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So, you’re looking for a top quality gas grill and have a hard time deciding between the Weber Spirit and the Weber Genesis ranges. It’s not an easy choice, but by isolating a few key requirements you can make the correct decision.
In this article you will find brief highlights of both ranges, key differences and a comparison table to help you find the right model for you.
Weber Spirit vs Genesis: Quality
Both these ranges offer outstanding build quality. However, the Spirit features a lower grade of stainless steel than the Genesis. They’re still high quality, well-constructed grills, but rest assured that the extra money you pay on the Genesis grills are not just for more space and heat. They’re a few steps up from the Spirit in construction quality.
Apart from the Genesis S-models (more info below) all these products feature stainless steel burners, porcelain-enamel cast iron grates and enclosed gas storage with gas gauges and thermometers.
The Genesis and Spirit Models
We have a handy comparison table a little lower down that will help you compare exact features at a glance. For now, just a quick overview of the different models on offer.
Spirit: E-210 (our review here), E-220, E-310, E-320, S-210
Genesis: E-310 (full review), E-330, S-310, S-330
Both ranges offer basic models and more featured models.
Spirit
In the Spirit range, the basic model is the E-210 (2 burners, 450 sq. inch), which offers the bare essentials you need to get grilling, including a handy extra in the LP fuel gauge. The E-220 model adds a 12,000 BTU side burner to the E-210 setup.
Next, you step up to the Spirit E-310. This is a 3-burner 529 sq. inch model that offers slightly more cooking space than the E-210. Apart from that and the extra burner, they’re virtually identical. The E-320 upgrades the E-310 with a 12,000 BTU side burner.
Genesis
The Genesis range starts with the E-310, a 637 square inch cooking surface powered by 3 burners and all the essential features you need, without added extras. For extras, you can upgrade to the Genesis E-330 (reviewed here), which adds both a side burner and a sear station to the E-310.
Please see the new Genesis II range from Weber here for more up to date models.
The S-Models
Available in both the Spirit and Genesis ranges are the S-models: the Spirit S-210 and the Genesis S-310 and S-330. They are exactly the same as their E-model counterparts, apart from the following:
– stainless steel cooking grates and flavorizer bars instead of porcelain-enamel coated cast iron (Genesis only)
– stainless steel shroud instead of porcelain enamel shroud (Genesis and Spirit)
So, Weber Spirit or Genesis?
Ok, we’ve looked at the basic differences between the models. We’ve established that the Genesis range offers better quality stainless steel construction, but you pay considerably extra for that.
So, with the Spirit still being a well-constructed unit, it comes down to your requirements in the end. How much cooking space you need, what extras you need and what your budget can handle.
Personally we feel a Genesis is worth it from a long term investment perspective. These grills are built to last, and a model like the Genesis E-330 will give you everything you’ll ever need from a gas grill in this price range. Spending a bit more from the start has its advantages in the long term.
However, the choice is yours. The one thing we can recommend is that you get a model with a side burner. You don’t want to save fifty bucks now by skipping it, only to realize a few months down the road that it would have been nice to have. Buy once and buy right.