(4.4 / 5)
Char Broil is a well-known brand for bringing durable grills that compete well with the rest of the market.
This grill makes a pretty good example of their ingenuity for a lower end grill. This grill gives you a pretty good cooking surface for feeding the average family with a total of four stainless steel burners for powerful heat coverage in a propane gas grill. With an emphasis on creating a long lasting grill that does not look too shabby with side arms for an extra workspace to appropriately handle family sized meals.
This is a portable grill on a cart design though it does not have any built in storage in the form of a cabinet. Instead, this grill uses two panels to cover up the dead space between the base.
Running at a price around $185 we have a grill that gives you nice consistent heat through the four burners with the bonus of a side burner hiding away on the left side which is great for preparing sauces or sides. An excellent little quality package for a grill that will not cripple your pocket.
Main Characteristics
This is a well-built grill where the most important part of the design is the quality of the materials used despite the low price point. Starting with the primary cooking surface, we have four stainless steel burners that bring along the excellent heat distribution and easy cleanability that stainless steel is known for.
These burners total 36,000 BTU’s of cooking power which rivals the power of grills that cost hundreds more. The burners cover a space of 475 square inches putting this grill on the larger end for bargain priced grills. Fitting around sixteen burgers should not be too tight of a squeeze. Char Broil includes a side grill with 10,000 BTU’s which is effective for cooking sides but not especially powerful.
All that missing is a rear rotisserie burner and possibly a flat iron grill for a full complement of grilling versatility. We do, however, have a 175 square inch swing away rack that is porcelain coated cast iron for a high-quality warming area.
The main grates are also porcelain coated cast iron which means they are highly durable as well as being much easier to clean than their not coated brethren. A pretty nice setup for a grill in the low range though nothing too extraordinary.
Pros
- Four burners along with the side burner give you a great cooking area for a lower end grill with considerable power
- Fast ignition saves you from having to sit around waiting for the grill to warm up
- Strong quality materials are used in the build that make it great for the value when it comes to durability and ease of cleaning
Cons
- The side shelves are nice but the lack of cabinet space is nothing to write home about if organization is a concern
- Really basic design does not give you many extra features to work with
Design
For lower priced grills design often takes a bit of a back foot in favor of just creating a grill that does the main job well.
This grill finds itself right about the middle as far as designs go for lower end grills. The lid is stainless steel along with the handle and control panel, but those are the only places you will find it. The rest of the grill is black zinc coated iron for a strong, and shiny appeal even if it is a bit basic.
The majority of the base uses two black panels to hide the lack of extra storage capability. Which means that you will have to make due with putting your condiments and spices on the metal side shelf to keep them on hand. A cart style design is incomplete without a wheel, so we have two large wheels at the bottom that give this grill good mobility but no locking mechanisms to stay stable even on uneven surfaces.
This grill has a design that looks pretty decent but can’t be given a grade above average.
Special Features
Low-end grills are not mainly known for their unique features however Char Broil did their best to include the ones that make the most sense.
A propane grill is not a real propane grill unless it can light quickly, so they included an electronic ignition system for painless one touch start-up. Staying with the basics, they also threw in a lid mounted thermometer that reaches deep into the grill for accurate temperature reading.
Cleanliness is king especially when it comes to lower end grills that mix materials, so Char Broil included an easily accessed grease compartment however it does not quite reach the back so don’t expect it to catch everything. Nothing too crazy here just adequate coverage of the basics in grilling features.
Warranty
One of the first things to get sacrificed when dropping prices in grills is the manufacturer’s warranty though this grill still gives you decent coverage regardless. Starting with the most important part, the stainless steel burners have a five-year warranty.
For the firebox and the lid, we have a two-year warranty. Finally, all other parts and paint are warrantied for one year. These warranties are limited though so they cover manufacturer defects and workmanship issues.
Char Broil Performance 475
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Score
Summary
If you are looking for a grill in the sub $200 range, then this one is a good contender. Look also grills under $300. With a design that weighs heavily toward the basic to provide a reasonably priced family grill with a bit of versatility and a collection of high-quality materials. At this point an even a stainless steel lid is nice, but this grill extends that to the burners for a good cook for the value. With five burners including the side burner and a pretty large cooking area, Char Broil is aiming this grill right at the average family. I suggest you also consider these two grills - Char-Broil Signature and Char-Griller 3001 and look at best grills on main page.
We don't have a host of unique features, but we do have a grill that should be perfectly adequate for many households.