seal and general stability.
Inside, the layout is simple and intuitive: three shelves plus a salad crisper at the bottom, with door storage for bottles and jars. Because the shelves are adjustable, you can quickly reconfigure the space when you’ve got bulky items or party food to chill. The LED lighting gives a clear view across the interior so items don’t get lost at the back.
Auto defrost is a major plus for usability. You don’t have to schedule in messy defrost sessions; instead, the fridge quietly manages condensation and minimises ice build-up on its own. Cleaning is mostly a case of wiping down the interior and occasionally removing shelves and drawers for a quick wash.
The controls are basic but easy to live with. A simple thermostat dial keeps things uncomplicated, making this especially suitable for users who don’t want to faff with menus or displays. The 40 dB noise level is noticeable as a background hum but not intrusive in most kitchens.
As a larder fridge, the RL170D4BWE focuses entirely on chilled storage, with no freezer compartment taking up space. The 133-litre net capacity is well used, and the climate class rating of SN–T means it’s designed to operate reliably across a broad range of room temperatures, from 16°C up to 43°C. That gives some reassurance if it’s going into a warmer kitchen or a well-insulated utility room.
Cooling performance is backed by auto defrost, which helps maintain consistent temperatures by preventing excessive ice build-up on the back wall. While there’s no multi-airflow system or dedicated fresh zone, the salad crisper provides a more humid environment for fruit and veg, helping them stay fresher for longer than if left loose on a shelf.
Feature-wise, this is intentionally simple. There’s no display, door alarm, super-cool function or smart connectivity. Instead, you’re getting an LED interior light, reversible door, adjustable shelves and adjustable feet – the essentials for practicality in a compact fridge. For many buyers in this price bracket, that’s a sensible trade-off: fewer things to complicate use or go wrong.
The noise level of 40 dB sits in the middle of the pack for this kind of appliance. You’ll hear it click on and off, but it should fade into the background in a typical kitchen. With energy consumption rated at just 90 kWh per year and an E energy label under the newer, stricter scale, it’s reasonably efficient for a small fridge, helping to keep its lifetime running costs in check.
Overall, the performance focus is on reliable, steady chilling rather than advanced food-care tech. For a secondary fridge or a small household who prioritise simplicity and low running costs, that’s exactly what’s needed.
Positioned as an affordable under-counter larder fridge, the Hisense RL170D4BWE offers strong value for money. You’re not paying for premium finishes, digital controls or fancy compartments, but you are getting solid basics: a practical capacity, auto defrost, adjustable shelves and a reversible door.
The energy use of 90 kWh per year and modern E rating help keep long-term running costs manageable, which adds to the value proposition over the lifetime of the appliance. For households watching their bills, that matters as much as the upfront price.
The combination of a very high 4.8/5 user rating and a large number of reviews suggests that most owners feel they’ve got a good deal. Given the straightforward design, sensible feature set and two-year warranty, this fridge delivers a lot of everyday practicality for the money, particularly if you’re shopping in the budget to lower mid-range part of the market.
The Hisense RL170D4BWE is a strong choice if you need a compact, under-counter fridge that simply gets on with the job. It offers enough space for a small household or as a handy overflow fridge, with adjustable shelving, a dedicated salad drawer and auto defrost making everyday life easier.
You don’t get the advanced airflow systems, fancy fresh zones or digital controls seen on more expensive models, and the noise level is respectable rather than whisper-quiet. But those omissions keep the price and complexity down, and the low energy consumption helps reduce running costs.
If you want a no-nonsense, reliable larder fridge with very satisfied existing owners and you’re not chasing premium features, the RL170D4BWE is a very sensible buy. Those wanting ultra-quiet operation, a designer finish or more sophisticated food-care tech may want to look higher up the range, but for most everyday kitchens this Hisense will do the job very well.
