The Char-Broil Designer Series Grill 463420507 offers some exceptional features, including fast startup, quality construction and searing heat with its 48,000-Btu cooking system.

We loved the look of this grill, which combines black and stainless-steel styling for a striking appearance. The 463420507 has a 35-inch-tall console base, which measures 28.5 inches wide by 21 inches deep. We noted that most of the metal edges were folded for added strength and the console had a supporting bracket at the rear, which is otherwise open for easy access. The console also has a front cabinet door with magnetic closure and four locking caster-type wheels that provide full maneuverability.

The hood, handle, front cabinet door and control panel are all brushed stainless steel. A stylish matte black skirt and black sides hide the grill's wheels and add a dramatic contrast. The hood features double-wall construction, which is a tremendous help in not only keeping the exterior looking nice but also in retaining the grill's searing hot temperature.

This model has four independently controlled tube burners, which are also stainless steel and combined deliver 48,000 Btu of power. The grill has an electronic pushbutton ignition, which always lit on the first try during tests. The temperature of the grill climbed quickly and reached a maximum of 600 degrees Fahrenheit in about 15 minutes.

The 480-square-inch cooking surface consists of three removable porcelain-coated cast-iron grates. The grates are extra heavy duty and transfer heat amazingly well to the foods. This grill also has an 8x26-inch chrome warming rack, which swings out of the way as the hood is lifted. The grates are spaced about 1/2 inch apart and have a triangular design that is flat at the bottom and comes up to a rounded point at the top. The smaller point of contact at the top may be one of the reasons why foods did not stick as much.

Our testers liked the easy-turn control knobs, which turned smoothly and had variable settings from low to high. The push-to-turn dials have fingertip extension grips and lock in the "off" position to ensure that you won't turn a knob on accidentally.

Temperature-wise, we noticed that the grill was hottest at the back of the cooking surface where the heat is concentrated by the connecting bar that transfers the flame from the first burner to the remaining three. The rest of the grill had a fairly uniform temperature. The grill's "flame tamers" (heat diffusing enamel-coated plates that sit atop the burners) spread the heat from each burner across the full cooking surface.

Other features include a large 15x17-inch side tray and a 13,000-Btu side burner, which provided a handy place for warming sauces and, thanks to the inclusion of an outdoor stove-top griddle, served as a versatile utensil for grilling onions, mushrooms and other accompaniments. The griddle accessory is a large 12x15-inch nonstick flat cooking plate with side edges for frying all types of foods -- from eggs and sausage to home fries and French toast.

The one disappointment for our testers was that there were no utensil hooks to hang the cooking tools.

All in all, the Designer Series Grill by Char-Broil is a handsome unit that offers efficient cooking at an affordable price.


Pros: Stainless-steel construction, 13,000-Btu side burner, fast heating, enclosed console cabinet, griddle accessory
Cons: No utensil hooks

Warranty
1 year, limited repair or replacement of defective parts