Top 10 Best Riding Mowers of 2022 – Reviews

A common question that homeowners ask is: Which lawnmower is right for my mowing needs, a riding mower or a push powered one? While different people will have different needs when it comes to their lawn tools equipment, the best riding mower can provide a lot of benefits to just about any homeowner, especially those with medium-sized or larger yards. The best riding mower will make short work out of yards larger than an acre, is good for extremely damp or thick grass and is also good for areas that have a lot of brush. So if any of these circumstances apply to you, then you might want to look at the following list of the best riding lawnmowers that are currently available.

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Best Riding Mowers – Top List

10. Swisher 60-Inch Zero Turn ZT2760B

While this lawnmower has a number of features which make it useful for large yards, it also has a couple of things which prevent it from getting higher on this list. It has a tough 60-inch 11-gauge welded steel cutting deck that gives the cutting width necessary to get the job done. This device also has a 27-HP Briggs & Stratton V-Twin motor that’s equipped with electric start and has an electric PTO Clutch. Other features built-into this lawn cutting tool include a manual spring-assisted deck lift, an eight-gallon gas capacity, a cutting height that can be adjusted from 1.5-inches to 5-inches and three mulching blades. Unfortunately, it also doesn’t meet the standards to be sold in California.

 

9. Yard Machines 190cc 24-Inch (13A326JC700)

While this mower isn’t the biggest one available, it has more than enough power to get most jobs done with ease. It has a 24-inch steel cutting deck that has a one blade design that can efficiently cut through blades of grass. This model also has a manual 6-speed transmission, and a 190cc OHV Briggs & Stratton motor. It’s a very light mower that isn’t suitable for any type of terrain other than completely flat ground but it is one that’s capable of handling basic lawn cutting quite nicely. This unit also doesn’t have the ability to mulch grass like other mowers do.

 

8. Poulan Pro 46-Inch PB20VA46

A part of Poulan’s Professional line of products, this Polan Pro mower is equipped with a number of features which make it useful for all different types of yard sizes and terrain types. It has a powerful 20-HP V-Twin Briggs & Stratton engine, a 46-inch reinforced steel cutting deck, 20-inch back wheels and 15-inch front wheels, and a 2.5-gallon fuel tank. This mower also has a 13-inch mid-back seat, a 16-inch turn radius, an auto transmission and a cast iron front axle. All of the features combined to ensure that the rider has the best lawn cutting experience possible.

 

7. Poulan Pro P46ZX Zero Turn

This zero turn mower gives riders the ability to get their lawn cut quickly and precisely. It has a powerful 22-HP Briggs & Stratton V-Twin professional engine, a 46-inch stamped steel reinforced deck, an electric clutch, a hydro gear EZT transmission and a 15-inch high back seat that’s designed for the user’s comfort. This mower has 6-cutting heights from 1.5-inches to 4-inches, has a welded frame and durable caster wheels. This mower is ideal for cutting medium to large sized yards and is easy enough to use by just about anyone.

 

6. Poulan Pro 42-Inch Lawnmower (960420182)

This lawnmower is not only designed to be a powerful tool in the never-ending battle of grass cutting but is also designed to be quite agile as well. It has a 42-inch reinforced and vented deck that not only cuts the grass efficiently but allows air to keep moving underneath the deck as it cuts. This model also has a 155-HP Briggs & Stratton single-cylinder OHV engine, 6-different cutting positions, an oscillating front axle with a 6-inch turn radius and an automatic hydrostatic transmission. All of which makes this unit an ideal mower for medium to large sized yards.

 

5. Poulan Pro 48-Inch Front Engine Mower (960420188)

Designed and manufactured to provide power, durability, and traction, this front-engine mower is sure to a be a useful tool in just about any amateur or professional lawn care enthusiast. It has a 22-HP Briggs & Stratton engine that’s fitted with an auto-choke starting system that allows it to start easily with no priming required and a fast CVT automatic transmission that can attain higher ground speeds so the rider can get the lawn cutting done quickly. Its best feature, however, has to be its 48-inch cutting deck that gets any lawn care job done quicker.

 

4. Troy-Bilt 30-Inch Premium Neighborhood Mower

While this mower isn’t big and impressive as some of the other mower models currently available, it does have the design features to do a great job on medium sized yards that have fairly level terrain. Designed with a powerful 382cc OHV engine with a top forward speed of 4.25 miles per hour and a 6-speed transmission, this model moves around yards quite effectively. This unit also has a 30-inch cutting deck and has five adjustable cutting height adjustment settings. Other features which can be found on this mower include 16-inch rear wheels, 13-inch front wheels and an 18-inch turning radius.

 

3. Poulan Pro 20-HP 46-Inch (960420188)

This lawnmower features a 20-HP Briggs & Stratton OHV engine that is equipped with a pressurized lubrication system that ensures that oil is delivered to critical parts of the engines all the time without delays. This results in a better and longer lasting engine that’s sure to provide many years of service to the homeowner. It also features a 46-inch cutting deck and has a 6-inch turning radius. The last feature to speak of is its automatic fast transmission which allows the mower to travel approximately 5 to 7 miles per hour.

 

2. Troy-Bilt 540cc Lawnmower

Powered by a reliable 19-HP 540cc Briggs & Stratton motor, equipped with a mid-back seat and featuring a soft-touch steering wheel, this lawnmower is the best combination of power and features. It has a 46-inch side discharge mowing deck that is capable of mowing in reverse, a manual power takes off, and a single cylinder auto transmission. All in a unit with a step-thru frame and a deck wash system that makes this model easy to use. It also allows the user to set cutting height to five different cutting positions, so the lawn can always be cut according to the user’s preferences.

 

1. Cub Cadet XT1 Enduro Series

This mower has many of the features that homeowners look for when they look for a ride-on mower. It has a 42-inch cutting deck, which is big enough for all but the largest yards and has a powerful 18-HP engine that makes short work of any mowing job. It can be quickly assembled by the user in about 3-hours and once up and running drives nice and steady. All things considered, it’s a model that can make short work of a variety of jobs and should be a useful tool for just about any homeowner. It even has the power and maneuverability to handle uneven yards.

 

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The Ultimate Riding Mower Guide

Although not everyone indeed needs to use a riding mower to keep their lawn looking good, it’s just about a necessity for anyone with a yard of ¾ of an acre or larger. It’s just too much of a pain to try to cut large yards using only a push mower. It’s also a terrible waste of time considering that the average riding mower will a patch of grass 4 to 5 times faster than a push mower. So, if you have a large yard, a riding mower is the tool you’re going to want to own.

Unfortunately, buying a riding lawn mower isn’t as straight forward as using one. And that’s why we’ve decided to write this definitive guide on buying the best riding mower. In this guide, we’re going to show you everything that you need to look for when you’re buying a new riding mower so that you can rest assured it will cut your lawn the way you expect it to be cut. We’re also going to give a few tips that will help current riding mower owners get the most out of their machines. So let’s not waste any more time, let’s jump ride into the thick of things and find you a new mower.

Choose The Correct Cutting Width

Riding mowers come in all different sizes, with some having cutting widths of only 30-inches and other having cutting widths over 60-inches. Since the cutting width will greatly influence how long it will take for you to cut your cut, it’s important to choose one that’s is large enough to cut your lawn efficiently. On the other hand, you also want to make sure that you don’t get a mower with more of a cutting width than you need because then you’re just paying extra for nothing. Below are some guidelines for choosing a cutting width according to your lawn size, so that you don’t end up with a riding mower that’s too small or too large.

  • 3/4-Acre to 1-Acre plots need a mower with a 30-inch to 42-inch cutting width.
  • 1-Acre to 2-Acre plots need a mower with a 42-inch to 52-inch cutting width.
  • 2-Acre to 3-Acre plots need a mower with a 50-inch to 54-inch cutting width.
  • 3-Acre to 4-Acre plots need a mower with a 54-inch to 60-inch cutting width.
  • 5-Acres or more need a mower with at least a 60-inch cutting width.

Riding Lawn Mower Transmissions

Just like you’ll see different cutting widths for different riding mowers, you’ll also see different models with different transmissions. Although all of the standard transmissions on mower riding mower are pretty good, there are a few things a person should think about before they decide on one. Let’s take a quick look at them.

Manual Transmissions

Manual transmissions are pretty common on riding mowers because they’re one of the more reliable transmissions available and because they’re also one of the cheaper ones to put on a mower. Although using one does require a little bit more work, then using an automatic transmission, it’s generally not too bad to operate. If you do decide on a manual transmission, try to get one that allows for up or down-shifting without having to use a clutch. That makes the mower a lot easier to operate.

Automatic Transmissions

Automatic transmissions in riding mowers work the same way as they do in automatic vehicles. The mower takes care of the shifting, and all you have to worry about is controlling a single stick and controlling the speed of the mower using the gas pedal. That makes these transmissions extremely easy to operate, especially when working around obstacles or making tight turns.

Hydrostatic Transmissions

Hydrostatic transmissions are some of the most efficient and best transmissions to be found on riding mowers. As a consequence of them being the best, they often contribute a good deal to the end price-tag of the mower. However, if a person can afford a mower with a hydrostatic transmission, they should consider getting one. That’s because these transmissions offer a smooth ride and require less maintenance than automatic or manual transmissions.

Riding, Garden Or Zero-Turn Mowers?

Generally speaking, standard riding mowers are cheaper than Garden or ZTR mowers, but they do have the benefit of being easy to use. However, if a person needs a little bit more power, then they might want to step up to a Garden Tractor, which is a mower suitable for mowing several acres and navigating different types of terrain. If you need to be able to navigate around obstacles such as trees or posts, then you might want to upgrade even further by using a Zero Turn Mower. No matter what type of mower you buy, however, there’s one thing that’s vitally important: You have to take care of it to keep it in tip-top condition. And that’s why we’re going to cover a few maintenance tips that apply to every type of mower available in the next section below.

Keeping Your Riding Mower In Good Condition

Now that you know how to buy the best riding mower, it’s time to turn our attention to keeping that mower running efficiently for as long as possible. To keep the mower running season after season, the operator must take good care of it. Below are some tips that will help you keep your riding mower running this season and for the many grass-cutting seasons to come. Practicing the following tips will also greatly improve the performance of your riding mower.

  • Read The Owner’s Manual
  • Drain The Gas After Each Season
  • Always Add Fresh Gas At The Start Of The Season
  • Keep The Proper Amount Of Oil In It
  • Keep The Undercarriage Cleaned Out
  • Keep The Air Filter Clean
  • Sharpen The Blade Every Season
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