A beauty queen with a few screws loose.
The KOHLER C-230 has been called the most lovely of bidet seats, but is it actually a good bidet?
If looks were all that mattered, then I’d forever be single and the KOHLER C-230 would be a required purchase for every bidet seeker. Every time I look at this thing, I’m blown away by its sleek lines and the sexiest attached control panel I’ve seen (not to mention its sultry touchscreen remote).
Smoothly emerging from the right side of the unit and providing near total control of all the bidet functions, the side panel is a very attractive accent to an already steamy looking device; although, it isn’t perfect – more on that later.
There’s an advanced UV-light sanitation system that thoroughly cleans the nozzle, a funky blue nightlight that automatically turns on at night, a deodorizer and warm air dryer as well as all the basic bidet functions you’d expect from a premium bidet seat.
A highlight of the bidet is the KOHLER C-230’s remote. It truly looks and feels premium with an attractive black and white theme that will surely go with any bathroom’s decor.
If looks were the sole reason for choosing a bidet, I’d stop the review here and just tell you to go buy this hunky toilet topper.
But, as we all know, looks aren’t everything and the C-230 has some issues that being spicy just can’t fix.
Looks aren’t everything.
As mentioned above , the KOHLER C-230 packs some impressive tech and will spice up any bathroom with its good looks, but some glaring issues – primarily with the software that controls the electronic components – keep it from achieving legendary status.
Right off the bat, let’s talk about that sexy attached control panel. It’s certainly more reliable than the remote, but you shouldn’t have to be an Olympic gymnast to be flexible enough to comfortably use it.
Some say you should suffer for fashion, but I’d rather not sprain my wrist while trying to clean my ass.
Now, onto the technology hiccups the C-230 unfortunately suffers from.
While I don’t think we need our toilets to interface with Amazon’s Alexa or the cloud anytime soon (“Thanks for using the KOHLER C-230, Would you like to share that impressive turd with your friends on Facebook?”), I’m glad KOHLER is implementing more advanced technology than is typically seen in your run-of-the-mill bidet.
The problem we run into with all this ahead-of-the-curve technology should be familiar to anyone who has used a computer or cell phone before – the need to occasionally reset the whole damn system to get anything to work.
From the remote not working to the body sensor not recognizing anyone is on the toilet, the C-230 has some…. quirks about it that can really leave a sour taste in your mouth.
The classic advice of “Have you tried turning it off and then on again?” seems to fix all of the C-230’s issues. It’s a simple, yet endlessly annoying remedy.
While the issues with the system going haywire aren’t widespread (there’s a good chance you won’t run into them), there is a significant number of people who have, and that’s something to be wary of.
If you’re willing to roll the dice and/or be patient enough to endure the process of returning your unit and waiting for a replacement, the KOHLER C-230 is an impressive and good-looking unit.
However, until KOHLER can get their quality assurance up to snuff, I can’t wholeheartedly recommend the C-230.
Check out the price of the KOHLER C-230 here.
To see a more reliable flagship bidet, check out our TOTO s550 review here.