Weber's Spirit II E-310 Gas Grill Is Worth the Splurge

We purchased the Weber Spirit II E-310 Gas Grill so our reviewer could put it to the test. Keep reading for our full product review.

A seasoned grill master is usually looking for two things in a grill: impressive performance and design. We’d heard all about the compact, modern Weber Spirit II E-310 Gas Grill and its smart, easy-to-control features, so of course we had to snag one to test. We wanted to find out if this popular gas grill, which features the brand’s GS4 High Performance Grilling System, really ignited every time and burned as evenly as promised.

Could we cook multiple dishes at once, or were we forced to make each part of the meal piece by piece? And, most importantly, how did the food taste? For weeks, we cooked everything from burgers and hot dogs to veggies, steaks, and more. Here’s what we found. 

Performance: Impressive temperature control and quick learning curve

Unlike the original Weber Spirit, the Weber Spirit II E-310 Gas Grill features a GS4 Grilling System. This includes what the company calls “infinity ignition,” meaning it should ignite every time, “high performance burners,” which ensure an even heating surface, “porcelain-enameled flavorizer bars,” designed to catch drippings and mitigate flare-ups, and a “grease management system,” which should streamline cleaning.

We found that the grill boasts a solid ignition. It lit right up for us with no hassle and got extremely hot extremely quickly. We’re talking just a few minutes to get up to 500 degrees. And it heats very evenly across the board, too (high performance burners, indeed!).

There wasn’t much of a learning curve. After adding just a little oil, the grill grates were perfectly seasoned, which we weren’t expecting. Whether it was burgers, hot dogs, or veggies, just about everything we threw on this grill came out as desired.

While we’d love to take credit, we owe our newfound grill skills to the Weber Spirit II’s precise temperature control. The grill held an even temperature (visible via the built-in lid thermometer) on low while using just one burner. Pretty impressive for its size.

The reversible grill plates are an awesome inclusion. Thick on one side and thinner on the other, they allow more flexibility in cooking technique. We found that the thinner side was ideal for making dishes that required a more delicate touch, while the wider side worked well for thick, hearty meats such as steak.

Take a peek at our guide to buying a grill.

Packaging: Everything included but slightly confusing

When we first opened the boxes that contained the parts to our new Weber grill, we were a bit confused. The instructions contain information on multiple models of the Spirit II, and it wasn’t clear what exactly our boxes should contain. We spent quite a while digging around for pieces we thought should be in our boxes before we realized that we didn’t need one of the hardware bags listed on the instructions.

We also had some issues with the included gas hose and regulator. When we turned on the gas, there was a leak where the regulator meets the hose, requiring a run to the hardware store to replace the part.

Other than that, the packaging for this Weber grill was solid. Everything was contained in one large box, and it took two people to lift and carry the package to our desired setup location.

Setup Process: Easy to put together, even for your average Joe

The easy assembly of the Weber Spirit II E-310 is one of its strongest selling points; it only took us about an hour to put together after it was unboxed. There are about ten or so main pieces, and they easily fit together much like the instructions state they should.

It took about ten steps to completely assemble the grill. We used a power drill to help speed it up, but this is certainly not a requirement. There are also video instructions available if you get stuck, but we didn’t need them; the manual was enough.

Design: Sleek and modern but slightly flawed

The Weber Spirit II E-310 isn’t designed to look like your typical grill; it comes with four color options for the hood, so you can spice things up with a bright red or sapphire hood or keep it classic with black.

The grill surface is made of three porcelain-enameled, cast iron cooking grates, which are durable and easy to clean thanks to the grease management system, which funnels drippings into a removable tray.

The main burners pack a whopping 30,000 BTU-per-hour input. Even with that amount of heat, we experienced very few flare-ups—probably because of the flavorizer bars—which kept anything we were cooking from getting charred by accident. 

There are also two side tables for prep work—one of which folds down to save space—as well as a warming rack that helped us keep things at the right temperature while we finished up other food.

The Weber Spirit II E-310’s compact size made it easy for us to fit it in tight spaces on our deck, yet it still offered a large enough surface to cook for our family of five. The one downside of the smaller, more compact size is that the hood isn’t as deep as it is on other Weber models, but that shouldn’t be a hindrance unless you’re planning on cooking a huge hunk of meat.

This grill is also lightweight and easy to move thanks to its two wheels, but the construction still feels solid; we’re confident it would hold up to years of regular use.

There are a couple of design areas where the Weber Spirit II E-310 is lacking, though. The three burners are enough for a small family but perhaps not for larger groups or parties. There is also no side burner, which is a bummer because it limits your ability to multitask with different dishes at the same time.

Check out our guide to the best grilling accessories.

Fuel Type: Liquid propane

The 20-pound propane gas tank (sold separately) mounts to the outside of the grill underneath the storage arms. This makes it easy to remove and replace, but it’s not exactly aesthetically pleasing. It may seem like nitpicking, but the rest of the grill is so sleek that having the propane tank visible really draws the eye away from the cool elements of the grill. 

However, the easy-to-read fuel gauge located next to the gas tank helps make up for the less-than-attractive tank presentation. We were able to easily check how much fuel was left in the tank with a quick inspection. It’s a welcome feature that makes this grill much easier for novices to navigate.

Features: Ten-year warranty, iGrill 3-compatible

Beyond the open cart design, multiple color options, and space-saving size, this grill is also compatible with Weber’s iGrill 3, a grilling thermometer with Bluetooth which you can connect to your smart phone for alerts as you grill. Though the high-tech accessory isn’t included with this grill, we like that we have the option to invest in the device down the road.

There’s also a spider prevention screen to keep eight-legged friends from creeping into your grill. But this grill’s best feature is probably the unheard-of ten-year warranty—excluding normal wear and tear, of course.

Price: An investment

The MSRP for this Weber grill is $538. Expect to pay around $500 or so unless you can find it on sale. Your average entry-level backyard three-burner propane grill retails for somewhere between $100 to $400, so the Weber Spirit II E-310 is on the higher end of the price range.

Competition: A standout among strong contenders

There are a handful of grills with similar features to the Weber Spirit II E-310, including the Master Cook Classic Smart Space Living 3 Burner LP Gas Grill. Like the Weber grill we reviewed, this Master Cook model features three burners, foldable side tables, and porcelain-enameled grates, but the Master Cook retails for significantly less than the Weber. You can find the Master Cook for under $200 online.

But, while the Master Cook will cost you less, you’d have to trade in some of the cool Weber features, like the thick, reversible grill plates, the Weber iGrill 3-compatibility, and the easy-to-read fuel gauge, to save some dough.

Another option is the Char-Broil Classic 3-Burner Gas Grill, which is, as the name implies, a no-frills, three-burner grill fueled by propane. As with the Master Cook 3-Burner and the Weber Spirit II E-310, the Char-Broil model has porcelain-coated grates—but again, these aren’t reversible grates like you get with the Weber. It’s a compact grill, but it has almost no bells or whistles, and the design isn’t nearly as eye-catching as the Weber. Still, for the price—you can find the Char-Broil Classic 360 for under $150—it’s a solid competitor.

Want to take a look at some other options? See our guide to the best gas grills.