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Coleman RoadTrip LXE Review

A good, sturdy and reliable grill with tons of cooking space; it'll roll easily to your picnic or tailgate area
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coleman roadtrip lxe portable grill review
Credit: Amazon
Price:  $250 List
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Manufacturer:   Coleman
By Jediah Porter ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Apr 18, 2019
71
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Output Power - 25% 9.0
  • Control - 25% 7.0
  • Portability - 20% 4.0
  • Cooking Area - 20% 8.0
  • Wind Resistance - 10% 7.0

Our Verdict

The Coleman RoadTrip LXE grill has been discontinued as of 2019.
REASONS TO BUY
Dependable
Two burners
Thermometer
Large grilling area
High BTU output
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy
Difficult to clean
Rattly
The Coleman RoadTrip LXE starts easily, heats up fast and hot, has a large 285 square inch grilling surface, two independent burners, and a thermometer. The LXE is predictable and flexible. It starts every time, has clear high, medium, and low settings and is just as comfortable on an apartment or condo patio as it is in the trunk on the way to a tailgate party, lakeside or campsite. It's not as easy to transport as smaller options but it is more sturdy and durable, has a larger cooking area, and a much higher BTU output. The RoadTrip LXE is a pretty sweet and versatile product for tailgating and for use in a small apartment with a patio. It is largely reliable and doesn't have any quirky attributes and grills. It's great for RVing, picnicking, and beach day excursions. It could also be a great addition to your apartment or condo patio. While researching this product and working with a diverse review team, we discovered that many people prefer it in the backyard over their giant backyard patio grill. If you do plan on or find yourself using this product on a very regular basis, we recommend buying a three or five-gallon propane tank and adapter hose.

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Coleman LXE approximates the size and power of your home grill, in a form factor that is portable in certain situations.

Performance Comparison


coleman roadtrip lxe portable grill review - even in cold and dreary weather, the coleman puts out enough heat to...
Even in cold and dreary weather, the Coleman puts out enough heat to cook whatever you might want.
Credit: Jediah Porter

Output Power


The LXE puts out an impressive claimed 20,000 BTU's which is the highest amount of heat output of all the products tested. Our anecdotal testing suggests that this otherwise unconfirmed BTU rating is a little generous. Regardless of the actual BTU rating, the Coleman produces all the heat any of our testers needed. It doesn't run overly hot, and it doesn't gobble up a lot of fuel. The temperature is easy to control, and the fuel output is smooth and consistent. The option to run just one burner can save fuel and cool things down when necessary.

Control


The PerfectFlow technology and built-in thermometer allow consistent regulation of the temperature. The dual, round burner heads beneath a somewhat rectangular grilling surface provide space to separate foods requiring the hottest heat from those that require less intensity.

The LXE has two burners, which makes it easy and fuel-efficient to turn off one burner if you only have a small amount of food to cook.

coleman roadtrip lxe portable grill review - for cooking two different types of food, the dual burners of the lxe...
For cooking two different types of food, the dual burners of the LXE excel.
Credit: Rosie De Lise

Portability


At 43 pounds, the LXE is one of the heaviest contenders we tested. The wheels make it a little more manageable. If you have a high truck bed or large trunk, you might consider enlisting a second set of hands for the lift. This grill is easy to move from place to place in the folded position (think rolling from car to picnic site) or even in the upright standing position (think from one side of your patio to the other). Do take caution when attempting to lift it from its folded position to the upright standing position without first reading the directions. The lid locks easily and securely.

coleman roadtrip lxe portable grill review - we all dig the side extensions on the roadtrip. for bbq...
We all dig the side extensions on the RoadTrip. For bbq organization, the LXE also includes hooks for holding grill utensils at the ready.
Credit: Rosie De Lise


coleman roadtrip lxe portable grill review - hooks underneath the right side of the grill that the top end of the...
Hooks underneath the right side of the grill that the top end of the wheel side of the cart needs to be taken out of in order to collapse it to the folded position.
Credit: Valentine Cullen

The Coleman stand is very convenient, especially if there is not a picnic table or sufficient surface available. Once unloaded the wheels do make it easy to roll to your desired cooking area and it's nice not to have to carry it from car to picnic table. It does make a lot of noise when rolling over uneven surfaces. Don't forget to take out the grease trap before collapsing and transporting this or any of the products we tested.

Cooking Area


The porcelain-coated cast-iron cooking grates are easy and nice to cook on. It doesn't necessarily need to be cleaned immediately after every time you grill. Before grilling the next time just heat it on high and scrape it with a grill brush. If you choose this option though, realize that the compartment underneath the grate must be cleaned out on a regular basis. How often depends on how much you use it. The LXE has three handy hooks placed right in front to hang your grilling tools from.
coleman roadtrip lxe portable grill review - the removable, non-stick grate of the coleman is easy to clean...
The removable, non-stick grate of the Coleman is easy to clean, provided you don't damage the coating.
Credit: Rosie De Lise

You can also purchase a griddle for this product separately to cover one or both sides. While we didn't test this in person, we read a lot of favorable reviews about the Swaptop interchangeable griddle cooktops while researching for this review.

coleman roadtrip lxe portable grill review - need a ton of grill space? this is a great option.
Need a ton of grill space? This is a great option.
Credit: Valentine Cullen

Wind Resistance


This product had no trouble handling winds that were strong enough to lift up a patio umbrella that still had a massive base attached.

coleman roadtrip lxe portable grill review - the tight-sealing lid and high powered burners work together to make...
The tight-sealing lid and high powered burners work together to make the LXE work well even in a cold wind.
Credit: Rosie De Lise

coleman roadtrip lxe portable grill review - the coleman will use disposable containers or large portable propane...
The Coleman will use disposable containers or large portable propane tanks.
Credit: Rosie De Lise

Value


The LXE is one of the most expensive grills we tested. You get what you pay for, and the LXE doesn't skimp on quality. It has a high BTU output, grills quickly and evenly and it has some nice features like the built-in thermometer, grill tool hooks, and pull-out side trays.

Conclusion


The RoadTrip LXE is a great grill. It starts easily every time, heats up fast and hot and grills evenly. We loved the dual burners with independent controls and the built-in thermometer. The LXE is a sturdy, well-built product that is easy to use and very reliable. If you'll be moving it around a lot, though, beware that it's pretty heavy. The grilling surface is solid in the middle and features a grate around the outsides, so it's more of a griddle in the middle and a grill around the perimeter. At 285 sq in, it grills a fair amount of food. If you're cooking for 10+ persons, stick to your ginormous sized backyard grill. If you're cooking for 4-6 people, you'll do just fine with the LXE.

Jediah Porter