Statesman R155S Under Counter Fridge Review

Are You Looking for a Compact Fridge-Freezer That Actually Feels Spacious?

If you are short on space but still want proper chilled storage and a usable freezer, you might be eyeing the Statesman R155S Under Counter Fridge with 4* Ice Box, 55cm, 97L Fridge + 16L Freezer, Silver [Energy Class E]. You want to know if it is practical for everyday use, if it is genuinely roomy enough, and if it is worth your money compared with other compact fridges.

This review walks you through what it is like to own and use this fridge day-to-day, so you can decide if it fits your kitchen, lifestyle, and budget.

Overview: What the Statesman R155S Actually Offers You

The Statesman R155S is a 55cm wide under counter fridge with a built-in 4-star ice box (freezer compartment). It is designed for you if you need a compact appliance that fits neatly under your worktop, but you still want a proper fridge and a freezer in one unit.

You get 97 litres of fridge capacity and 16 litres of freezer capacity, which is enough for an individual, a couple, or as an extra fridge in a family home. The reversible door, adjustable glass shelf, internal light, and large salad drawer are all focused on making your life easier in a tight space.

Key Specifications at a Glance

Sometimes it helps to see the basics laid out clearly. The table below summarises the main technical details and usability features so you can quickly check if they match what you are looking for.

This gives you a quick snapshot of what you are dealing with. In the next sections, you will see how each of these specs translates into real-world everyday use.

Design and Build: How It Looks and Feels in Your Kitchen

You want a fridge that does not just work well but also fits the look of your kitchen. The Statesman R155S keeps things simple with a clean silver finish and a tidy, unfussy design that blends easily with most modern or neutral kitchens.

The 55cm width means it will slide neatly under a standard worktop with a bit of room to spare on either side. You are not getting fancy curves, hidden handles, or glossy glass doors here. Instead, you get a straightforward, practical build that focuses on usability and function rather than being a statement piece.

The Compact Footprint: Perfect for Smaller Spaces

If your kitchen, studio flat, or office kitchenette is short on room, this model is designed with you in mind. At 55cm wide, it is slightly slimmer than some standard 60cm under counter fridges, which can be a real benefit in tighter layouts.

You can tuck it under a counter, use it as a secondary fridge in a utility room, or add it to a home office or annex. As long as you leave some ventilation space around it, it should integrate smoothly into most small setups.

Build Quality: Simple but Solid

You are not dealing with a super premium appliance, but for its category and price range, the build is generally solid and practical. The door feels sturdy, the hinges work reliably (and can be reversed), and the interior fittings are made to cope with everyday use.

The glass shelf and salad drawer are designed to carry a fair amount of weight—bottles, jars, and veg will sit safely without the sense that everything might buckle. As with any compact fridge, you will want to be a bit mindful not to overload door shelves with overly heavy items, but overall the construction is suitable for regular daily use.

Capacity and Storage Layout: How Much You Can Actually Fit

Capacity numbers can feel abstract, so it helps to translate them into real food. The Statesman R155S offers 97 litres of fridge space and 16 litres of freezer space. For you, that roughly means:

• Enough chilled space for around 3–5 shopping bags of fresh food, depending on how you pack.
• A freezer/ice box suitable for a few ready meals, a small bag of chips, some frozen vegetables, and some ice or frozen leftovers.

If you live alone, share with a partner, or need an additional fridge for drinks and overflow, this size can work very well.

Fridge Storage: Making the Most of 97 Litres

The main fridge cavity is where you will keep the bulk of your everyday items—milk, yoghurt, leftover containers, sauces, and fresh produce. With 97 litres, you can stock a full weekly shop for one person or a lighter weekly shop for two.

The interior is organised in a simple but flexible way:

• 1 Adjustable Glass Shelf: You can move this shelf up or down to suit taller items like bottles, jugs, or large containers.
• Door Storage: Though not mentioned in the short spec list, under-counter fridges of this type typically include several door balconies or shelves. These are ideal for milk, juice, condiments, and small jars.
• Large Salad Drawer: At the bottom, you have a spacious crisper drawer for fruit and veg.

If you plan your layout a bit, you can fit plenty in without feeling cramped.

Salad Drawer: Keeping Your Fruit and Veg Organised

The large salad drawer is one of the highlights. You can fit a good mix of fresh items here: salad leaves, peppers, cucumbers, carrots, apples, and more. By separating produce from the rest of the fridge, you keep it tidier and more organised.

You also reduce the risk of fruit and vegetables being squashed by heavier items like milk bottles, which helps you cut down on food waste. For a small fridge, having a properly sized salad drawer is a real advantage.

Internal Light: Seeing What You Have (Even at Night)

The internal light is a simple feature that you might not think much about until you do not have it. In this fridge, it makes it easier for you to:

• See what is in the back of shelves
• Check what you are low on before shopping
• Grab a late-night snack without turning on every light in the house

In a compact fridge, good lighting means you are less likely to forget items in the back and more likely to keep everything tidy and accessible.

Freezer Performance: Understanding the 4-Star Ice Box

The Statesman R155S features a 4-star ice box with 16 litres of capacity. A 4-star rating means the freezer compartment can reach temperatures low enough for:

• Freezing fresh food
• Storing frozen food for longer periods (not just a few days)
• Keeping items safely at around -18°C when used correctly

You are not getting a full-size freezer here, but you are getting a functional and safe one for a compact appliance.

What You Can Actually Store in 16 Litres

A 16-litre freezer will not replace a large chest freezer, but it is ideal for:

• A few frozen meals for busy days
• Portions of meat or fish
• A bag of frozen vegetables
• Ice cream or ice lollies
• Ice cubes for drinks

If you live alone or have limited frozen needs, you can use this ice box as your main freezer. If you already have a bigger freezer elsewhere, this becomes extra space for convenience items and quick-grab treats.

Why the 4-Star Rating Matters to You

Some under counter fridges come with only a 1- or 2-star ice compartment, which is really more of a chill box than a proper freezer. The 4-star rating on this Statesman model means:

• You can store food for longer periods safely.
• You can freeze fresh items, not just keep already frozen food cold.
• The temperature is suitable for proper food preservation at typical freezing levels.

This can be important if you like batch cooking, want to freeze leftovers, or prefer to buy frozen ingredients for convenience.

Installation and Fit: Getting It into Your Kitchen

When you are dealing with an under counter fridge, fit and positioning matter just as much as the internal space. The Statesman R155S is designed as a freestanding under counter unit, not a built-in integrated model, so you can place it where you want as long as there is a standard power socket nearby.

You need to consider three main things: width, height clearance, and door swing.

55cm Width: Easier to Fit into Tight Gaps

Many under counter fridges are 60cm wide. The Statesman R155S at 55cm gives you that extra few centimetres of wiggle room, which can make a difference if:

• Your cabinets or skirting boards are slightly uneven.
• You are squeezing it between two existing units or next to an appliance.
• You want a small gap for easier ventilation and cleaning.

This smaller width helps you avoid awkward fitting issues in compact or older kitchens where measurements are not perfectly standard.

Reversible Door: Open from Left or Right

The reversible door is one of those features you might overlook until it becomes crucial. You can set the door to open either to the left or to the right, depending on your kitchen layout.

This is especially useful if:

• Your fridge is going in a corner.
• Another appliance or wall is close on one side.
• You want the door to open inwards toward your main work area.

You will likely need to switch the hinges yourself (or ask someone handy), but once done, it makes your daily access much more comfortable.

Everyday Usability: How It Feels to Use Day In, Day Out

Technical details are one thing, but you care about how the fridge feels to use every day. The Statesman R155S is built with simplicity in mind. There are no complicated controls or smart features—just practical, straightforward chilling and freezing.

The layout, inner light, and reversible door all combine to create a pleasant day-to-day experience that feels familiar and easy, even if you are not particularly “techy” with appliances.

Adjusting the Shelf: Flexibility for Different Food Types

With just one adjustable glass shelf, you might wonder if the layout is too limited. In practice, though, this can be a benefit. Having fewer fixed shelves makes it easier for you to:

• Create a tall space for bottles, jugs, or large casserole dishes.
• Lower the shelf for more levels if you have lots of smaller pots and tubs.
• Tweak the configuration based on what you are currently storing.

You can shift your layout when you change your cooking habits—such as during holiday seasons, busy weeks, or when you are stocking up on particular items.

Door Storage: Efficient Use of Vertical Space

Door shelves usually end up being the most used part of any fridge. While the product description does not list each balcony in detail, under counter models like this typically give you at least two or three door shelves.

You would usually use these for:

• Milk, juice, and drinks bottles
• Jars of pickles, sauces, olives, or chutney
• Butter, cheese, and spreads
• Eggs (if a rack is included or you use your own container)

Using the door shelves well helps you free up the main shelf and drawer space for larger food items and leftovers, making the most of every litre.

Energy Efficiency: Understanding the Energy Class E Rating

You will have seen that this fridge is listed as Energy Class E. At first glance, that might concern you, especially if you remember older appliances being marketed as A+ or A++.

Recent changes to energy labelling standards in many regions have made ratings stricter. What would once have been labelled A+ may now be in the C–F range, so an E-class appliance today can still be reasonably efficient for its size and type.

What Energy Class E Means for Your Bills

Energy Class E does not mean “bad” in absolute terms—it just means that, under the new rating system, it is not at the very top tier of efficiency. For you, this usually translates into:

• Moderate running costs for a compact under counter appliance.
• A balance between performance (especially for the 4-star ice box) and energy usage.
• A fridge that keeps costs reasonably controlled, particularly when compared with much older units.

If you are upgrading from an older, less efficient fridge, you may still notice a reduction in electricity consumption even with an E rating.

Balancing Efficiency with Performance

The presence of a proper 4-star freezer section does affect energy usage, because maintaining freezing temperatures takes more power than simply chilling. The Statesman R155S aims to balance this by keeping:

• A compact overall size
• Moderate internal volume
• Simple, reliable cooling systems

So while it may not win awards for the lowest possible energy use, it gives you functional frozen storage in a small footprint without extreme electricity demands.

Noise Level and Day-to-Day Comfort

When you put an under counter fridge in a small flat or an open-plan kitchen-living room, noise matters. While the official noise level might not be highlighted in the limited product description, you can expect a typical compact compressor hum similar to many other under counter units.

You might hear it:

• Kicking in and out as the temperature is maintained
• Humming softly during active cooling cycles

For most users, this sits at a level that fades into the background, especially once you have normal household noise. Unless you are particularly sensitive to sound and your bedroom is directly next to the kitchen, you are unlikely to find it disruptive.

Cleaning and Maintenance: Keeping Your Fridge in Good Shape

Nobody enjoys cleaning appliances, but the design of this fridge tries to keep the workload reasonable. With simple, removable parts and a compact interior, you can stay on top of maintenance without it becoming a major chore.

You mainly need to focus on wiping down surfaces, cleaning the salad drawer, and defrosting the ice box periodically.

Cleaning the Interior: Simple Glass and Plastic Surfaces

Inside the fridge, surfaces are mostly smooth plastic or glass, which you can wipe easily with a soft cloth, warm water, and mild detergent. The removable glass shelf and salad drawer let you:

• Take them out for a proper wash in the sink.
• Get into corners that can collect spills or crumbs.
• Keep everything hygienic and odour-free.

By doing a quick wipe every few weeks and a deeper clean every few months, you keep your fridge fresh and easier to manage in the long run.

Defrosting the Ice Box: Occasional But Necessary

Because the Statesman R155S has a 4-star freezer compartment, you will need to defrost it from time to time. Ice build-up can reduce the effective storage space and impact energy efficiency.

You can manage this by:

• Checking occasionally for thick ice on the walls or around the door.
• Planning a short defrost session when the freezer is relatively empty.
• Removing its contents, turning off the appliance or opening the ice box door, and letting the ice melt naturally (with towels to catch water).

Defrosting does not need to be frequent if you keep the ice box door closed properly and avoid placing hot food directly into the freezer.

Who the Statesman R155S Is Best Suited For

Your lifestyle, household size, and kitchen layout all determine whether this fridge will work well for you. The Statesman R155S is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but it fits clearly into some specific use cases.

Ask yourself how much you shop, cook, and freeze food, and where you plan to place the fridge. That will help you see whether its strengths line up with your needs.

Ideal Users and Scenarios

You are likely to be happy with this under counter fridge if:

• You live alone or as a couple and do a regular weekly shop.
• You have a small kitchen or kitchenette and need a space-saving fridge.
• You want a second fridge in a utility room, garage, annex, or home bar area.
• You are a student or renting a small place and need a reliable personal fridge-freezer.
• You prefer a simple appliance without complex settings or “smart” features.

Its blend of chilled space, proper freezer box, and reversible door make it especially good for compact homes and secondary storage setups.

When It Might Not Be the Best Fit for You

You may want to look at a larger appliance or a different format if:

• You have a larger family and need to store a big weekly shop for several people.
• You rely heavily on frozen food and need a much bigger freezer compartment.
• You are trying to optimise every last bit of energy usage and prefer the highest-rated efficiency class models.
• You want advanced features like automatic defrost, digital temperature displays, or smart connectivity.

In those cases, a taller fridge-freezer combination or a fridge with a separate full-size freezer might suit you better.

Pros and Cons: A Quick Summary for Your Decision

To help you weigh things up, here is a balanced view of the main strengths and limitations of the Statesman R155S under counter fridge with ice box.

What You Are Likely to Appreciate

You will probably find these features especially useful:

• Compact 55cm width that fits easily under most counters, even in tight kitchens.
• 97L fridge + 16L freezer providing enough storage for individuals or couples.
• 4-star ice box that can properly freeze and store food long-term.
• Reversible door giving you flexibility in how it opens.
• Adjustable glass shelf for flexible interior layout.
• Large salad drawer that keeps your fruit and vegetables together and protected.
• Internal light making it easy to see everything inside, even at night.
• Simple, tidy design that blends well with modern silver/steel style appliances.

These features all work together to give you a compact but genuinely usable everyday fridge-freezer.

What You Need to Keep in Mind

There are also a few limitations you should consider before you buy:

• Limited overall capacity might not suit families or heavy bulk shoppers.
• Small freezer space (16L) is not intended as your only freezer if you rely heavily on frozen food.
• Manual defrosting of the 4-star ice box is required from time to time.
• Energy Class E is decent under new labelling rules but not top-tier for efficiency.
• Basic feature set means you do not get advanced functions like automatic defrost, fast freeze, or digital temperature control.

If you know these trade-offs up front, you can decide whether they matter based on how you plan to use the appliance.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Statesman R155S

If you decide that this fridge fits your needs, a few simple habits will help you get the best performance and convenience from it. With a bit of planning and care, you can stretch its compact size to feel surprisingly capable.

Smart Organising Tips for the Fridge Section

You can make your 97L fridge space feel larger and more efficient by:

• Grouping similar items together (dairy, leftovers, condiments) so you can find things quickly.
• Adjusting the glass shelf to accommodate your most-used container heights.
• Using clear containers for leftovers so you can see what you have at a glance.
• Keeping heavier items like milk and juice on the door or lower areas to avoid crushing lighter items.

By staying a little organised, you make shopping, cooking, and cleaning up feel smoother.

Making the Freezer Box Work Hard for You

To make the most of the 16L 4-star ice box:

• Focus on high-value frozen items: meals, proteins, vegetables, and maybe one ice cream.
• Use flat, stackable containers or bags to avoid wasting vertical space.
• Label and date frozen items so nothing sits in there forgotten.
• Plan a mini “freezer clear-out” week every so often to use up what you have before defrosting.

This way, your small freezer becomes a strategic backup and convenience tool instead of a cluttered afterthought.

Final Thoughts: Is the Statesman R155S Right for You?

The Statesman R155S Under Counter Fridge with 4* Ice Box, 55cm, 97L Fridge + 16L Freezer, Silver [Energy Class E] is a practical, compact, and user-friendly option if you want a small under counter fridge that still includes a proper freezer compartment.

You get:

• Enough chilled space for everyday use for one or two people.
• A genuine 4-star ice box for both freezing and storing frozen food.
• A reversible door and compact width that help it fit into tight kitchen layouts.
• Simple features like an adjustable shelf, large salad drawer, and internal light that make daily life easier.

You might want a larger or more advanced appliance if you have a big household, need a lot more freezer space, or are laser-focused on top-tier energy ratings. But if you are working with limited space and want a reliable, straightforward under counter fridge-freezer, this model gives you a well-balanced mix of size, usability, and flexibility.

In the end, you should choose the Statesman R155S if you value a compact footprint, a truly usable freezer section, and fuss-free everyday operation in your kitchen or small living space.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.