Even absent those problems, a simply bad design can make assembly needlessly difficult. And poorly finished parts can have dangerously sharp edges—sharp enough to cause a nasty cut. Indirect cooking wasn’t quite as good on the larger, four-burner Weber Genesis II LX S-440, $1,600, but preheating, evenness, and cooking at very low and very high temperatures were impressive. • The propane tank has been relocated to the right side of the grill, making it easier to change, and two of the four casters have been replaced by wheels. Weber revamped its iconic Genesis grill line this year, rolling out eight new grills that step up in size, features, and price, from two-burner to six-burner. To see whether the upgrades are indeed improvements, Consumer Reports bought all of these grills for testing.
The first is the propane tank holder on the side – this lets you easily access a propane tank without needing to lift it over a bulky grill. When huge is simply not big enough, then the Weber Genesis II E-610 is the grill you need. This gigantic 6-burner grill is a steel monster that will probably cook all the food you need for those family gatherings where 3 generations all get together at once.
This easier grease management is a plus, so you win some you lose some. Up top the Genesis II grills cut a close copy of their predecessors. The burner knobs, nice big handle on the lid, lid-mounted thermometer, side tables, all there and all very similar. The six tool hooks on the side tables are great for hanging all your accessories. The other innovation with the model is the new ignition system.
The burner hoods are usually the first to go, after a couple of years (these are the metal “tents” that sit over the burners and guide grease away from the flames, preventing flare-ups). You can replace them in-kind, or find third-party options that claim higher performance and long lifespans. Moving the tank to the outside also frees up space below the grill, which Weber fills with a generous and sturdy storage shelf.
That makes it much easier to install a new tank and unhook an old one, because you’re not scrabbling around a small, dark enclosure to find the hoses and brackets. This design also let Weber put a sturdy shelf under the grill—a handy place to store pans, bags of wood chips, a small cooler, and other stuff you may need while grilling. Plus—new for this generation of the Spirit line—one of the side tables folds down, making the grill more compact for storage when not in use (it’s 43 inches wide with the table down). We had no problems with the meat sticking to the flat, porcelain-coated iron grates.
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The Weber Genesis II E-310 gas grill stands nearly 4 feet tall with the lid closed. We would recommend comparing the used prices of both grills before deciding on what model to go with that way you’ll always be sure you’re getting the best value for your money. The weber genesis weighs about 70 pounds, which makes it easy to move around and store during bad weather. There’s a stand that gives a stable base for storage, a nice tray table that extends from either side of the grill , an easy access propane tank holder, and even a convenient drip pan.