Char-Broil Gas2Coal 2.0 hybrid grill review: a phenomenal dual-fuel family BBQ for truly enjoyable cooking

Whether you're searching for the best outdoor grill to make regular family cooking easier or, like me, want to upgrade ahead of an upcoming event, the Char-Broil Gas2Coal® 2.0 hybrid grill promises simple dual-fuel cooking, top-quality design and clever additions to make hosting a breeze.

Char-Broil is a huge name in the grilling game, and its hybrid range allows you to cook on gas alone or use gas to ignite the goals, ridding the need for lighters or matches.

With a large grill, stainless steel burners, a separate side shelf, temperature gauge and wheels for easy transportation around your garden, the Char-Broil Gas2Coal® 2.0 hybrid grill has lots to boast about. But how did it fare when our Commercial Content Editor, Jade Moscrop, put it to the test?

Char-Broil Gas2Coal® 2.0 hybrid grill review

Testing the Char-Broil Gas2Coal® 2.0 hybrid grill

Build

The Gas2Coal® 2.0 arrived in a huge, heavy box, and it definitely needs two people to transport it to where it will be built. It's well-packaged with plenty of padding to ensure safe transit, and all of the sections are well-made and high-quality - you won't find any flimsy material here.

Assembling the grill can take a couple of hours, depending on if you're building solo or have someone to help. I employed my engineer husband to do the brunt of the assembly (while I supervised, obviously), and while he found most of the build simple and the instructions easy to follow, there were a few challenging aspects. He notes that the angle of the screws would be better suited to an Allen key/hex key than a Phillips head screwdriver for ease, and the gas pipe was tricky to attach to the fittings, but it was, for the most part, a straightforward construction.

We were impressed with the overall quality of the BBQ, and we especially enjoyed the addition of wheels to move it around the garden easily. The under-grill storage space also fits our 6kg gas bottle perfectly and even has space to store accessories and the charcoal shelves.

Fuel

As mentioned previously, this hybrid BBQ can be used with gas only, charcoal only, or a mixture of both. For gas, the BBQ lights up instantly thanks to the electronic igniter and is brilliant for an impromptu grilling session, provided you have gas available.

To cook with charcoal, spread your briquettes across the charcoal trays and then turn on the gas and pop the lid down. In around 15 minutes, you should be ready to cook - the temperature gauge on the top makes it easy to see when you've reached optimum heat.

At this point, you can switch off the gas and just use charcoal or keep it burning for a longer cooking session with that classic smoky flavour from the coals.

Cooking

Cooking on the Char-Broil Gas2Coal® 2.0 is so enjoyable that we practically had a queue of guests at our event ready and willing to take over at any time. It really is an elevated cooking experience. From the lighting process to the temperature gauge, the features of this grill make it easy to cook juicy, delicious food quickly with perfect grill marks.

The warming rack, side shelf and side burner give you plenty of space to work alongside the large grill surface, and we had no issues catering for a group of over 50 people during an afternoon. The side burner is particularly useful if you have vegetarians to cook for, or if you want to warm up some sauces or sides.

It's worth noting that the back of the grill runs slightly hotter, so you'll need to rotate your food to ensure even cooking and adjust your cooking times accordingly.

There isn't anywhere to hang your BBQ utensils, but it didn't pose any problems for us. Options can be bought separately, such as this magnetic toolbar, and this bottle holder and utensil hook set.

Cleaning

Any BBQ master worth their salt knows that the cleaning process begins as soon as you've finished cooking by burning off any residue using heat before you turn it off. If you employ this method, it's easy to brush off any remaining food or sauce on the grill, so I'd definitely recommend taking the time to do that.

If you forget, the porcelain-coated cast iron grills are easy to clean and rust-resistant and can be removed to be soaked overnight for any stubborn stains. The rest of the grill is easy to wipe down, but again, it's worth doing any cleaning as soon as possible to make life easier. Don't forget to wipe the back, too, where any residue from the warming tray can trickle down.

Price

Char Broil's Gas2Coal® 2.0 hybrid grill is between some of the mid- and upper-range grills on the market, retailing for £699. It can, however, quite often be found on offer (it's currently £525 on Amazon), making it a brilliant deal for the superior quality and ease of use, but I would happily pay full price for it. If the four-burner is out of your budget, there's also a three-burner and a two-burner available, but they do lack some of the features of the four-burner.

Overall verdict: Is the Char-Broil Gas2Coal® 2.0 hybrid grill worth it?

Combining the best of both worlds, this hybrid BBQ makes catering for large groups, families and couples a breeze. It's well-made, with some excellent features to elevate the cooking experience, such as the temperature gauge, side burner and porcelain-coated iron grills.

It allows you to create tasty, juicy food with ease, is simple to clean and uncomplicated to manoeuvre thanks to the handy wheels (and brakes to keep it in place).

While mostly straightforward to put together, it does take time, but thankfully, you only need to do it once. Utensil hooks and an included cover would've been a great addition, but both of these things can be bought separately.

All in all, the Char-Broil Gas2Coal® 2.0 hybrid grill is an excellent piece of kit that I'm sure will deliver longevity, quality, and dependability. It's ideal for those who grill frequently and will get value for their money.

Rating: 4.5/5

How we tested the Char-Broil Gas2Coal® 2.0 hybrid grill

I tested the Char-Broil Gas2Coal® 2.0 hybrid grill over a period of several months in 2024, once for a large gathering of over 50 people and then on various occasions for quick weeknight grilling for two and cooking for four or more on the weekends.

Other items to consider:

What to read next:

Best BBQ brands for grill completists
Best hybrid BBQs under £500 to grill like a pro this summer
The best charcoal BBQs to turn up the heat and flavour

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Jade Moscrop is one of the Commercial Content Editors at Bauer Media, who occasionally contributes to Modern Gardens. When she isn't writing about lifestyle topics, she can usually be found tending to her ever-expanding collection of houseplants, attempting DIY and upcycling projects, out and about on adventures, or what her husband has lovingly dubbed ‘mosh-dancing’ at a gig.