Westwood Series: Affordable Premium Pellet Grills

Traeger has introduced the Westwood series, a new line of smart pellet grills designed to be a more budget-friendly entry point into the brand’s ecosystem. The series focuses on providing basic pellet grill functionality and wood-fired flavor while utilizing a simplified design and a lower price point compared to the company’s more expensive models.

The Westwood series is available in two sizes: the standard Westwood and the Westwood XL. The standard model is priced at $699.99 and provides a cooking area of 653 square inches. The Westwood XL is priced at $799.99 and offers a larger cooking area of 823 square inches.

Technical Specifications and Hardware

The Westwood series features a streamlined hardware approach. The grills utilize a button-based interface for the controller, replacing the knobs found on higher-end models. These buttons allow users to increase or decrease temperatures and manage ignition.

For fuel storage, the side-mounted hopper has a capacity of 18 pounds of pellets. The physical design includes shelves located on the left side of the unit and underneath the cooking chamber. Internally, the grills employ a two-tier grate setup.

Temperature control ranges from 180 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, enabling various cooking methods including low-and-slow smoking, roasting, and grilling. The series also includes a front rail compatible with Traeger’s Pop and Lock accessories, such as a folding front shelf.

Connectivity and Smart Features

Despite the lower price point, the Westwood series maintains Wi-Fi connectivity through WiFIRE technology. This allows users to monitor their cooks and manage the grill from a smartphone via the Traeger app, adhering to the company’s Set-It & Forget-It® philosophy.

The grills support both wired and wireless food probes. However, there is a hardware limitation regarding wired connectivity; the Westwood only supports one wired food probe.

Market Positioning and Trade-offs

The Westwood series follows the release of the Woodridge line, which was also intended to be a more affordable option. The Westwood further simplifies the user experience and design to reach the $700 and $800 price brackets.

To achieve this pricing, several premium features found in more expensive Traeger models are absent. There is no mention of Super Smoke or Keep Warm modes in the specifications for the Westwood series.

• Standard Westwood: $699.99, 653 sq in cooking area
• Westwood XL: $799.99, 823 sq in cooking area
• Hopper Capacity: 18 pounds of pellets
• Temperature Range: 180-450 degrees Fahrenheit
• Connectivity: WiFIRE technology with app integration

The product is subject to California Proposition 65 warnings, noting potential exposure to chemicals including diisononyl phthalate and carbon monoxide, a byproduct of combustion.