We’d like to say that this Weber grill is incredibly easy to assemble. Indeed, the product is great and can perform its functions optimally. The tests we conducted for our Weber Spirit II E-310 review prove this. Some people have reported spending several hours in the process.
The advantage of stainless steel over the porcelainized cast-iron grates on the Spirit II E-310 is its resistance to rust and corrosion. The E-210 is a great first gas grill purchase, and it’s a good option for folks who have limited outdoor space. Porcelain-enameled, cast-iron cooking char broil performance grates retain even heat for the best tasting food. The porcelain-enamel coating is easy to clean and built to last. This gas grill is built to fit small spaces and features a powerful GS4 grilling system, iGrill capability, and convenient side tables for placing serving trays.
Many cheapo gassers only last three to four years while Spirits can keep grilling for decades. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices on Spirit II 3-burner and 2-burner grills are $599 and $499 respectively, but the street price is about a hundred bucks less. Those who take the long view on purchasing decisions could consider Spirit’s $500 (3-burner) and $400 (2-burner) street prices a bargain. The Napoleon Rogue 425, typically priced around $800 at this writing, is the Canadian company’s flagship model in the $400 to $900 range. It has a cast-aluminum firebox, porcelain-coated cast-iron grates, and three burners.
You and the family are sure to enjoy cookouts with the convenience and efficiency this grill offers. Spirit II has four legs, two wheels and a lower open-air storage rack. When choosing a gas grill, first decide what size you need. We’ve determined that a three-burner grill is large enough for most needs, with plenty of space to cook for a family dinner or a backyard barbecue. Grills with more burners are usually overkill, and two-burner grills can feel cramped.
In our tests, the Spirit II E-310 produced a better deep-and-crusty sear on hamburgers than even the Weber Genesis II E-310 (predecessor to our current upgrade pick). The smaller Spirit II E-310 concentrates the burners’ heat better, though the Genesis grill addresses that concern with an extra burner for searing. We restricted our search to grills that burn propane from refillable tanks. But you can find versions of all of our picks that work with natural gas. The perfect size to grill up a couple of burgers for everyone in the family, or switch it up with chicken and steaks. With side tables for placing serving trays and spices, the Spirit II adds convenience and simplicity to everyday life, and nobody left hungry.
On paper, the Rogue 425 has a lot going for it, but we were disappointed in its performance. Despite showing heat at 650 °F on our burger test, it failed to achieve a good sear; the grill also struggled to hold a steady temperature on our barbecue-chicken test. Napoleon’s signature is its wavy grates, and they do look char broil performance cool, but they’re harder to clean than straight grates. Reversible cooking grates aren’t unusual, but Spirit II grates are a little different than most. Spirit II reversible grates have a thin side which Weber believes is “ideal for food such as shrimp and fish”, and flat side which “creates a thick sear mark”.
➡ The grill has a warming rack, which helps to keep food warm. This Weber model hardly gave us any difficulties during use. So, unlike some of the other tests, it aced this one excellently. IGrill 3 is a demonstration of Weber’s tech-savviness.
The one difference that makes any difference at all between these grills is that the Flavorizer bars on the E215 are stainless steel while the ones on the E210 are porcelain enameled steel. The stainless steel parts will outlast the porcelain enameled parts by about two years. I have been cooking on Weber grills for about 20 years now and currently own the Q3200, Traveler, Genesis 335 and a Weber Smokey Mountain. I suspect the only people who have “kicked the tires” on the different models of Weber grills more than me are the engineers that actually design these things. We cooked a grillfull of pre-made one-third pound hamburgers on high with the lid down.
In general, we don’t think side burners are worth the $100-plus premium. If you want to splurge on a grill with exceptional temperature control and a dedicated searing zone, go for our upgrade pick, the Weber Genesis E-325s, instead. This little two-burner grill puts a mean sear on steaks, chops, and burgers.