The Char-Broil Performance 475 4-Burner Gas Grill is a great all-rounder that offers excellent performance and a few extras without costing a lot. This is a way to get a larger gas grill without blowing the budget.
The way you make a saving is that this, compared to the Weber and Napoleon competition, has a relatively short warranty on parts. But for the price difference you could replace this whole unit after some years and still have paid less than a lot of the competition.
You get four gas burners on the main grill plus a side burner, thermometer, easy construction and decent heat distribution. This is a great performer that punches well above its price point and works for larger families and parties too.
So is this the best gas grill for you? Read on to find out.
Char-Broil Performance 475 4-Burner Gas Grill review: Design and build
- 475 square inches of cook space
- 10,000 BTU side burner
- Stainless steel and cast iron build
The Char-Broil Performance 475 4-Burner Gas Grill might not have a long warranty but it's still made of materials that are built to last. The four burners are stainless steel while the grill is made of rust-resistant porcelain-coated cast iron. That also makes for easier cleaning.
The warming rack to the side actually has 10,000 BTU of power meaning it's a grill of its own really. This can also be folded away to save on space when cooking or for storage.
There are a few variants of this model, as the eagle eyed will have spotted from the pictures. Essentially there are three, one without a side burner, one with double doors and one wheel, one with a single wheel but no doors and another with double doors and two wheels.
The cook space on this model (no doors, single wheel and with a side burner) is 475 square inches - that's larger than the Dyna-Glo 4-Burner. That's about enough space to cook 20 burgers with plenty of room, plus that extra side burner space.
Models comes in different finishes with stainless steel as the primary material but black finishes on some versions. All have four burners with knob controls and an ignition button.
Char-Broil Performance 475 4-Burner Gas Grill review: Features
- 36,000 BTU burners
- Button ignition
- Side shelf with 10,000 BTU
The Char-Broil Performance 475 4-Burner Gas Grill comes with four propane burners which are able to pump out an impressive 36,000 BTU of power - the same as the more expensive Weber Spirit II E-310.
The warranty, as mentioned before, is a decent five years for those burners. But it falls down where, on all other parts, you only get a one year warranty. Since warranty length is often a good indicator of longevity for a product, this is something to keep in mind.
The grill grates are porcelain-coated cast iron meaning they're not only made to last but also to be easily cleaned using a hard wire brush. That means you don't need to worry about washing or scrubbing these to get them ready for the next use.
The ignition is a single button that means you get all the burners lit at the same time with a single press.
On the lid you get a thermometer meaning you can only judge temperature when the lid is closed, but this is usually the case on most grills anyway.
The side grill with that 10,000 BTU burner is a really nice touch for heating up sauces or keeping food warm without taking up space on the main grill.
Char-Broil Performance 475 4-Burner Gas Grill review: Performance
- Easy to construct
- Quick clean grills
- Great heat consistency
The Char-Broil Performance 475 4-Burner Gas Grill might not have the most robust materials, when compared to the high-end competition, but it certainly is easy to put together. Instructions are clear and you can have this up and running in no time.
Once heated up, which is easy to do with that fast ignition and heat retaining lid, the heat consistency is excellent. We measured the temperature regularly as well as how long it took to get back up to temperature after the lid was taken off. Overall the consistency was some of the best we've seen, making it easy to predict how cooking will go so you end up with the best results.
Flare-ups didn't happen on this grill, which is always a welcome feature when you're cooking and don't want to get burn marks on the food. The larger wheel system works well and general design feels well thought out and easy to use.
Cleaning was easy not only thanks to those wipe-clean porcelain-coated cast iron grates but also because of the grease pan. This is also porcelain-coated and removable making cleaning even that as easy as tipping it into the trash and giving it a wipe over.
Should I buy the Char-Broil Performance 475 4-Burner Gas Grill?
If you want to make a saving on a larger gas grill that still offers features like lots of power, a side burner, quick ignition, built-in thermometer and top heat consistency, then this is a great grill for you.
But, if you're looking for a grill that will last you years and years then you may be better off spending more on one with a longer warranty.
If you're looking for faster cook times, then you might be interested in our round up of the best infrared grills, while our guide to the best grill thermometers will insure food safety.