The Top 5 Best Honda Lawn Mowers for a Perfectly Manicured Lawn

The sound of lawn mowers revving up is synonymous with summer. Maintaining a neat and manicured lawn is made easier with a high-quality mower, and achieving a sharp, clean cut is essential for the overall health of the grass. As a result, Honda lawn mowers are highly sought after by home landscapers. Honda Power Equipment produces several exceptional walk-behind lawn mowers, all designed to reduce mowing time and leave the lawn looking pristine. In this article, we will explore what to consider when shopping for the best Honda lawn mower and highlight the models that are best suited for different turf-trimming needs.

CALIFORNIA TRIMMER

This is a classic reel mower that has been enhanced with an engine to make lawn maintenance easier on your back.

Pros:

Produces a clean and precise cut 

Self-propelled 

Features 7 blades 

Cons:

Challenging to use on slopes 

May create ruts in soft soil 

What We Like: The California Trimmer combines the exceptional grass-cutting abilities of a reel mower with the convenience of an engine to take care of the hard work for you. Reel mowers are favored by many landscaping professionals for their ability to trim grass with precision and leave no blades out of place. The addition of a Honda engine and self-propulsion feature makes this reel mower a superior choice that requires less effort. With this mower, you can achieve a well-manicured lawn without the need to manually push it around your yard.

Reel mowers have been the go-to tool for landscaping pros for decades, and for good reason. They cut grass like a pair of sharp scissors, rather than tearing or shredding it like other mowers, resulting in a beautiful lawn every time.

Who Should Buy It: If you’re passionate about your lawn and dream of frolicking in a yard that rivals a golf course in terms of perfection, then this reel mower is for you. And if you’re responsible for maintaining a golf course, this machine is a must-have to keep your tees in top condition.

Honda HRS216-VKA Self Propelled

For those seeking an entry-level Honda lawn mower, the HRS216-VKA is the top pick. It is both affordable and ideal for new homeowners who prefer not to bag their grass clippings. This lawn mower is designed for side discharge and mulching only. If you do require bagging capabilities, you may want to consider the HRN series lawnmower. Honda offers two models of the HRS entry-level mowers, with the main difference being push versus self-propelled. We highly recommend the self-propelled option, as it makes mowing quicker and requires less effort. For only $30 more, it’s definitely worth the investment. The HRS216-VKA embodies all the expected features of a Honda mower, with the exception of bagging, and is an ideal choice for first-time mower buyers.

EGO LM2102SP POWER+ 21-Inch Cordless Self-Propelled Mower

Pros:

– Variable speed self-propel feature

– Long battery runtime

– Quick recharging time

– Can be easily folded for compact storage

Cons:

– Majority of components are made of plastic

– May struggle with extremely tall grass

Claiming the top spot on our list is a battery-powered lawn mower from EGO that delivers the same power as a gas mower, minus the unpleasant fumes, oil changes, and frustrating pull cord. Its 56-volt, 7.5-Ah battery provides up to 60 minutes of runtime on a single charge, making it ideal for mowing lawns up to half an acre in size. With just a simple press of a button, this mower comes to life. It boasts a 21-inch cutting deck and a one-hand lever for adjusting the cutting heights through six different settings, ranging from 1.5 to 4 inches. It can easily handle all types of lawn grass, including tougher varieties like Bermudagrass, zoysia, and St. Augustine. However, some users have reported difficulty in cutting overly tall grass evenly.

The mower’s speed is adjustable, ranging from a leisurely 0.9 mph to a brisk 3.1 mph, and the handle can be adjusted to fit your height for added comfort. It can be guided across your lawn, whether flat or slightly sloped, without requiring any hard pushing or sweating on your part. Additionally, it comes equipped with an LED headlight, allowing you to mow early in the morning or at dusk when temperatures are cooler. You can dispose of the grass clippings in the included 2-bushel bag, discharge them to the side, or mulch them into fine clippings that quickly decompose back into nutrients for your lawn.

Thanks to its 9-inch rear wheels and rear-wheel drive, the lawn mower is easy to maneuver around obstacles and across your lawn. It can handle slopes of up to 15 degrees, but it’s not recommended to mow wet grass or soggy ground. Although most of the mower’s construction is made of heavy-duty plastic for weather and rust resistance, it may not be as durable as steel.

When you’re finished mowing, the handle can be folded all the way down for easy storage. The mower comes with a 56-volt battery and a quick charger that can fully charge the battery in just an hour.

Toro SmartStow Recycler 20340

The Toro SmartStow Recycler 20340 is a reliable and popular self-propelled mower that is comparable to other decent options. What sets it apart is its unique ability to be stored upright, which saves valuable garage space. At a lower price point of approximately $450, the Toro offers intuitive self-propulsion and excellent mulching performance, making it a great value option. However, it does not have the gas-free convenience of the Ego or the superior cut quality of the Honda. Nonetheless, we recommend the Toro for those seeking a quality self-propelled mower at an affordable price point with the added benefit of space-saving storage.

Snapper XD 882V

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages:

– Self-propelled

– Includes bagger

– Runs for up to 90 minutes

– Intelligent mowing technology

Disadvantages:

– No blade stop system

– Non-adjustable push handle

More details:

– Cutting width: 21 inches

– Power source: 82V battery

– Self-propelled: Yes

– Bagger included: Yes

– Variable speed: Yes

The Snapper 82V electric push mower is an excellent choice for professional landscapers. It comes with two rechargeable batteries and a charging station, ensuring you always have a backup power source ready to go. With a fully charged battery, you can mow lawns up to half an acre for up to 90 minutes. Additionally, the brushless motor and rear-wheel drive shaft allow you to control the mower’s speed, making it easier to match your natural walking pace for safer operation.

The 21-inch cutting deck has seven different height settings and uses load-sensing technology to adjust power levels while mowing tall or thick grass, maximizing efficiency. You can also use the 1.7-bushel bagger attachment to collect trimmings for easier cleanup or convert the cutting deck into a mulching machine to re-feed the lawn with ultra-fine cuttings. Additionally, the push-button start eliminates the need for frustrating rip cords.

Unfortunately, this mower does not have a blade stop system or an adjustable push handle. However, it is covered by a five-year warranty, providing peace of mind for professional landscapers who need a mower that can last season after season.

What To Look For In A LaThere are a lot of factors to consider when searching for a lawn mower. Keep these in mind during your hunt.

When it comes to choosing a lawn mower, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Everyone’s needs are different, and it’s important to consider the following factors when making your decision:

1. Cordless Push Mower: This is a great option for smaller lots and regular grass cutting. However, it may struggle with taller grass.

2. Ride-On Mower: Ideal for larger lots, time constraints, and physical limitations. They have a wider deck and cut faster than push mowers.

3. Plug-In Mower: This option is best for people with smaller lawns. They are not as popular as they used to be, but they are still a good option for city lots or quarter-acre lawns.

4. Gas Mower: These mowers allow for longer periods of mowing than battery-powered options. However, you need to remember to refuel.

5. Battery-Powered Mower: These mowers are a good option for those who prefer not to use gas or deal with fumes. They can be more economical in the long run.

6. Robot Mower: If you want a hands-off experience and have the budget for it, a robot mower can be a good choice. However, they don’t work well around obstacles or debris.

Other factors to consider when choosing a lawn mower include cutting options, deck size, and drive type. Personal preference will dictate whether you prefer to discharge clippings, mulch or bag them. Deck size depends on the size and terrain of your yard, while drive type depends on your personal needs.

FAQs

PM: Are battery or gas-powered mowers better?

RB: It depends on your needs. If you have a fairly small yard or even a larger (up to half an acre) yard that’s relatively flat, either should be fine. Battery mowers lose ground to their gas counterparts mostly in terms of actions that cause excess draw on the battery, such as mowing through heavy, thick grass, or when self-propelling up steep inclines.

Even then, the biggest issue most users will run into is that the battery runs down faster. If you have an extra battery on hand or don’t mind waiting while your one battery recharges, you should be OK. Battery mowers also tend to be quieter in operation and easier to maintain. With gas mowers, you have to make sure to perform easy, seasonal maintenance to keep their engines in top condition.

Batteries for electric mowers can be expensive, however. Whether you want to buy an extra just to have on hand or you need to replace the one that came with your machine, you may want to figure that cost into your long-term budgeting for the mower. How much gasoline can you buy for a gas mower before you’d spend as much on the cost of a replacement battery? In all likelihood, probably multiple years-worth.

PM: What do I need to do to keep my mower running well?

RB: More maintenance is required of gas-powered mowers than battery ones, but none of it is particularly expensive or labor-intensive. Making sure to change the oil at least once per season is one of the best things you can do to keep the engine running strong. Another is replacing the air filter each season.

Finally, avoid letting untreated fuel sit in the mower for long periods of time, such as storage over the winter months. It’s a good idea to add fuel stabilizer to the gas that you put in your mower, as most gas contains ethanol, an alcohol additive that breaks down over time and can clog the carburetor, which will cause the engine to run poorly.

For either gas or battery-powered mowers, it’s important to keep the underside of the deck clean. Grass can build up in the crevices under the deck, which can ultimately make the mower less effective at cutting and put extra strain on the motor. It’s easy to keep clean—just flip the mower on its side (for gas mowers, always tip the mower carburetor/air filter-side up, oil-spout-side down) and scrape the deck with a small putty knife to get rid of any large clumps.

The other thing you should do to optimize mower performance is keep the blade sharp. This is something you can do yourself with a file or angle grinder, or you can take your blade to a hardware store where they may be able to do this for you for a nominal cost. If your blade becomes severely pitted, damaged, or bent, we recommend replacing it. A dull or damaged blade will lead to damaged and diseased grass.