Part 3 The Reviews - £400 - £500 - Which Gas BBQ to choose in 2013? Our Verdict...
Great for barbeque enthusiasts with large families, gas barbeques in this range provide a good balance between performance and price.
With gas barbeques, you really do get what you pay for, and its definitely worth spending the extra few pounds if you afford to, as youll reap the benefits in the long term when it comes to the quality of your cooking, and the lifespan of your BBQ.
Typically, gas barbecues in this price range feature a larger capacity, better durability and improved performance over entry-level models, without some of the premium features found on more expensive units.
Shortlist:
Swiss Grill I-500 BBQ
Durable, functional and built to last, the Swiss Grill I-500 is a really popular model. Its easy to see why, thanks to its attractive appearance, quality construction, large cooking area and ease of use.
Again, as with its little brother the I-300, the I-500 features cast iron cooking grids, which provide great cooking performance, but can be hard to clean, and require some maintenance.
Built to stand up to regular use, the I-500 is perfect for family gatherings and large summer parties, and can also be enhanced with the addition of a Rotisserie kit for added flexibility if desired.
Ideal for: Regular grillers who want a flexible, high capacity barbecue for large family gatherings and parties.
Grand Hall Xenon 223 BBQ
Stylish, feature rich and easy to use, the Grand Hall Xenon 223 is one of Europes most popular gas barbecues.
With a solid hood, heavy-duty cooking grids, flame tamers and a flavouriser bar to improve the results of your grilling, this model has many features usually reserved for more premium gas barbeques. Its also really easy to use, with simple electronic push button ignition, and internal storage for your gas bottles and BBQ essentials.
Whilst there are 4 burner barbecues out there with larger cooking areas for the same price, the 223 provides a more than adequate capacity for the grilling needs of most families.
Ideal for: Regular grillers who want a feature rich, good capacity barbecue that produces great tasting food
Weber Spirit Classic E-210 BBQ
The entry level Weber Spirit Classic E-210 has undergone a significant facelift for the new season, and simply put “ its the best entry-level 2-burner barbecue around.
Like all Weber models, the E-210 is looks fantastic, and with a fixed, centre mount thermometer, it delivers great control and precision cooking. Its porcelain enamelled cast iron cooking grids are easier to clean than many of its competitors, whilst still delivering excellent quality food.
Whilst it may not have the capacity of its competitors in this price bracket, the stylish design, handy features and rock-solid reliability make the E-210 a great choice for couples and small families.
Of course, Weber quality comes at a price, and if youve got a large family, or are planning to host larger gatherings, youre much better looking elsewhere.
Ideal for: Regular grillers who value quality results over high capacity.
Grand Hall Argon 223 BBQ
The 4-burner Grand Hall Argon 223 provides a great balance between capacity, quality and price. With two porcelain coated steel wire cooking grids, and an additional cast iron hot plate, has a good capacity, and excellent 14.8kWh output from the 4 main burners
Additional features include a side burner, warming rack, integrated temperature gauge and generous storage “ with dedicated space for a gas tank, and plenty of additional room for all your barbequing tools and accessories.
The Argon 223 certainly looks the part, and whilst both materials and build quality are very good, it falls just short of the market-leading Weber units in terms of overall feel and quality, and lacks the integrill gas-saving technology found on the IT-3 and IT-4.
Ideal for: Regular grillers who want good capacity and excellent features at a competitive price.
Grand Hall IT-4 BBQ
Affordable, innovative and energy efficient, the Grand Hall IT-4 offers family friendly grilling at a great price.
The real benefit of the IT-4 (and its smaller cousin the IT-3) over its competitors is the patented integrill system. This new cooking grid design prevents fat from dripping directly onto the burner below, which reduces heat loss, prevents flares (and burning), improves cooking times and helps you to use up to 20% less gas!
With a good cooking capacity thanks to its four stainless steel burners and 3kw side burner, its a good family barbeque that will stand up to regular summer use.
Ideal for: Regular grillers who want an efficient, quick, family sized gas barbecue at a great price
Napoleon Triumph 410 BBQ
Like the smaller Triumph 325, the larger, 4 burner 410s main selling point is its portability and ease of storage. With foldable shelves, it will fit into most cars, and doesnt take up as much storage space as any of its direct competitors,
In addition to all the features youd expect from a quality 4 burner, like porcelain coated cast iron cooking grids and a side burner, the Napoleon Triumph 410 also features some nice details. These finishing touches include an integrated utensil holder and bottle opener, warming rack, and a removable drip pan, which are good practical features to include on any family gas BBQ.
Like all Napoleon products, the Triumph 410 is built to last, and with a 10 year limited warranty, should provide many years of faithful service.
Ideal for: Regular grillers who want a quality gas barbeque, but dont have a lot of storage space.
Weber Spirit Classic E-310 BBQ
Elegant, sturdy and reliable this entry-level three burner from Weber has been completely revamped, and delivers versatile, high quality grilling at an excellent price.
Although it isnt quite up the standard of Webers main Genesis series, the E-310 still looks and feels like a quality product, with robust construction and attractive details like the precision, centre mounted thermometer.
Price wise, it isnt much more expensive than its cousin the E-210, and if youve got a large family or lots of friends, the extra capacity it provides is definitely worth the additional investment.
Ideal for: Regular grillers who demand a quality, dependable gas barbecue at an affordable price
Grand Hall Xenon 227 BBQ
With 5, 430 grade stainless steel burners, 4 porcelain-coated steel wire cooking grids and a huge cooking area, the Grand Hall Xenon 227 provides a greater capacity than any of its competitors in this price range without compromising on quality.
A stylish black and stainless steel finish gives the product a premium look and feel, and whilst it doesnt have all the bells and whistles found on the more expensive Argon or Maxim ranges, it still provides excellent overall performance at a great price.
Ideal for: Regular grillers who need to cater for large families or big gatherings
Winner: Weber Spirit Classic E-310
Its a very competitive price point, but the E-310 just edges it. No other barbeque offers quite the same level of quality, desirability or precision for the money, and unless you need the extra capacity afforded by a 4 burner, it is the natural choice.
In next months post, well be reviewing some serious pieces of grilling kit, when we look at the best gas BBQs you can buy in the £500 - £600 price range.