Weber Genesis E-325 vs Spirit E-325
Same model number, two different grills. The Genesis brings 513 sq in and a dedicated sear burner; the Spirit does it on 360 sq in for about $300 less.
No single winner. Here is how to choose.
These share a number and almost nothing else, and the decision is budget rather than better. The Genesis E-325 fires 39,000 BTU across three burners plus a dedicated 13,000 BTU sear zone burner over 513 sq in (101 BTU per square inch) on a 162-pound cart with twelve years on the cookbox, near $849. The Spirit E-325 reaches 86 BTU per square inch from 31,000 BTU over 360 sq in, using two Boost Burners rather than a separate sear burner, at 98 pounds with ten years on the cookbox, around $549.
What actually differs
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153 square inches and a real sear burner
The Genesis grate is 513 sq in against 360, and its sear heat comes from a fourth burner on its own knob. The Spirit gets there by pushing two of its three main burners past high, which works but takes the same burners the rest of the food is cooking over.
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Twelve years against ten, and two against ten below that
Genesis covers the cookbox and lid for twelve years and the parts in the fire for ten. The Spirit gives the cookbox, lid and burner tubes ten years and everything else two, paint included.
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$300 and 64 pounds
The Spirit is 98 pounds on two wheels in a 46-inch frame; the Genesis is 162 pounds of cart. On a small balcony that is the deciding figure, not the grate.
How they score, category by category
The Weber Genesis E-325 scores higher in 4 categories, the Spirit E-325 in 2 categories.
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Heat Performance
Counts for 25% of the scoreWeber Genesis E-325 9.2 Better by 0.2Spirit E-325 9.0Why the Weber Genesis E-325 scores 9.2A 13,000 BTU sear burner on its own knob, which the otherwise identical E-315 spec table does not carry.
Why the Spirit E-325 scores 9.0
Two Boost Burners give one grate two real working heats, at close to 86 BTU per square inch over the primary grate.
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Long-term Reliability
Counts for 20% of the scoreWeber Genesis E-325 9.0 Better by 1.0Spirit E-325 8.0Why the Weber Genesis E-325 scores 9.0Twelve years on the shell and ten in the flame, though the paperwork now starts from a delisted model.
Why the Spirit E-325 scores 8.0
Ten years on the cookbox, lid and burner tubes, but only two on everything remaining, paint included.
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Build Quality
Counts for 18% of the scoreWeber Genesis E-325 8.8Spirit E-325 9.0 Better by 0.2Why the Spirit E-325 scores 9.0Porcelain-enameled cast iron, stainless Flavorizer bars and a closed cabinet, at 98 pounds on two wheels.
Why the Weber Genesis E-325 scores 8.8
Porcelain-enamelled lid over cast iron grates and stainless bars, let down slightly by painted steel cabinet doors.
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Ease of Use
Counts for 15% of the scoreWeber Genesis E-325 8.3Spirit E-325 9.0 Better by 0.7Why the Spirit E-325 scores 9.0Snap-Jet lights each burner one-handed, which is exactly how a two-heat cook gets set up.
Why the Weber Genesis E-325 scores 8.3
Four knobs and one AA battery are easy; 162 pounds of home assembly and a vanished manual page are not.
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Value
Counts for 12% of the scoreWeber Genesis E-325 9.7 Better by 1.4Spirit E-325 8.3Why the Weber Genesis E-325 scores 9.7Near $849 with a sear burner, while Weber lists the sear-less E-315 at $899.
Why the Spirit E-325 scores 8.3
Around $549.00 buys the same Sear Zone and cast iron as the EX-325 for $50 less, though Weber Works accessories cost extra.
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Maintenance
Counts for 10% of the scoreWeber Genesis E-325 8.0 Better by 0.5Spirit E-325 7.5Why the Weber Genesis E-325 scores 8.0The grease tray pulls straight out, but cast iron grates and a fourth burner add to every clean-down.
Why the Spirit E-325 scores 7.5
The grease tray slides out and empties fast, but chipped enamel on cast iron rusts.
See all six scores in one table
| Category | Weber Genesis E-325 | Spirit E-325 |
|---|---|---|
| Heat Performance (25%) | 9.2 Better | 9.0 |
| Long-term Reliability (20%) | 9.0 Better | 8.0 |
| Build Quality (18%) | 8.8 | 9.0 Better |
| Ease of Use (15%) | 8.3 | 9.0 Better |
| Value (12%) | 9.7 Better | 8.3 |
| Maintenance (10%) | 8.0 Better | 7.5 |
| Avid Griller Score | 8.9 | 8.6 |
Both reviews are scored on the same six weighted categories, on the same 0 to 10 scale, and each reason is the one that review gave. A category is marked better only where the two differ by a tenth or more. How we score →
Where the spec sheets differ
Quoted from each maker's own specifications, as each review records them. Figures the two products publish identically are left out, so only the differences are listed.
Which one is for you
You cook for more than four, want searing heat from dedicated hardware, and have the patio width.
Check price →You want two working heats on one grate for around $549, and 360 sq in is enough.
Check price →More head-to-heads
Every score and figure on this page comes from our own reviews of these two products, linked above. We have not tested them side by side in one place; the comparison is between two full reviews, each built from the maker's published specifications and documentation. Prices move, and the ones quoted are the ones each review checked on its own date.