The Summit grills are Weber’s top of the line, ultra premium gas grills. For years if you wanted a massive Weber grill then the Summit was your only choice. However, Weber now has a four burner Genesis grill that is almost as nice as a Summit and is a heck of a lot less expensive. The Genesis vs Summit comparison is easy to make so let’s take a look and see which one is right for you.
If you are looking for a workhorse of a grill that you are going to love for years then buy a Weber Genesis. You want the Genesis if:
- You want to buy the largest grill Weber has to for sale.
- You are tired of replacing your rusted out grill every two years.
- You are DONE with grills that constantly flare up and cook unevenly.
- You have saved up some cash and are finally ready to buy a REAL grill.
If you are looking for a showpiece grill then buy a Weber Summit. You want the Summit if:
- You want a grill with all of the bells and whistles and money is not an issue.
- You want a built in grill for your outdoor kitchen
Here is a look at the two product lines in detail.
| Genesis II S 435 | Summit S 470 | Summit S 670 | |
| Main Burners | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| Side Burner | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Sear Station | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Cooking Grate | 7 mm SS | 9 mm SS | 9 mm SS |
| Primary Grill Area | 646 sq in | 468 sq in | 624 sq in |
| Secondary Grill Area | 198 sq in | 112 sq in | 145 sq in |
| Tuck Away Rotisserie | No | Yes | Yes |
| Rotisserie Burner | No | Yes | Yes |
| Smoker Box and Burner | No | Yes | Yes |
| Grill Light | No | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years |
| MSRP | $1,249 | $2.099 | $2,749 |
All of these grills are available for use with liquid propane or natural gas.
The Genesis Grills
There are about a dozen grills that carry the Genesis badge but the only one that warrants a comparison with the Summit grills is the Weber Genesis II S 435.
The Genesis II S 435 is the largest gas grill made by Weber and even offers more grilling area than the six burner Summit 670. The Genesis has all of the important features you need but not all of the fancy upgrades on a Summit. The important features on the Genesis are:
- Massive Cooking Area
- Four Primary Burners
- Sear Station Burner
- 7 mm Stainless Steel Rod Cooking Grate
- Side Burner
- 10 Year Warranty
- Beautiful Styling
The Genesis 435 is available as the stainless steel “S” model and as the porcelain enameled steel “E” model. The E model costs a little less than the S model but the S model is the one you want.
The S 435 has a cooking grate made of 7mm stainless steel rods while the E 435 has a cast iron grate. The stainless steel grate on the S model is easier to clean and produces better grill marks than the cast iron grate on the E model. This might not seem like a big deal but trust me, you will be living with this grill for at least a decade and this is an upgrade that you want.
Summit 470 and 670
There are two Summit grills that compare directly against the Genesis grills, the four burner Summit 470 and the six burner Summit 670.
The Summits have all of the features of the Genesis S 435 and have the additional upgrades.
- Integrated Tuck Away Rotisserie
- Dedicated Infrared Rotisserie Burner
- Stainless Steel Smoker Box
- Dedicated Smoker Burner Tube
- 9 mm stainless steel rod cooking grate
- Handle Mounted Grill Light
The Summits have less grilling area than the Genesis due to the area taken up by the smoker box section on the Summits.
Here is a nice video walk through of Summit from BBQGuys.
This is purely subjective but I think the Genesis is a prettier grill than the Summit. The Genesis was restyled in 2017 while the Summit hasn’t been updated in over a decade.
Another difference between the Genesis and Summit that should be mentioned is the location of the propane tank. On the Genesis the propane tank is mounted on the side of the grill while it is located underneath the Summit grill inside the enclosed storage cabinet.
The side mount location on the Genesis is better because it is easier to take the tank on and off and provides more storage underneath the grill. This is another detail that might not seem that important now but will make a difference after a decade of ownership.
Real World User Reviews
I pulled all of the user reviews for the Genesis II S 435 and Summit S 470 from Weber’s website as well as Amazon and Home Depot and compiled them into a single data set. Here is what the data looks like as of July 26, 2020.
The Genesis S 435 gets better reviews than the Summit. The Genesis received 5 Star reviews at an 83% rate compared to 72% for the Summit. Combining 5 and 4 star reviews shows the same picture with the Genesis receiving about a 92% overall positive rating versus 83% for the Summit.
| Genesis S 435 | Summit S 470 | |
| 5 Star | 83.68% | 72.87% |
| 4 Star | 8.22% | 10.14% |
| 3 Star | 2.66% | 6.01% |
| 2 Star | 2.31% | 3.79% |
| 1 Star | 3.13% | 7.49% |
The Summit receives lower reviews than the Summit primarily because the grill does not have the quality required to match the price tag. When people pay over $2,000 for a Summit they rightfully expect everything to be perfect and this grill does not deliver in that department.
There are lots of little build issues with the Summit that drive people crazy. Misaligned doors, crooked thermometers, a few dents…nothing serious but it is the type of thing that will piss you off after you spend a couple grand.
When you look at the total picture of size, features, cost and quality the Genesis is the clear winner in my book.
The only reason to buy a Summit is for your outdoor kitchen. Let’s take a look at those options.
Summit Built in Grills and Kitchen Centers
The only “drop in” gas grills offered by Weber are the four burner Summit 460 and six burner Summit 660. These grills have almost all of the same features as there 470/670 counterparts with the exception of the Tuck Away rotisserie. Instead of the Tuck Away system these grills come with the standard rotisserie attachment.
Weber also offers a stunning Summit Grill Center that is essentially a Summit grill with extra side table and storage space. These grills are beautiful and if you don’t mind the price tag would be a great addition to your outdoor kitchen.
