Simply great !
Weber once and again. We had a Weber Genesis for nearly 15 years before getting the Q-320. The Genesis was in need of some new parts and as an alternative to some re-build, we instead looked around to see what's available in new grills these days. At first we saw that stores were now carrying bigger and bigger grills and although we have a patio, we did not want a grill that large. Then, we came across the positive reviews on the Weber Q series, looked into these and finally choose the Q-320.
Since we had the Weber Genesis before this, I can offer some comparisons. Simply put, we liked the Genesis and love the Q-320. Though the Q-320 has a bit less cooking area, it is enough for our family. Both the Genesis and Q-320 can take the same fuel tank size (5 gal / 20 lb). I think the Q-320 is more fuel efficient, though I haven't had it long enough to tell for sure. This would make sense because the inside volume of the closed Q-320 is less than that of the Genesis. Also, the Q-320 has only 2 burner tubes (one oval burner plus one in-line burner) instead of 3 in-line burners as in the Genesis has. But, the Q-320 seems to cook just as fast.
A big benefit of the Q-320 is that is actually browns much better than the Genesis. If you do it right, it can give you those picture-perfect grill stripes on meats with the flavor to go along with them. We also like the added features of the Q-320 including the electronic ignition (quick and quiet compared to the older model's ignition system), and the grill light built into the handle is a really nice touch. Both side surfaces of the Q-320 are available as tables because they are flat surfaces vs. on the Genesis where one surface had 3 burner knobs on top so only one surface was available as a table. The Q-320's burner knobs are front-mounted, larger and easier to turn.
And yes, the Q-320 actually looks quite nice!. It is clear that someone put design thought into it. You might or might not appreciate the Q-320's use of plastics in some parts (such as legs, side tables and handle). But, for instance, the thin plastic "tank skirt" helps to hide the tank from front view and is also is functional because it can help shade the tank from the sun depending on grill position.
Mobility is one area where the Genesis was a bit more convenient: Although the Genesis is larger, the weight of its fuel-tank weight actually helps provide some lift when you want to roll it. That is because the Genesis tank is mounted opposite the far axle from the handles that you must lift to roll it. However, on the Q-320, the tank is centered between its two axles. So, when rolling the Q-320, you lift more of the tank weight. Also, it seems that the Q-320's smaller size permits less "kick" space during movement, and that its plastic body can flex somewhat when moving it with a full fuel tank. On the other hand, since the tank weight is centered, a plus for the Q-320 is that I do not get the feeling that I might accidentally "up-end" it while moving it.
Assembling the Q-320 took me an hour or two, and I had no difficulties with it. For many of the connections involved, it is quite literally, a "snap".
Overall, we really like the Q-320. It is does a great cooking job, is a compact size, has a pleasing visual design and hopefully will even save some fuel.
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Weber grill q320
This grill is stunning! No harder to put together than any other grill...I think this may be #4 for us. Grills food quickly, looks good, and has a surprisingly large surface area. We figured to down size as the family shrinks, but have had no problem when grilling for a moderate crowd. This was supposedly on backorder, but we got it in 5 days. Amazon...best price, free shipping...great product! What's not to love!
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So Far, So Great!
We received our grill Wednesday before the 4th and put it together that evening when I got home. We used it for the first time on the 4th to cook burgers and they were great. The next evening we cooked boneless chicken breasts on our grill and they were the best I had ever cooked, and I'm not just saying that because of the new grill. They actually were the best, ask my wife. I was pleasantly surprised that the size of the cooking area was more than adequate even if you do end up cooking for 10-12 people. If this weekend was any sign of my cooking experiences with WeberQ then we are in for grand love affair. I highly recommend it.
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