If you are looking for a gas grill that is user-friendly and offers excellent cooking performance, then you should definitely read this review of the Weber Q3200 gas grill.
I am a long-time owner of the Q3200, so this review is based on my own experiences. I will tell you all you need to know about this grill and why I like it so much.
But no grill is perfect, so I will also cover the few drawbacks that it has.
Let’s start with taking a closer look at the key features and specs of the Q3200.
Weber Q3200 Grill Features and Specifications
This is the largest model in Weber’s popular Q-series. It’s a cart-mounted grill that is meant to be kept in your patio or backyard while the other models in the Q-series are portable tabletop models.
The Q3200 comes in two fuel types — propane and natural gas.
The propane model is compatible with a standard 20-pound liquid propane tank.
Amazon only has the propane version available, while the BBQGuys online store has both propane and natural gas versions.
Specifications:
- Fuel Type: Propane/natural gas
- Number of Main Burners: 2
- Total BTU: 21,700
- Heat Flux: 76
- Primary Grilling Area (sq.in): 393
- Warming Rack Area (sq.in): 75
- Weight: 86 lbs
- Build Materials: Cast aluminum, stainless steel, plastic, and porcelain-coated cast iron
- Dimensions: 50.2″ x 21″ x 43.5″ (W x D x H)
- Warranty: 5 years or 2 years depending on part (more details later in this review)
Features
Design and Materials: The grill looks sharp and is designed for convenient everyday cooking. The cook box is made with durable cast aluminum and the stand is plastic. This makes the grill light and you don’t have to worry about rust even if you leave it uncovered.
Grill Grates and Cooking Area: The 393-square-inch main grilling area is big enough to cook for the whole family. Made of thick and heavy porcelain-coated cast iron, the grates are sturdy with excellent heat retention — this means you can easily get a nice sear to your steaks and burgers. Thanks to the coating, food doesn’t stick easily, and cleaning the grates with a wire brush is a breeze.
Ignition and Burners: Starting the grill happens with a push of a button. After 8 years my Q3200 still starts every time with the first try. The stainless steel burners provide excellent heat control and blast enough heating power for proper searing.
Grease Management System: The melted fat flows into an aluminum drip pan under the cook box. There are no flame tamers above the burners so if you grill greasy foods you might get some flare-ups.
Extra Features: There are a few cool extra features including foldable side tables, tool hooks, and large wheels for moving the grill around. In addition, the Grill Out handle light provides illumination for nighttime cooking.
Warranty: The warranty of the Q3200 is quite generous with most components being covered for 5 years:
- Aluminum Cook Box and Lid: 5 Years
- Stainless Steel Burner Tubes: 5 Years
- Porcelain-Coated Cast Iron Grates: 5 Years
- Plastic Components: 5 Years
- Regulator: 2 Years
- Ignition: 2 Years
What I Love About Weber Q3200
There is a lot to like about this grill. So let me tell you why I keep using it year after year.
Effortless to Use
What is the main reason for buying a gas grill in the first place?
Most people want a grill that makes cooking tasty barbecue foods easy and convenient. Weber has decades of experience in making grills and the Q3200 provides a great user experience.
From the ignition to controlling the temperature, everything works seamlessly. The built-in thermometer on the lid makes it easy to monitor the internal temperature of the grill.
Most of the time I don’t even want to go inside and cook in the kitchen anymore.
Even when making pizzas I use a pizza stone and my Q3200. And I can tell you, the pizzas are crispy and delicious!
Get’s Hot Enough for Searing
Did someone say that you can’t get a proper sear on your steaks with a gas grill?
Well, that certainly isn’t true with the Weber Q3200.
Just preheat it properly and the cast iron grates will do a great job with giving those grill marks and a proper sear on your steaks and burgers.
Below are some of the best ribeye steaks I have ever tried:
I cooked them a few days ago with the Q3200.
Easy to Clean
If you are like me, you don’t want to spend any extra time cleaning and maintaining your gas grill. And cleaning the Weber Q3200 is as easy as it gets.
Just brush the grates with a wire brush after each use and replace the drip pan when it gets full.
You should also do more thorough cleaning every few months or so. This includes removing the grates and cleaning the cook box.
Take a look at my guide for cleaning a Weber Q gas grill for more details.
Durable
One of the best things about this grill is that it’s built to last.
I don’t even have a cover for my Q3200 and it still looks great and works perfectly after 8 years.
Are There Any Disadvantages?
While the Q3200 is an excellent grill, it has a few drawbacks to mention.
- Indirect Cooking: The burners of the grill are set up so that you can’t really have separate zones for direct and indirect cooking. So if you are going to need a grill that has burners that allow creating heat zones, the Weber Spirit or Genesis series might be a better option. Yet, you can cook excellent baby back ribs and other dishes that require slow, indirect heat with your Weber Q3200 (read a bit further for specific instructions).
- Propane Tank Holder: If you put the propane tank in the holder, it will be out of the way and covered by the plastic screen. However, it’s hard to access it for turning the gas on and off, so I decided to keep the tank at the side of the grill (see photo above).
- Drip Pan Fills When it Rains: When it rains and the grill is uncovered, the drip pans fills with water so you need to pour out the water after the rain.
How to Cook with Indirect Heat
So let’s say you want to cook some tasty baby back ribs with a Weber Q-series grill. You can’t really create heat zones, so how to do it?
The answer is simple — you just need a roasting shield and a roasting rack.
This short video shows you exactly how it’s done:
Customer Reviews of Weber Q3200 Gas Grill
As mentioned earlier, I have been using my Q3200 for a long time so I know it in and out. But it’s always interesting to see what other people think about it.
The Q3200 is a very popular grill and it has been on the market for a long time. This means there is plenty of user data available.
I gathered the customer review ratings from Amazon, Homedepot, and Walmart (over 2,400 reviews) and combined them in the chart below:
What we can see is that almost everyone who bought this grill is satisfied with it. 93 percent of customers gave it a 5 or 4-star rating.
Recommended Weber Q3200 Accessories
Here are some accessories that you should consider buying with your new grill:
Weber Q3200 Grill Cover
A grill cover can be very useful for protecting your new gas grill from the elements if you keep it outdoors and exposed. But even if you store the grill indoors for winter, the cover helps protect it from dust.
If you buy the Q3200 from Amazon, simply choose “Grill + Cover”. On BBQGuys you can buy the Weber Q3200 grill cover separately.
Grilling Tools
When I bought my Weber Q3200 I actually forgot to buy a new grilling tool set. Big mistake!
Having proper tools makes grilling much easier and more enjoyable. There are plenty of good options available and some sets also include a wire brush for cleaning the grates.
Cleaning Accessories
Weber’s large 3-Sided Brush is great for cleaning the grill grates. In addition, you can get some extra aluminum drip pans so you won’t run out anytime soon.
Alternative Option – Weber Q3200 vs Q2200
Weber Q3200 is an excellent grill for your backyard but it isn’t very portable. Sure, you can easily move it on a flat surface — but what if you want to go camping or tailgating?
Then you might consider getting the smaller Weber Q2200. This tabletop gas grill only weighs about 40 pounds and uses convenient disposable propane cylinders for fuel.
Besides portability, here are the other main differences between Weber Q2200 and Q3200:
- Grilling Area: The Q3200 has about 40 percent bigger grilling surface.
- Burners: The Q3200 has 2 burners that put out almost twice as much heat compared to the one burner in Q2200.
- Price: The Q2200 is about 30 percent cheaper than the Q3200.
So if you are mostly grilling in your patio or backyard, the Q3200 is definitely a better choice. But if you need a portable model and don’t mind the smaller cooking area, then the Q2200 might be a good option.
Weber Q3200 Grill FAQ
Where can I buy Weber Q3200 natural gas grill?
Weber Q3200 natural gas grill is available on BBQGuys online store.
What is the difference when comparing Weber Q3200 vs Q2200 gas grill?
When comparing Weber Q3200 vs Q2200 the main difference is that the Q3200 is a freestanding grill while the Q2200 is a tabletop model.
In addition, the Q3200 has a bigger grilling area and two burners plus more heating power, while the Q2200 only has one burner.
How long does the Weber Q3200 grill last?
Weber Q3200 is a very durable grill and can easily last for 10 years or more if properly maintained. My Weber Q3200 is 8 years old and still works perfectly fine.
Weber Q3200 Review – Final Thoughts
I have to say that I really like Weber products. One of my favorites is the fantastic little travel grill that I bought a while ago — so I recommend that you also check out my full review of the Weber Go-Anywhere charcoal grill.
And now to the most important question — should you buy the Weber Q3200?
I have been very happy with my Q3200 and it has also received great customer reviews. I can warmly recommend it to anyone who wants a durable and easy-to-use grill that offers great value for money.
Actually, it’s so fun to use this grill that you will probably end up cooking with it every day. Or even twice a day!
Weber Q3200 is available on Amazon and BBQGuys online store.
Happy Grilling!
-Joonas
PS. If you have any questions or comments related to Weber Q3200, please post them below.
