This review of the Napoleon Freestyle 425 aims to determine how well it performs in comparison to more expensive gas grills. For a comprehensive list of the best gas grills available, you can refer to our guide.
The Napoleon Freestyle 425 boasts a chic graphite grey porcelain enamel finish that makes it look like a high-end product despite its affordable price. With four burners and a generously sized cooking surface, it can cook up to 27 burgers at once. The grill also comes with two sizeable side tables that can be used for food preparation and holding dishes, as well as three hooks for hanging your barbecue tools. The tables can also be folded down to facilitate easy storage of the grill when not in use.
The stand features soft-close doors and sturdy wheels that enable you to move it around your yard with ease. The doors enclose the gas bottle, keeping unsightly hoses and battered gas bottles out of view.
I put the Napoleon Freestyle 425 to the test by assembling it from scratch, noting the time taken and the ease of following the instructions. I then grilled an assortment of foods, including steaks, burgers, sausages, and vegetables, as well as roasting a whole chicken (using the indirect grill method, as I didn't have the rotisserie attachment, which is sold separately).
Read on to learn how the Napoleon Freestyle 425 performed in my tests.
Naomi MacKay is Top Ten Reviews' Customer Advisor for Grills. She tested the Napoleon Freestyle 425 for a week to assess the range of its cooking capabilities, accessories, ease of use, and maintenance. Naomi has been a freelance writer and editor for 20 years, having previously made the move from local newspapers and consumer technology magazines into the gardening press as Assistant Editor at Garden Answers magazine, and writes garden columns for a number of publications.
Napoleon Freestyle 425: Key specs
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | Row 0 - Cell 1 |
| Type | Gas (natural) |
| Cooking surface | Grate |
| Cooking surface area | 621.3 square inches |
| Burners | 5 |
| BTU | 38,000 |
| Side burner? | Yes |
| Rotisserie compatible? | Yes (not included) |
| Dimensions | H45.5 x W52 x D25 inches |
| Weight | 107 lbs |
Napoleon Freestyle 425: Price & availability
If you're looking for a grill in a similar price range, both the Weber Spirit II E-310 3-Burner Liquid Propane Grill and the Napoleon Freestyle 425 have a compact design and three burners. However, the Napoleon grill has a slightly larger cooking area and offers a smoker box for that classic 'barbecued' flavor.
If you're on a tight budget, the Cuisinart CGG-7400 Propane 54-Inch Full-Size Four-Burner Gas Grill is a couple of hundred dollars cheaper and has similar features. Keep in mind that the Napoleon grill has a 10-year warranty, which makes it a better value in the long run compared to the Cuisinart grill, which only has a three-year warranty.
Napoleon Freestyle 425: Setup
The Napoleon Freestyle 425 gas grill is easy to set up. It comes with clear and concise instructions that make assembly a breeze, and the sturdy base has wheels that make it easy to move around. The grill is compact but not flimsy, making it ideal for smaller outdoor spaces, and the cookbox and lid are quite heavy and seem to be built to last with a 10-year warranty.
Napoleon Freestyle 425: Design
The graphite grey color of the Napoleon Freestyle 425 gas grill gives it a sleek appearance that stands out from other gas grills with black or stainless steel finishes. The porcelain enamel finish gives it a premium look, and it is less prone to greasy finger marks compared to other gas grills.
The edges are rounded, which makes it easy to move around safely, thanks to the sturdy wheels on the base. The warming rack is large and offers an extra cooking space for quickly cooking items, and the cooking area itself is spacious and can accommodate up to 26 burgers.
The cast iron porcelainized enamel cooking grids feature Napoleon’s iconic wavy sear marks, and the temperature gauge has a retro look to it. The aluminum firebox aims to create a convective oven effect. On the right-hand side, the folding table is also home to three hooks to keep your tools within reach.
Napoleon Freestyle F425: Performance
I experienced some trouble with the ignition system while using the grill, as I couldn't get the burners to stay lit initially. However, I eventually got the hang of it and didn't have any issues after that.
The grill heated up quickly, but I did notice that the temperature dropped rapidly when I opened the lid. On the other hand, it rose rapidly once the lid was closed again. There was a cooler spot towards the front of the grill, which could be problematic if you're trying to cook a large quantity of food at once.
In general, the grill cooked everything well, but it does burn quite fiercely. As a result, it may require some practice to get the temperature just right. Nonetheless, I was able to achieve a nice sear on my steaks, and I was also able to cook a whole chicken over indirect heat, which took around 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Napoleon Freestyle 425: Maintenance
The tables of the grill can be easily folded down for storage. Once assembled, the barbecue is lightweight and easy to maneuver. When the tables are folded, the width of the grill drops from 55 inches to 33 inches, which is a significant difference when you need to move it to a confined place for storage. If you want to keep the grill outside, you can purchase a specific cover for this model from Napoleon. I found some online offers that included a free cover with the grill purchase.
Napoleon recommends seasoning the cast iron cooking grids to prevent corrosion. After use, mild dish soap and water should be used to clean them, but they should not be put in the dishwasher. It is advisable to use a brass wire brush to clean the inside and underside of the cooking box and scrape the sear plates using a plastic putty knife. To avoid any chips or scratches, plastic putty knives or scrapers should be used on all porcelain parts.
You should be able to find a cover that has been designed for your particular model and, although they may seem like an added cost, it will add years onto your barbecue’s life. This is because it will help you to avoid any unnecessary rust from occurring.’
R. Mistry, Head of Marketing at Flogas
The Napoleon grill has a drip pan that can easily slide out for cleaning, which should be done after every fourth or fifth cook. It is recommended to clean the control panel with soapy water only, and avoid using abrasive cloths or cleaners. After cleaning, make sure to cover the equipment to protect it from elements such as rain, wind, or sun. This will help keep your grill in the best possible condition until you use it again. Although it may seem like a fiddly job, covering your barbecue is an important step in maintaining it.
Napoleon Freestyle 425: User reviews
I found the Napoleon Freestyle 425 easy to assemble and cook on, and one reviewer even said it's hassle-free and reliable for grilling for family and friends.
The burners start easily and it seems to have pretty even heat. The cooking grates are thick and very heavy. The warming rack is gigantic and you can actually put more than a tiny grocery store hamburger bun on it.
Customer review
One user found the 425 grill difficult to keep hot and get a good char on food, especially when using more than one-third of the grill surface.
Napoleon Freestyle 425: Expert opinion
I reached out to Ross Bearman, the founder of the BBQ gifting company, Ross & Ross Gifts, to get his opinion on the Napoleon Freestyle 425.
He commented that the grill offers a lot of versatility, allowing for both direct and indirect grilling. This means you can cook anything from burgers and steaks to whole chicken and meat joints. If you're a fan of grilled whole chicken, then investing in the rotisserie option is worth it. It helps to achieve perfectly cooked birds with a crispy skin every time.
Should you buy the Napoleon Freestyle 425?
The Napoleon Freestyle 425 is a great grill that offers excellent value for money. It has a 10-year warranty, is well-built, and features a large cooking area with four burners. While it may not have all the fancy features found in premium models, it is a fantastic choice for those who want to cook for a large family or friends. However, it's important to note that this grill does not come with a side burner, which may not be suitable for some users.
How does the Napoleon Freestyle 425 compare?
The Char-Broil Performance 475 4-Burner Gas Grill is a good option for those who want a grill with a side burner for heating up beans and corn or frying onions. It has a similar cooking area size to the Napoleon grill but comes at a slightly lower price. However, the Char-Broil grill has a limited warranty of five years for the burner and one year for all other parts, which is shorter than Napoleon's 10-year warranty.
If you are looking for a cheaper option, the Dyna-Glo 4-Burner Gas Grill is almost $200 cheaper than the Napoleon grill, but it has a limited warranty and replacement parts are hard to find. It offers good power and cooking space, but you might regret not spending the extra money in a year or two.
For those on a tight budget, the RevoAce 4-Burner Gas Grill is even cheaper than the Dyna-Glo grill and comes with a side burner. However, it feels a bit wobbly and reports suggest that there are issues with ignition. The RevoAce grill is reasonably well-built, but at this price, it does not come with Napoleon's 10-year warranty.
How I tested the Napoleon Freestyle 425
At Top Ten Reviews, our main aim is to provide consumers with the best possible advice when it comes to purchasing products. To achieve this, we conduct extensive tests on products, starting from unboxing and assembling to performance, storage, and maintenance.
In the case of gas grills, we first time and assess the ease of assembly. Our reviewers then conduct precise cooking tests, which involve cooking different foods such as chicken breasts, steaks, burgers, whole chicken, and vegetables. During these tests, we evaluate the range of temperatures the grill can reach, the cooking times, how even and regular the temperature is, and any accessories that come with the grill.
Once the cooking tests are done, we also consult experts and seek advice on the best ways to clean, store, and maintain the grill. We believe that by conducting these thorough tests and seeking expert advice, we can offer consumers the information they need to make informed purchasing decisions. For more, take a look at our dedicated page on how we test.
- First reviewed: 17th July 2022