How much food fits in 3.7 cu. ft.?

About 3.7 cubic feet of frozen storage, roughly a few grocery bags of frozen food. It suits one or two people or as overflow space, not a large family's main freezer.

Can the door be switched to open the other way?

Yes. The door is rehingable, so it can be set to open from the left or the right to suit your space.

Does it need manual defrosting?

Summit does not list a frost-free feature for this model, so plan on defrosting it by hand periodically to keep ice from building up.

Is it good for a garage or basement?

Its compact upright shape and rehingable door make it easy to tuck into a garage or basement corner. Check the label for the ambient temperature range it is rated for before placing it in an unheated space.

How does it compare with a chest freezer?

It takes less floor space and keeps food at eye level, but a chest freezer of similar capacity usually holds more and loses less cold air when opened.