The best gas BBQs in Australia

Gas is what most Australians should buy, because it is the BBQ that gets used on a weeknight. The differences between a $229 and a $1,399 gas BBQ are real, but they are not where the marketing says.

What the money buys

Plates and grills. The cheapest BBQs use thin pressed steel that warps and loses heat when food hits it. Mid-range adds enamelled cast iron, which sears properly. Premium adds thicker castings and better enamel.

Burners. Stainless tube burners are standard. Cast-iron burners, as on the BeefEater, last longer and are the part most often covered by the long warranty.

Body. Enamelled steel on cheap and mid-range, stainless on premium. Near the coast, stainless grade matters more than brand: 304 resists salt, 430 does not.

Hood. A hood turns a grill into an oven. Hood height determines whether a whole chicken fits. Weber’s Q+ and Family Q+ have taller hoods than the plain Q for this reason.

Warranty. Read the split. “10 years” often means the body, with burners at one to five.

Two burners can beat four

A two-burner with a hood and one burner off gives a true indirect zone and enough space for a family roast. The Weber Family Q+ does this so well that it outsells most four-burners. Four burners earn their place when you regularly cook for eight or more, or want a big flat plate and a big grill at the same time.

The picks

The Weber Family Q3100N+ is our overall gas pick because it does the family job with two burners and a parts network that will still exist in ten years. The Jumbuck Horizon 4 is the value four-burner: hooded, trolley, shelves, $349. Step up to the Matador Spark 4 for heavier plates and a cabinet, or the BeefEater Clubman for an Australian brand with cast-iron burners. The Everdure Force 2 is the style buy for small courtyards. The Jumbuck Portland is the cheapest hooded four-burner in the country; keep a cover on it and expect a few good seasons.