Making the cut: The best gas-powered lawn mowers

Making the cut: Best gas-powered lawn mowers Consumer Reports put more than 80 gas-powered mowers to the test. Ross McLaughlin looks at which ones made the cut.

With the summer gardening season in full swing, Consumer Reports put dozens of lawn mowers to the test to see which ones make the cut.

Consumer Reports tested 81 gas-powered lawn mowers over kilometres of grass at its Florida testing facility. They found that the Honda mowers worked the best, regardless of price.

Honda’s HRX mowers come with varying speeds, good cutting ability, and handling. Honda’s self-propelled mowers also performed well in Consumer Reports testing.

For those on a budget, Consumer Reports suggests looking for a low-priced Husqvarna mower from Lowe’s since they cut the grass evenly and have good handling. The cheaper models are generally just basic push mowers. The lower priced machines have the same cutting deck and blades as the more expensive models. Mowers that cost less than $300 did not do well and were found to have poor cutting ability.

The Toro Recycler Smart Stow was a Consumer Reports Best Buy at $550. The mower is self-propelled with varying speeds, and since it folds, it can be stored standing upright. Toro mowers are available at Home Depot.

For those looking for a more environmentally-friendly option, Consumer Reports found some battery-powered cordless mower options. The brand Ego makes several, but the one that performed the best, the Ego LM2102, costs about $850.