Smeg FAB38LCR5 50's Style Double Door Freestanding Left Hinge Fridge Freezer Cream Review, Prices & Score
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Where to buy the Smeg FAB38LCR5 fridge freezer
🏆 Review & price summary
The Smeg FAB38LCR5 combines a distinctive cream 50's Style design with a large 481-litre total capacity. Its Total No Frost double cooling system, dedicated 0°C drawer and flexible shelving make it well suited to households that need substantial everyday storage. The 70cm width, left-hand hinge and energy efficiency class E should be considered before installation.
✓ Key strengths
- ✓ Very generous 481-litre storage capacity with a useful balance between fridge and freezer space
- ✓ Total No Frost cooling helps prevent ice build-up and reduces manual defrosting
- ✓ A separate chilled zone for fresh food
- ✓ Distinctive cream 50's Style appearance with rounded edges and chrome detailing
- ✓ Fast freezing function, door alarms and electronic temperature control add everyday convenience
Worth considering
- The 70cm-wide cabinet and left-hand hinge require careful planning around available space and door clearance
- Energy efficiency class E is less efficient than higher-rated alternatives
- The supplied manual ice maker is less convenient than an automatic ice-making system
Key Specifications
- Lighting
- LED fridge lighting
- Dimensions
- 2050 x 706 x 711 mm
- Cooling system
- Total No Frost with double cooling system
- Hinge position
- Left
- Total capacity
- 481 litres
- Fridge capacity
- 344 litres
- Freezer capacity
- 137 litres
- Storage features
- Three adjustable glass shelves, fruit and vegetable drawer, three adjustable door shelves, bottle shelf, two freezer drawers, two freezer glass shelves and a flap compartment
- Freezer thaw time
- 14 hours
- Freezing capacity
- 8 kg/24h
- Noise emission class
- C
- Energy efficiency class
- E
- Annual energy consumption
- 282 kWh/year
- Manufacturer product code
- FAB38LCR5
Who Should Buy It?
- ✓ A strong fit for larger households that need substantial fresh and frozen food storage.
- ✓ Suitable for kitchens where retro styling is a priority and a freestanding statement appliance is welcome.
- ✓ Useful for shoppers who want frost-free operation and a dedicated low-temperature drawer for fresh ingredients.
Fridge Freezers to compare with the Smeg FAB38LCR5 fridge freezer
These alternatives are selected from our current ranked fridge freezers, prioritising shared verified comparison traits and comparable BestBuysUK Scores.
| Model | BestBuysUK Score | Profile | |
|---|---|---|---|
 Kaiser KS 80425 ElfEm Empire French Door Fridge Freezer
|
77/100 | Large Capacity · Freestanding | Compare review → |
 Smeg FAB38LBL5 50's Style Double Door Freestanding Left-Hinge Fridge Freezer Black
|
77/100 | Large Capacity · Freestanding | Compare review → |
 Smeg FQ55FNDE Universal French Door Fridge Freezer
|
77/100 | Large Capacity · Quiet · Freestanding | Compare review → |
Storage and organisation
With 481 litres of total capacity, this fridge freezer provides substantial room for weekly shopping and larger household food stores. The 344-litre fridge section includes adjustable glass shelves, a fruit and vegetable drawer, door storage and a bottle shelf.
The 137-litre freezer section combines drawers, glass shelves and a flap compartment. A 4-star freezer rating, 8kg/24h freezing capacity and fast freezing function support regular freezing of fresh food.
Cooling and convenience
Total No Frost and the double cooling system are designed to prevent ice build-up and reduce the need for manual defrosting. MultiFlow cooling, a fan and an ionizer are also listed as part of the cooling specification.
The LifePlus 0°C drawer creates a dedicated chilled area for foods that benefit from lower-temperature storage. Electronic temperature control, an interior LED display, temperature alarms and an acoustic and visual door-open alarm add useful day-to-day control.
Design, installation and efficiency
The cream gloss finish, rounded profile and chrome details give this freestanding appliance a pronounced 50's Style appearance. It is a visual feature as well as a practical cooling appliance.
At 2050mm high and 706mm wide, it needs careful installation planning, particularly because the hinge is on the left and the doors require additional clearance when opened. The listed energy class is E, with annual consumption of 282kWh, so energy efficiency is not its strongest area.
Research note: this BestBuysUK assessment is based on the manufacturer's published specifications and other reputable technical sources. Specifications and retailer availability can change, so verify critical details before purchase.