The redesigned Spirit II E 310 was introduced in 2018 and was an immediate fan favorite. The Spirit 310 is a wonderful combination of performance, quality, style, size and affordability. If you are looking for a budget friendly grill that cooks like a dream then this is the one you want.
Weber revamped the look of the Spirit models with an open cart design, sleek lid and multiple stunning color options. The LP tank has been moved out to the side to free up more storage space under the grill. The cooking grates have been updated to heavy duty cast iron and the warranty has been extended to 10 years for all components.
The Spirit has long been Weber’s introductory grill series, meant for folks that couldn’t afford the slightly larger Genesis series. In past years the lower priced Spirit grills were made with cheaper materials than used for the Genesis and this was reflected in their shortened warranty. This is no longer the case for the Spirit II grills introduced in 2018.
The new Spirit grills are strong and solid. The only difference between the Spirit and the more expensive Genesis models comes down to size and a few bells and whistles.
In this review, we will discuss the grill’s specifications to get you more familiar with the basics, then talk about some reasons to buy and a couple of things to think about before a purchase, and finally end with some comparisons to other Weber models.
Update: It looks like these grills will be discontinued in 2020. Please see this post on the new Weber Spirit SP 335.
Specifications and Dimensions
To get a better feel for the identity of this grill, let’s take a peek at some numbers.
- Grilling Area: 424 square inches of primary cooking space with an additional 105 square inches of space in the form of a warming rack for a total of 529 square inches
- Grates: Porcelain-enameled, cast iron cooking grates
- Burners: Three steel burners
- Heating Power: (30,000 BTU)/(424square inches) = 70.75 BTUs per hour per square inch
- Dimensions: 44.5”H x 52”W x 27”D
- Color Availability: Black, Ivory, Red, Sapphire
- iGrill3: Compatible, but purchased separately
- Warranty: 10 Years excluding normal wear and tear
Reviews
On Weber’s website, this grill has over 1400 reviews with 94% being 5 and 4 stars and .06% being 1 or 2 stars.
There are some negative reviews on Amazon that reflect issues with delivery and setup from Amazon’s expert assembly option.
The Spirit II models were brand new in 2018, so the reviews we are talking about aren’t a completely clear picture of things like how the warranty holds up and issues that will likely be encountered over time. In a few years, we will be able to get a more accurate picture of how these grills really hold up.
Great Features of the Spirit II E 310
I love the upgrades to this grill from previous versions. It truly comes with all the updates that the Genesis models were given in 2017, making it ultra-competitive and a great value for the consumer.
The Spirit comes with the GS4 grilling system, which utilizes an easy to clean and remove grease tray, flavorizer bars, and a firebox for even radiation of heat. It also comes with reversible, porcelain enameled cast iron grates, which have a thin side that is ideal for seafood and a flat side to create a thicker sear.
The addition of the iGrill3 compatibility to this grill also puts it a notch above other models for me, since this addition allows you to know the exact temperature of the grill surface and the meat, rather than simply relying on the standard bi-metal thermometer built into the grill’s lid.
The LP Spirits also have a fuel gauge built in. The Spirit estimates your gas level by weight, so you’ll likely not run into the moment when your LP tank is suddenly empty mid grill. It’s a great feature that puts the Spirit a notch above other grills.
What I Don’t Love
My major beef with this grill is the mobility. It’s two-wheel design means you need to pick it up by one side to scoot it around. Unfortunately, the design makes this difficult to achieve. You need to use one of the fold-down side tables as your lever while lifting and pushing. This kind of pressure could easily end in a bent side table.
The Genesis models come with castors on the side opposite the larger wheels, making them simpler to move. It seems like adding castors would have been a cheap and easy solution to make the Spirit more mobile.
Versus the Genesis II E 310
When the Genesis series was upgraded in 2017, the Genesis II E 310 was finally enough of a step up from the Spirit 3-burner model to be worth a second look. It had more bells and whistles, and access to advanced technologies like iGrill3 built right in.
Unfortunately for the Genesis model, Spirit’s 2018 upgrade put it up to par with only a slight size difference differentiating the Spirit from the Genesis. The similarities between the two grills are striking, and the Genesis can only fit four more burgers than the Spirit, which is not worth the added two hundred dollar cost.
Although both models are workhorses and come with the same 10-year warranty, you’ll want to opt for the Spirit to get the best overall value.
Versus the Genesis LX E 340
More heating power, more square inches of cooking space, and stainless steel accessories make the Genesis LX a higher quality grill than any of the others we have discussed here so far.
The LX model is meant to be a step up from even the Genesis II grills with more features and a larger, more powerful cooking space. These steps in the upward direction do come with a hefty price tag, though. The Genesis LX is more than a few hundred dollars more than the Spirit.
Both grills come with a limited 10-year warranty and some of the same systems like the GS4 grilling system, flavorizer bars, and infinity ignition. However, the Genesis LX features stainless steel flavorizer bars versus the porcelain-enameled version of the Spirit.
In addition to a step up in grilling materials and features, the Genesis LX also features the lower cabinet that was taken away from the Spirit models during their upgrade. Many grillers prefer the cabinets because they feel it protects their grilling accessories, so that may be a reason to upgrade.
Overall I would suggest the value of the Spirit over the luxury of the Genesis LX. It’s great to have more features and stainless steel accents, but both grills will get you where you need to be, and the Spirit can do so for a lot less money.
Versus the Spirit II E 210
The smaller version of the Spirit II E 310 is the E 210. It downgrades regarding burners and cooking space, but not in overall quality. The 210 comes in all of the same colors as the 310, so no worries if you’re looking to match your outdoor space to your grill.
The E 210 is cheaper than the 310 and still has the 10-year warranty. Although it is a smaller grill, the 210 has more heating power than the 310. There isn’t even a 100 square inch difference in the size of the overall cooking space, and both grills have a warming rack to boot.
Almost every feature is identical on these two grills, so really your priority will need to be size and cost. If you need more grilling space, you should probably stick with the 310, but if cost-effectiveness and petite size are your game, the 210 is likely the best option for you.
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