The Weber Spirit is one of the most popular grills sold in the US. It is solid, reliable, and durable enough to handle a New England winter.
Buying one used to be genuinely confusing, because Weber sold two overlapping Spirit lines that shared model numbers.
That problem is gone. Weber retired the Spirit II badge and consolidated everything into a single Spirit line.
What is left is a short lineup where the code on the box tells you the finish, the burner count, and whether you get the Sear Zone.
In this article, you will learn how to read those codes, what each current Spirit costs, and where the line still falls short.
We have started to publish more video content, but in this case, the blog post may be easier to understand before watching the video down below.
In This Article
- Why Buy a Weber Spirit Series Grill?
- How Do You Read Weber Grill Model Codes?
- What Happened to the Weber Spirit II Series?
- Are Weber Spirit Grills Reliable?
- What Are the Current Weber Spirit Models and Prices?
- What Are the Problems With Weber Spirit Grills?
- Should You Buy a Weber Spirit Series BBQ Grill?
Why Buy a Weber Spirit Series Grill?
Weber is more durable than any other brand at this price range. Over the years, we have tried every other brand.
The unit is designed and manufactured with stainless steel, hard plastic, and the base is painted.
The line now starts at $499. When you compare the construction, it should last three times longer than comparable or lower-priced grills.
Let's decipher how to buy one.
How Do You Read Weber Grill Model Codes?
Weber codes look cryptic at first, but they only encode three things: the finish, the number of burners, and whether the grill adds the Sear Zone.
- The letters tell you the lid finish and trim level. "E" is a porcelain-enameled lid, "S" is stainless, "EP" is the blacked-out Stealth trim, and "SX" is the smart model.
- The first number is the burner count. A 3 means three burners and a 4 means four.
- The last number flags the extras. A 0 means no Sear Zone, and a 5 means the grill adds one.
So a Spirit E-310 is a porcelain-enameled three-burner with no Sear Zone. An EP-425 Stealth is a blacked-out four-burner that has it.
One caution: Weber has reused these digits across generations, so check the specs against the full model number before you buy.
Weber Spirit Series Grills
- E-310 - Porcelain-enameled lid, three burners, no Sear Zone
- E-325 - Porcelain-enameled lid, three burners, adds the Sear Zone
- EP-425 Stealth - Blacked-out Stealth trim, four burners, Sear Zone
- SX-315 Smart - Stainless lid, three burners, Wi-Fi and Weber Connect
Every current Spirit shares the same core: Snap-Jet ignition, stainless steel Flavorizer bars, and porcelain-enameled cast iron cooking grates.
That last point matters. Stainless Flavorizer bars used to be the reason to spend up on an S or SP model, and now they are standard across the line.
What Happened to the Weber Spirit II Series?
For years, Weber sold the Spirit and the Spirit II side by side, and the two lines shared some of the same model numbers.
The Spirit II carried Weber's GS4 grilling system for better ignition and grease management. The regular Spirit had the better features and the finished cabinet.
You no longer have to choose between them. Weber retired the Spirit II badge, and the current Spirit line is one series with one set of internals.
Here is what carried forward.
Ignition System
Every current Spirit uses Snap-Jet ignition, which lights each burner individually with one hand.
The old crossover system, where you lit one burner and waited for it to catch the next, is gone.
Flare-Ups and Added Heat
Flavorizer bars sit over the burners to catch drippings, which smoke and flavor the food instead of pooling and flaring.
All current Spirit models use stainless steel Flavorizer bars, so you are no longer trading porcelain bars for a lower price.
Grease Management
Grease runs down the angled cookbox into a removable catch pan below the grill.
It is a simple system, and it is the single most ignored piece of grill maintenance we see.
Are Weber Spirit Grills Reliable?
In our experience, Weber needs repair less often than anything else at this price. Many of the parts are warrantied for up to 10 years as well.
One note before you shop. Most current Spirit models are sold in both propane and natural gas versions, and the model number changes with the fuel.
Confirm the fuel type against the exact model number before you order, because the two are not interchangeable.
What Are the Current Weber Spirit Models and Prices?
The Spirit is Weber's entry-level line, now sold in three-burner and four-burner configurations.
Weber Spirit E-310 Grill - $499
Model 1500788. The E-310 is the base Spirit and the least expensive way into the line.
You get three burners rated at 24,000 BTU and 360 square inches of primary cooking space, or 450 square inches counting the warming rack.
There is no Sear Zone and no side burner. What you are buying is the Weber cookbox, the stainless Flavorizer bars, and the 10-year warranty at the lowest price Weber offers.
Weber Spirit E-325 Grill - $549
Model 1500789. The E-325 is the same three-burner platform as the E-310, and it adds the Sear Zone.
Two Boost Burner knobs drive roughly 40% more heat into one section of the grate, which is where you put steaks and chops.
Total output climbs to 31,000 BTU. For $50, the Sear Zone is the easiest upgrade to justify in the entire line.
Weber Spirit EP-425 Stealth Grill - $799
Model 1501013. The EP-425 Stealth is the top of the Spirit line and the only four-burner in it.
You get four stainless burners rated at 32,000 BTU plus a dedicated 7,500 BTU sear burner.
The Stealth treatment is the blacked-out version of the grill, with a black hammertone faceplate, black side tables, and a black stainless handle.
It also adds a digital thermometer you can read after dark and the Weber Crafted frame, which lets you drop in a griddle or a pizza stone.
Weber Spirit SX-315 Smart Grill - $695
Model 47502401. The SX-315 is the connected Spirit, and it is the only one with a stainless lid.
Three burners produce 32,000 BTU over 424 square inches of primary cooking space, or 529 square inches with the warming rack.
The real difference is Weber Connect, which runs over Wi-Fi rather than Bluetooth.
You get real-time food temperatures on your phone and on the grill itself, doneness countdowns, alerts when it is time to flip, and fuel level monitoring.
It is a good system. You can check the grill from inside the house and get an alert when the food is done, and Weber has recipe tie-ins as well.
You can add a wireless probe to any grill, even other brands, but it will not display on the grill itself.
What Are the Problems With Weber Spirit Grills?
The Sear Zone is high-output gas, not infrared. It will cook faster and hotter, but if you want hard char marks on your food, that is not in the design.
The bigger change is that no current Spirit has a side burner.
The old E-330 and SP-335 both had one. If cooking your corn on the grill instead of the kitchen matters to you, you now have to move up to the Genesis.
You cannot smoke or add wood flavor on a Spirit either, though there aren't any other grills with real smoking capability at this price.
The three-burner Spirits are also small. The four-burner EP-425 Stealth helps, but if you cook for a crowd every weekend, the Genesis is the better platform.
Should You Buy a Weber Spirit Series BBQ Grill?
The Spirit is solidly built in stainless and hard plastic, and it will outlast other comparable brands. It is a good value.
The buying decision is far simpler than it used to be, because the Spirit and Spirit II duplication is gone.
Start at $499 for the E-310. Spend $50 more for the E-325 and its Sear Zone, which is the best value in the line.
Go to $695 for the SX-315 if you want Wi-Fi and a stainless lid, or $799 for the EP-425 Stealth if you want a fourth burner and the blacked-out finish.
Just know what you are giving up. The current Spirit has no side burner at any price, so the step up to the Genesis is the answer if you need one.
However confusing it used to be, the Spirit now offers a clear and durable line of affordable grills.
Additional Resources
Want to know the latest information on all the best grills? Download the Yale BBQ Grill Buying Guide with features, BTU outputs of all the grills, and detailed profiles of all the best brands. Well over 1 million people have read a Yale Guide.
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