Skip to content   Skip to footer navigation 

BBQ reviews

What's behind
the score? Watch the video
Last updated: 19 October 2018

A good BBQ is a must-have in the Aussie backyard (or balcony). We lab test and review gas, electric and charcoal barbecues to find the best performers that are also easy to use and clean.

Stuck on what type you need? Our BBQ buying guide will help you decide, while how we test explains our testing rigour.

Read more

Our test covers electric and gas barbecues (including those that run on natural gas), and small and portable models through to large models.

Our expert testers fire up every BBQ to help find the models that:

  • are best at cooking evenly
  • are easiest to clean
  • have a flame diffuser to control flare-ups
  • are most fuel-efficient

Our interactive comparison tool helps you see at a glance good and bad points for each model, we tell you the running cost of each BBQ over five years, and our Recommended list will help you see quickly which models come out on top.

Matthew Steen
By Fiona Mair
Show less

Narrow your results

Your filters

Clear all filters

Brand

Expand to view more details.

List of brands we tested in this review.

    Price

    Expand to view more details.

    Recommended retail, as of October 2018.

    enter value/s in increments of 1 between 150 and 2500

    Top filters

    Remove product

    Member only

    This test score is for members only. Join now to unlock our expert results.

    Join now

    Already a member?

    Fuel type

    Expand to view more details.

    Gas, charcoal or electric.

      Cooking performance score

      Expand to view more details.

      The scores for evenness of temperature (cooking steak), evenness with high fat (sausages), low temperature cooking (marinated chicken wings) and roasting a chicken are weighted equally.

      enter value/s in increments of i between 39 and 98

      Category

      Expand to view more details.

      Suitability based on size and features.

        Ease of use score

        Expand to view more details.

        Made up of cooking (40%), mobility (20%), using the controls (20%) and cleaning (20%).

        enter value/s in increments of i between 42 and 78

        Features

        Hotplate

          Char-grill

            Side burner

              Test results

              Evenness score

              Expand to view more details.

              We cover the hotplate and grill with steak to see if any areas aren't heated enough, or get too hot and burn the meat.

              enter value/s in increments of i between 25 and 100

              Evenness with high fat cooking score

              Expand to view more details.

              We cover the hotplate and grill with sausages to see if areas are prone to flare-ups from burning fat, which could lead to burnt food.

              enter value/s in increments of i between 30 and 100

              Roasting score

              Expand to view more details.

              We test at moderate temperatures over a long period by roasting a chicken on a baking tray in the centre of the plates with the outside burners on medium heat. The hood is down and the chicken is turned once.

              enter value/s in increments of i between 0 and 100

              Related products

              Status

              A Similar model is identical in most aspects except for a few. This means that a majority of its test results are identical so you can reasonably expect to get the same results from the model we tested, but for those aspects which aren't identical, we'll note these as "Not Tested" in the Compare tables.

              A Tested model refers to a model that is still current and available in the Australian market. You should be able to order this model through your local retailer, or find it online.

              These models can't be found in retailers or online or are no longer manufactured. You may still find these models on second hand websites, or in second hand dealers. Test methods may change over time, so criteria which can't be directly compared will contain an N/A. 

              An Identical model is exactly that. Performance characteristics will be identical and the only difference will be something trivial such as colour, which won't have an impact on performance.

              These are models we haven't yet tested but that are available.

                Included in this review

                Members-only access
                • Running cost (5 years)
                • CHOICE buy
                • Overall score
                • Cooking performance score
                • Ease of use score
                • Evenness score
                • Evenness with high fat cooking score
                • Low temperature score
                • Roasting score
                • Cleaning score
                • External temperatures after 60min (°C, controls / handle / hood / side tables)
                • Gas consumption (kg/hr)
                • Good points
                • Bad points
                • Comments
                • Brand
                • Model
                • Status
                • Fuel type
                • Price
                • Category
                • Warming rack
                • Reversible cooking plate
                • Number of burners
                • Side burner
                • Back burner for rotisserie
                • Viewing window
                • Side tray / folding
                • Storage cupboard
                • Natural gas option
                • Hotplate
                • Char-grill
                • Hotplate / grill material
                • Flame diffuser material
                • Burners material
                • Ignition type
                • Dimensions (cm, H x W x D)
                • Weight (kg)
                • Total cooking area (m2)
                • Contacts
                Compare all products All the details,
                side by side

                Results

                Product selected for a detailed comparison

                Clear all
                Compare details
                Join 160 000 members using our independent test results to avoid costly mistakes. Get full access to all our tests and reviews.