If your current refrigerator just doesn't fit the bill any more and you've decided it's time to replace your clunker—it's too small and can't handle all the fixings and/or leftovers from holiday gatherings; it's terribly energy inefficient; or it simply has seen better days—you'll be happy to know that some of the latest models we've tested are not only more efficient but also offer more-flexible storage options and other notable features.

As part of our continuously updated ratings of refrigerators (available to subscribers), we recently tested of six top-freezers, 14 bottom-freezers (including French-door models), seven side-by-sides, and three built-ins. Prices ranged from $750 for a budget-minded top-freezer to $8,500 for a built-in. (For more details on these appliances, check out our free buyer's guide to refrigerators.)

Claimed capacities from manufacturers range from 19 cubic feet to 29 cubic feet. But be wary of claimed-capacity figures, because there can be sizable differences between claimed and actual usable space.

Most of the newly tested models are Energy Star qualified, a consideration if you want to take advantage of the $300 million State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program, aka cash for clunkers for appliances.

The least expensive refrigerator to operate was the Whirlpool Gold G9RXXFMW[Q] top-freezer, $820, which will cost an average $48 a year to run based on the current national average price for residential electricity—about 12 cents per kilowatt hour. Other efficient top-freezers include the bigger LG LTC22350[SW], $860, and the Kenmore 7930[2], $950, which cost $5 and $6 more per year to operate, respectively.

You might want to save by buying a less expensive refrigerator, but in the long run that might not be a good move. The budget-priced Kenmore 7419[2] costs $270 less than the Whirlpool Gold G9RXXFMW[Q], but you'd pay about $340 more for energy over the 13-year average life span of a refrigerator.

In other news, Joseph Pacella, project leader for refrigerator testing, says "paying more will also get you the new features manufacturers are adding to stand out from the pack." Among some of the noteworthy features Pacella found:

• The LG LMX28987[ST] French-door bottom-freezer, $3,300, has motorized drawers for its two freezer compartments. And the Thermador T36BT71FSE built-in French-door bottom-freezer, $7,600, has a motorized shelf in its refrigerator main space. The motors on both models functioned well during testing, according to Pacella.

• The Sub-Zero BI42S[S] built-in side-by-side features a chemical air scrubber that's designed to remove ethylene from the refrigerator compartment to keep foods from spoiling. It also has slide-out quick reference cards with operating instructions and food-storage tips.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Use these maintenance tips to keep your existing refrigerator in tiptop shape.