Napoleon LEX/Mirage 485RB Gas Grill Review

Napoleon is renaming Mirage to LEX worldwide and keeping Mirage in the description during the transition. The LEX/Mirage 485RB 3-Burner Gas Grill is a sweet looking cooker, built solid with a few nice extras thrown in. Stainless steel construction all around including the main tube burners, “sear plates” aka heat tents and Napoleon’s characteristic Wave Cooking Grids pictured below.

LP and NG models of the 485RB may be purchased freestanding on a double door cart or as a drop-in for installation. Burner output is 16,000 BTU each and a 13,500 BTU ceramic IR backburner is included, although the rotisserie kit is optional. Jetfire ignition at each control knob makes start-up a snap and each knob is backlit.

A double walled hood aids heat retention. Two side shelves include wrap around condiment trays and tool hooks. A slide out drip pan funnels into a disposable aluminum foil catch tray that is accessible from the front of the cart.

An optional cast iron smoker/charcoal tray (above) promises to turn one side of the firebox into a charcoal grill with the possibility of doing a little smoking as well. Just remove one of the grates, rest the charcoal tray on the sear plates and ignite with the burner. We have to wonder how effective this device is, given the different requirements for air flow between charcoal and gas, but it certainly looks good and we’ve only seen this type of feature on a few luxury BBQ gas grills.

Optional cabinets that fit under the side shelves and a sink on a cart are available. The warranty is good, but just a little stingy, covering much of the body and SS burners for as long as you own the grill, but then charging you 50% on all of the above after five years.

Available at some big box stores in the USA, you can also get Napoleon on line and at a limited number of independent dealers.