8 Best Zero-Turn Lawn Mowers of 2023 Reviews. Zero radius lawn mowers
Best Zero-Turn Lawn Mowers of 2023 [Reviews]
Zero-turn mowers are the most efficient style of lawn mower available today — they’re fast and maneuverable, make short work of large lawns, and they are trusted by pros and homeowners alike. But what is the best zero turn lawn mower for your yard?
We reviewed over two dozen zero-turn mowers to come up with our top eight picks based on power, cutting deck size, deck height, special features, and price. We’ve also included a handy buyers guide and FAQ to help make your shopping experience easier.
But first, what is a zero-turn lawn mower? Using hydraulic transmissions, the engine of a zero-turn lawn mower supplies power independently to the two drive wheels. This lets the operator spin the machine on a dime, or stop a wheel to create a seamless U-turn.
Zero-turn mowers aren’t cheap. Compared to other riding lawn mowers, zero turns generally fall at the higher end of the cost spectrum.If you plan to invest in a high-quality zero-turn mower, it’s important to choose the right one.
TOP 5 Zero Turn Mowers Under 5000 | 2023
Because of zero-turn mowers fluctuate with sales and availability, we’ve provided a general idea of price.
We also have listed multiple buying options, when available, to make it easy to compare prices.
Top 8 Zero-Turn Mowers — Reviews
| 1. Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 |
| 2. Husqvarna Z254 |
| 3. Ryobi 42-inch Zero Turn Mower |
| 4. Toro 42-inch Timecutter |
| 5. John Deere ZTrak Z375R |
| 6. Ariens Ikon XD-52 |
| 7. EGO Power Z6 |
| 8. Troy-Bilt Mustang |
Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1
A top-of-the-line zero-turn mower for residential markets, Cub Cadet’s Ultima series makes short work of the largest lawns. Driven by a 22-horsepower Kohler engine, this machine can reach a forward speed of 7.5 mph.
The ZT1 provides ultimate comfort with a fully adjustable racing-style seat. The lap bar control is also adjustable to ensure precise maneuverability. Dual LED headlights help you cut in low-light conditions, and the rubberized cockpit floor reduces vibrations.
The 20-inch rear wheels and 11-inch front wheels offer enough traction to tackle gentle hills, and are engineered to protect your turf while pivoting. A 3.5-gallon gas tank lets you spend more time mowing and less time refueling.
Cub Cadet offers a three-year, unlimited hour powertrain warranty and a lifetime warranty on the frame. The ZT1 also comes in a 50-inch version for added efficiency and coverage. Cub Cadet has also recently released the Ultima ZT1 56V Max 60 electric zero-turn.
Specifications
Power Source: 22 HP 725cc Kohler 7000 series twin-cylinder engineTop Speed: 7.5 mphTransmission: HydrostaticDeck Width: 42 inchesCutting Height: 15 positions, 1 to 4.5 inchesPrice Range: Inexpensive
Pros
✓ Powerful 22hp engine✓ Fully adjustable seat and controls✓ Best-in-class warranty
Cons
✗ No gas gauge✗ Attachments sold separately
Husqvarna Zero-Turn Lawn Mowers Powerful, Reliable Industry Leaders
Xcite Z350 Xcite Z380 Z248F Premium Special Edition Z254F Premium Special Edition Z248F Premium Special Edition Z254F Premium Special Edition Z242F Special Edition Z248F Special Edition Z254F Special Edition Z248F Z254F MZ48 MZ54 MZ54 ROPS MZ61 MZ61 ROPS Z200 Family Z146
Professional Zero-Turn Mowers
Z448 Z454 Z460 Z454XS Z460XS Z554L Z560L Z560LS Z554X Z560X Z572X
Husqvarna Zero-Turn Mowers are a great choice for homeowners and professionals
Husqvarna is a well-known brand in the outdoor power equipment industry, and they offer a range of zero-turn lawnmowers designed for both homeowners and professionals. These mowers are built to be efficient and easy to maneuver, with a zero-turn radius that allows for tight turns and precise control.
For Homeowners
Husqvarna offers a variety of models in different sizes and with various features, such as adjustable cutting heights, ergonomic controls, and high-performance engines.
For Professionals
Husqvarna offers heavy-duty mowers with commercial-grade components, larger cutting decks, and enhanced operator comfort features.
With their emphasis on innovation, quality, and performance, Husqvarna zero-turn lawnmowers are a popular choice for those who want to keep their lawns or landscapes looking great.
Riding Lawn Mowers Tractors (22 items found)
Make lawn care easier than ever with a riding lawn mower. At Ace, we offer a wide variety of sit-down lawn mowers and riding lawn tractors to meet even the largest yard’s trimming needs.
Benefits of Riding Mowers
A riding lawn mower can turn the most exhausting chore into a breeze. If your lawn is an acre or more, a riding mower can split your maintenance time in half. than that, this equipment makes it more physically comfortable to care for so much yard. Rather than walking back and forth across your entire property with a gas or electric model you have to push, imagine sitting upright and steering a reliable machine to the far reaches of your domain without ever even breaking a sweat.
Our selection features a range of cutting widths that are larger than most walk-behind models, letting you cover more ground in less time. Most riding mowers are designed to easily handle shifts in weight when driven at an incline and they usually have room to haul loads of materials so you can multi-task while you mow!
Zero-Turn Capabilities
Zero-turn riding lawn mowers use castor wheels that allow you to essentially turn your mower around in place rather than needing to swing out and around to make a wide turn. With turn radius of zero, you can get cleaner mow lines, fit around edges and areas of all shapes, and complete large jobs easily and with more precision in less time.
Choosing a Riding Lawn Mower
Yard tractors are also typically more powerful than standard push mowers, and you can select different amounts of engine power based on your needs. Some things to consider when choosing the right type of mower for you include:
- The size of your lawn
- The terrain you’ll be covering
- The activities you’ll be using the riding mower for
- Attachments you might want for growing and off-seasons
Hydrostatic and Electric Riding Mowers
An electric riding lawn mower relies on a heavy-duty battery to power the mower. You just have to charge the battery between uses so your mower has enough juice for the next job. A lawn mower tractor with a hydrostatic transmission uses gas to fuel the mower. With this type, you don’t need to charge any battery but you’ll want to keep gas on hand to refuel whenever you’re running low.
Features and Attachments
Some ride-on mowers and garden lawn tractors offer attachment options like power tillers and snowplows that give you versatility so you can get the most use out of your equipment during any season. The latest models of large and small riding mowers at Ace often come equipped with mulching capabilities, advanced horsepower, multiple speeds, multi-blade systems, cruise control, automatic transmissions and improved fuel optimization.
Always keep your lawn looking its best while saving time and labor with the outdoor power equipment from Ace. Browse our selection of seated garden tractors and riding mowers from all your most trusted brands including Craftsman, Ariens and EGO in our Lawn and Garden department.
Zero-turn mowers and lawn tractors provide the wide decks and speed needed to maintain large yards. However, they have their pros and cons, which could make one a better choice for your yard.
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Lawns over half an acre give you plenty of space to play and lounge in the great outdoors. However, when it’s time to mow, you’re looking at a major commitment. Factor in landscaping like flower beds and trees, and you’ll likely add some trimming and spot mowing to your to-do list. The power machines of the landscaping world—zero turn vs. lawn tractor—can keep you from spending the better part of every Saturday behind a lawn mower.
A lot of factors go into determining which type of mower would be best suited for your lawn. Your yard’s size, incline, and landscaping all come into play. Before choosing between the two most common lawn mower types for large yards, get to know the biggest differences between zero-turn mowers and lawn tractors. This guide lays out the pros and cons of each to help you avoid making a mowing mistake with the wrong mower.
BRAND NEW to 2023! John Deere Z320R Zero Turn Mower Review
Zero-turn mowers are better for lawns with curves.
If your yard spans ½ an acre or more and is dotted with trees, bushes, and flower beds, a zero-turn mower will save you time when it comes to your lawn care routine. Zero-turn mowers have dual-hydrostatic transmissions controlled by two levers, which are key factors in their responsiveness and tight turning radius.
To move forward in a straight line, you press both levers forward, making sure to keep them even. To turn the mower, you either slow or stop power to one side by pulling the lever back, while the other side continues to move forward, giving the mower the ability to do a zero (or near zero) radius turn. This gives zero-turn mowers a mowing pattern that leaves far fewer missed patches of grass at the end of the swath or around curves and corners.
In comparison, lawn tractors have a wide turn radius, which leaves a patch of grass at the end of every swath. You can either come back around on a second pass to get those missed patches or stop and reverse to cut every blade of grass.
Lawn tractors power over slopes and hills.
Lawn tractors have a front-wheel drive that allows them to inch up slopes and hills with relative ease. In contrast, a zero-turn mower’s rear-wheel drive may be difficult to control or lose traction on uneven ground.
However, a word of caution: Both types of mowers can tip over on extreme slopes, which is anything over 15 degrees. Some lawn tractors and zero-turn mowers have roll bars and seat belts, but you’re better off using a push mower or a trimmer on extreme slopes.
A lawn tractor’s steering wheel provides intuitive control.
For those who want to jump on the lawn mower and go, a lawn tractor’s familiar steering wheel and gas pedal will take little if any time to get used to. Basically, you push the gas pedal and go, just like you would in a car. When you want to slow down, you release the gas and press the brake.
The differential speed control offered by a zero-turn machine’s dual-hydrostatic transmission, on the other hand, can take some practice. On these models, you control the speed by pressing the control levers forward rather than using a foot pedal. Hydrostatic transmissions can be touchy, so there may be some lurching and sudden stops until you get a feel for the speed control.
You also have to learn how to time the manipulation of the levers (one pressing forward, the other pulling back) when making turns. Considering that zero-turn mowers can go faster than lawn tractors as well means you’ll be trying to learn how to control the machine at higher speeds.
If you’re nervous about controlling a zero-turn model, a few newer machines have joystick control, which is much easier to use but still requires practice to master.
Deck size makes a difference, but the winner will depend on your yard.
The wider the deck, the fewer swaths it will take to cover the lawn, and the faster you can mow your full property. Lawn tractors have decks that range from 42 to 54 inches, while zero-turn mowers have decks from 42 to over 60 inches.
Choosing the appropriate deck size (and the mower or tractor that provides it) not only involves considering the size of your yard but also the width of the narrowest spaces you’ll need to mow in between or around. To maintain tight spaces between trees or flower beds, you’ll need a narrower deck. However, if you have a flat yard that’s 2 or 3 acres without obstacles, choose the machine with the widest deck you can afford.
Zero-turn mowers go faster, but slower speeds leave a cleaner cut.
Zero-turn mowers offer clean cuts at 5 miles per hour (mph) and can reach speeds of more than 10 mph. In comparison, lawn tractors mow at about 4 mph with a top speed of around 7 mph. However, in some circumstances, such as on sloped or hilly terrain, lawn tractors may be able to maintain their traction and speed better and, therefore, may occasionally mow faster under certain circumstances.
Know that cut quality goes down the faster you mow, whether you’re on a zero-turn or lawn tractor. Even if you have a zero-turn mower, the top speeds are generally used for traveling to another part of the yard rather than actually mow the lawn.
Both types of mowers are pricey, but zero-turn models rise to the top.
When it comes to price—zero turn vs. lawn tractors—both top the price charts. However, lawn tractors are the more affordable of the two, and they’ll earn their keep. They may also be used to pull carts, sprayers, spreaders, and other yard equipment. For the right buyer, a lawn tractor may be a Smart investment. A base model starts around 1,200, but any extra accessories like a bagging kit, trailer, or sprayers must be purchased separately.
Zero-turn mowers start around 2,500 and go well above 5,000, and you may have to buy a bagging kit separately. If your yard spans several acres and/or has a wide range of trees and flowers you need to mow around, a zero-turn model may be well worth it for the time it saves.