The Weber Q220 gas grill sits between the Q320 and Q100 – smaller than the former, larger than the latter. It is even priced accordingly – $219 for the Q220, while the Q320 and Q100 come in at $359 and $133 respectively (all figures from Amazon). The Weber Q220 is, thus, a moderately priced, moderately powered grill that can fulfill multiple roles. It offers a great mix of power as well as portability and is ideal for those with some grilling experience, but who are not confident enough to invest in a large grill.
A look at the technical specifications first: this grill measures 32.5″ x 18″ x 17.5″ and weighs in at 41lbs. It delivers 12,000 BTU-per-hour of power, and has 280 square inches of cooking area (compared to the Q320's 462 and Q100's 189 square inches). It works on either 14.1 or 16.4oz propane tanks.
The grill is made of cast iron with a glass reinforced nylon frame. It features a cast aluminum lid with a built-in thermometer. Igniting the grill is easy with the electric ignition. An infinitely adjustable heat regulator makes it easy to control the temperature. The cooking grate is made of porcelain enameled cast iron, and the solitary burner is made of stainless steel. Two work tables that can be tucked away and stored inside the grill itself complete the package.
Weber has long been a name synonymous with grilling and BBQ. Weber grills – charcoal or gas – are cherished by their owners and treated as long term investments. Many hold on to their grills for decades. Few companies have so much respect within a consumer group.
The Weber Q series – Q100, 220, 300/320, etc. – are the latest in a line of powerful and versatile gas grills. That said, there isn't quite enough information available to determine the functional differences between the different models, especially for the layman. Sure, the Q100 has 8500 BTUs of power, whereas the Weber Q220 delivers 12,000 BTU. But what does this difference actually amount to once you get down to the practical aspects of grilling?
The difference is largely to do with portability, power, and the intangible quality of ‘prestige'. The Q100, which is the entry level model, is a very small and portable grill that works perfectly for beginners and on outdoor camping trips. The Q300/320 are the larger cousins with innovative design features (the stationary cart comes to mind) and plenty of power that can make short work of any grilling assignment.
The Q220 sits comfortably in the middle. It has adequate power to sear any kind of meat and a large enough grill area to make a meal for 5-6 people simultaneously. However, if you find yourself cooking a backyard BBQ for the neighborhood, you'll find the Weber Q220 woefully underpowered. At the same time, this model has a certain amount of portability that the 320/300 models don't have, though at 41lbs, it isn't exactly light weight.
One final difference is ‘prestige'. Many competitive grillers tend to treat their grills more like prize horses than the cooking appliances they are meant to be. Every BBQ forum is chock full of people flaunting their equipment. The perceived prestige of a Q320 is definitely much greater than that of the 220 or 100 – these are often dismissed as ‘beginner' grills.
Whether the Q220 is right for you would depend entirely on what you want your grill to do. It is powerful enough to grill any kind of meat, large enough for a family of six, and portable enough to make storage easy. Yet, it will leave the user thinking it could be perhaps a “bit more” – more power and more space. If you are comfortable being caught in this middle ground, this is the perfect grill for you. If not, you are much better off purchasing the higher end Q320 model, or settling for the much lower Q100.
So, to recap:
Pros
– Adequately powered: 12,000 BTUs-per-hour.
– Large enough space: 280 sq. inches.
– Great value for money.
– Sturdy construction.
– Weber quality.
– Great customer service.
– 5 year limited warranty.
Cons
– Might leave you wanting a bit more.
Overall, this is a perfectly great grill by itself, but when pitted against its bigger cousins, it may leave you wishing you'd spent $100 more on the larger models.
