Napoleon Grills Worth Watching: Gas and Charcoal Models Compared

Best for
Compact patios and first gas grills

The Napoleon Freestyle 365 3-Burner Propane Grill is the entry point to Napoleon gas grilling. It runs three stainless steel tube burners with 33,000 BTUs across 365 square inches of total grilling area. Napoleon’s porcelainized cast iron grids provide even heat and distinct sear marks, and the JETFIRE ignition fires a jet of flame at each main burner individually for quick starts.

The ACCUPROBE temperature gauge on the lid helps you hold a target temperature, and the description mentions rugged wheels and fold-down side shelves with tool hangers and a bottle opener. Its footprint is 48.75 inches wide with shelves, noticeably narrower than the Rogue carts.

This suits hosts cooking for a small group who want solid grilling without extras. It gives way to the Rogue PRO-S 425 if you want an infrared side burner or rotisserie, neither of which the Freestyle listing mentions.

• 3 burners, 33,000 BTUs
• Cast iron cooking grids
• JETFIRE ignition and ACCUPROBE gauge

Best for
Big game-day crowds on natural gas

The Napoleon Rogue PRO 625 5-Burner Natural gas grill is the big-crowd pick. The feature list gives five main burners over a 34 3/4 by 18 inch main cooking area, the largest in this group, plus an infrared side sear station for steakhouse-style crusts, sauces and sides. Be aware of a conflict: the description mentions three bottom burners while the title and features say five. The spec sheet lists six heating elements, which fits five main burners plus the side burner.

It has a black porcelain enamel lid and doors with a powder-coated control panel and side shelves meant to hide fingerprints. White LED backlit knobs make night grilling easier, and the reversible porcelainized cast iron WAVE grids let you choose sear mark size. The description notes battery-free ignition and a stainless steel warming rack. It is a large unit at 66 inches wide and 160 pounds, and it needs a natural gas line.

This is the model for hosts cooking burgers, wings and steaks at the same time. For smaller groups, the PRO-S 425 offers more features per square inch.

Best for
Natural gas homes wanting full features

Best for
Propane users wanting rotisserie and sear

The Napoleon Rogue PRO-S 425 3-Burner Propane grill packs more cooking methods into a mid-size frame. It has three main burners over a 23 1/4 by 18 inch main area, an infrared side sear station and an infrared rear rotisserie burner for spit roasting. The body is rust-resistant stainless steel.

The iconic WAVE-shaped cooking grids help with even heating and stop food falling through, and dual-level stainless steel sear plates vaporize drippings to keep the grill cleaner. A stainless steel warming rack adds space for appetizers, and the SafetyGlow knobs light red when a burner is on. The listing notes 120 volts and a folding side table.

This suits propane owners who want to sear, grill and roast chicken on a spit. If you have a natural gas line, the natural gas version below is the same grill set up for that fuel.

• Infrared rear rotisserie burner
• Infrared side sear station
• Stainless steel construction

Best for
Charcoal fans who want rotisserie options

The Napoleon PRO18 Compact Charcoal Kettle Grill, model PRO18K-LEG, is the more versatile of the two kettles. It offers a 17.5-inch grid and 240 square inches of cooking area. The features describe hinged cast iron grids that can sit at three heights, though the title mentions a chrome-plated cooking grid, so check what ships with your unit.

The conical Vortex Heat Management System improves convection for searing, smoking and fuel efficiency while steering ash into the ash bucket. A Smoke Stack Chimney shields the top vent from wind and rain, and bottom air inlets work separately from the ash bucket for finer control. The stainless steel extension ring adds doors for a spit rod and temperature probes, making it rotisserie ready, and the offset hinged lid gives full access to the cooking surface.

This suits charcoal fans who want to experiment with height, smoke and rotisserie. Those who want a simpler kettle with an integrated gauge should look at the NK18. If portability matters more, our portable charcoal grill guide covers smaller options.

The Napoleon Rogue PRO-S 425 Natural Gas grill matches the propane PRO-S 425 feature for feature but runs on a natural gas line. That means three main burners across a 23 1/4 by 18 inch main area, an infrared rear rotisserie burner, an infrared side sear station, WAVE grids, dual-level sear plates, a warming rack and SafetyGlow knobs in a stainless steel body.

The title calls it a 5-burner grill, which counts the three main burners plus the rear and side infrared burners. The footprint is the same 55 inches wide. With natural gas, you never swap a tank mid-cook, which is a real advantage for long rotisserie sessions.

Choose it if your home already has a gas line at the patio. Without one, the propane version gives the same cooking tools.

• Runs on natural gas
• Rear and side infrared burners
• WAVE cooking grids and sear plates

Best for
Low-maintenance charcoal kettle cooking

The Napoleon NK18 Premium Charcoal Kettle Grill, model NK18K-LEG, shares the 17.5-inch grid and 240 square inch area with the PRO18 but leans toward easy upkeep. Its features describe stainless steel grids that heat quickly and need little maintenance, hinged for adding charcoal, refilling water pans or adding wood. The title mentions a chrome-plated grid, so the listing is inconsistent on grid material.

It keeps the Vortex system and bottom air inlets, hides its stainless steel top vent under the Stay Cool handle and adds an integrated temperature gauge. The porcelain-enameled lid and bowl resist weather and retain heat. The listing does not mention a rotisserie ring or adjustable grid heights, which are the PRO18’s main advantages.

This suits charcoal cooks who want a straightforward kettle. For a comparison with pellet cooking, see our portable pellet grill roundup.