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.
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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.
- Model:LEX/Mirage 485RB
- Item Price:$ 999.00
- Made in USA:no
- Review Method:Looked Closely At It
We have seen this product up close and we have also gathered info from the manufacturer, owners, and other reliable sources. - Primary Function:Grill, Drop Ins
- Burner Type:Rotisserie
- Fuel:Propane Gas, Natural Gas Capable
- BTU:48,000
- Heat Flux:118.52
Heat Flux is the BTU per square inch and is a more useful measure of how much heat a grill delivers than BTU alone. - Main Burners:3
- Primary Capacity:405 square inches
Mid-Size (about 20 burgers) - Secondary Capacity:165 square inches
Napoleon
Napoleon is a Canadian company that manufactures a wide variety of grills, smokers, accessories and books. They started in 1976 as a small steel fabrication company in Ontario, Canada, then branched out into making fireplaces and grills. Although Napoleon sightings are rare south of the Canadian border, they produce quality products and are essentially Canada’s answer to Weber. In fact it’s hard not to draw comparisons between Napoleon and Weber, even their logo and website are similar. But Napoleon comes up with just enough distinctive ideas to make them a viable contender.
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Published On: 12/13/2012 Last Modified: 2/15/2021
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