Char-Broil Gas2Coal 330 Hybrid
A practical gas barbecue (3 burners + 1 side burner, hybrid gas + charcoal) for outdoor cooking.
Gas BBQ vs Charcoal: Which Should You Buy?
Gas or charcoal is the classic barbecue argument. They genuinely suit different people and different cooking, so here's an honest comparison of flavour, convenience, control, cost and cleaning to help you decide.
Convenience and control
This is where gas wins clearly. A gas barbecue lights instantly, reaches cooking temperature in around ten minutes, and lets you adjust heat with a knob - and turn it off the moment you're done. Charcoal needs twenty to thirty minutes to reach a proper cooking bed, and you manage heat by arranging coals and vents rather than dialling it in. If you want to grill on a weeknight after work, gas makes that realistic.
Flavour
Charcoal has the edge, though less than purists claim. Much of the classic barbecue flavour comes from fat dripping onto a hot surface and smoking back up, which happens on both fuels. Charcoal does add its own smoky character, especially with lumpwood or added wood chunks, and reaches higher searing temperatures. Gas produces a cleaner taste - many people happily cook on gas and add a smoker box for wood smoke when they want it.
Cost, cleaning and the hybrid option
Gas barbecues cost more upfront and need a bottle, regulator and hose; charcoal grills are cheaper to buy but you keep buying fuel. Cleaning strongly favours gas - no ash to clear, just brush the grates and empty the grease tray. Charcoal means disposing of ash after every cook. If you genuinely want both, hybrid barbecues like Char-Broil's Gas2Coal run on either, at a higher price and with charcoal's cleanup when you use it.
Our top picks
#1
#2 
Fire Mountain Sierra 3 Burner
A practical gas barbecue (3-burner) for outdoor cooking.
#3 
CosmoGrill Compact Gas 2 Burner
A practical gas barbecue (2-burner) for outdoor cooking.
#4 
Fire Mountain Sierra 4 Burner
A practical gas barbecue (4-burner) for outdoor cooking.
#5 
Fire Mountain Sierra 6 Burner
A practical gas barbecue (6-burner) for outdoor cooking.
#6 
Frequently asked questions
Is gas or charcoal better for BBQ?
It depends on what you value. Gas is far more convenient - instant heat, precise control, quick cleanup - which means you'll use it more often, including midweek. Charcoal gives somewhat better flavour and higher searing heat, but needs twenty to thirty minutes to get going and leaves ash to clear. If you barbecue frequently and value ease, choose gas; if it's an occasional event and flavour is everything, choose charcoal.
Does gas BBQ food taste as good as charcoal?
Very nearly, and most people can't reliably tell in a blind test. A lot of barbecue flavour comes from fat dripping onto hot surfaces and smoking back up, which happens on gas too. Charcoal does add a distinct smoky character and hits higher searing temperatures. If you cook on gas and want more smoke, a smoker box with wood chips closes most of the gap.
Bottom line
Our top pick is the Char-Broil Gas2Coal 330 Hybrid (our score 9.6/10) - A practical gas barbecue (3 burners + 1 side burner, hybrid gas + charcoal) for outdoor cooking..