Vitamix Propel Series 750 Professional-Grade Blender, 4 Programs, Black

Why it's worth it

The Propel 750 pairs a 2.2 HP motor with a 64-ounce low-profile container that clears most standard cabinets. Four programs handle smoothies, hot soup, frozen dessert and dips, and the self-cleaning cycle finishes in about a minute.

This is the Vitamix that covers the most kitchens without asking you to learn anything. You get a dial for variable speed, a pulse switch and four buttons for the jobs you'll actually repeat. Press smoothie and walk away. The 64-ounce low-profile jar is the practical part — at 18 inches tall on the base, it slides under most standard upper cabinets, so you're not lifting the whole machine out to use it.

The 2.2 HP motor is the same class of power you'll find in the flagship Ascent models, and that matters more than any button. Consumer Reports rates high-performance blenders like Vitamix above standard blenders specifically for smoothie texture and ice-crushing consistency, and Serious Eats found Vitamix models produced smoother, less icy smoothies than comparably priced blenders from other brands. Frozen fruit, ice, nuts — none of it stalls the machine.

From our review of 8 vitamix blenders and accessories

What we like

• +This is the Vitamix that covers the most kitchens without asking you to learn anything
• +The 2.2 HP motor is the same class of power you'll find in the flagship Ascent models, and that matters more than any button
• +The Dip & Spread program is the one extra you get over the cheaper models here, and it's genuinely useful if you make hummus or…
• +Cleanup is the underrated part

What to know

• –It's loud. Not unusually loud for the category, but loud enough that a morning smoothie is a household event
• –A minority of owners report a burning smell under heavy or thick loads, and a handful describe a motor that lost power over time
• –The touchscreen and self-detect container recognition you'd get on an Ascent machine aren't here