Walk-Behind Mower Review

Honda's HRX217HXA is at the top of Consumer Reports magazine's June 2005 evaluation of compact walk-behind lawn mowers.

Consumer Reports magazine offered a new walk-behind mower evaluation in its June, 2005 issue. Some of the reviewed products are lightweight mowers marketed for home use, but the top-rated ones are sufficiently tough and high-performing to find a spot in a landscape contractor's trailer.

The following self-propelled mowers are good choices for close-quarter work on flat or hilly terrain.

The Honda HRX217HXA is the top-rated model in the category. At a list price of $700, it is more expensive than almost all the other mowers reviewed, but was praised for ?EUR??,,????'??its superb mulching and bagging, and the ability to tailor both for tall or wet grass.?EUR??,,????'??

Rounding out the top three are Toro's Super Recycler 20055 (?EUR??,,????'??for its fine side-discharging and five-year warranty,?EUR??,,????'?? $520) and John Deere's pricy ($910) JX75.

Two Lawn Boy brands (10685 at $380 and 10695 at $450) are on the list in fourth and fifth places. The cheaper of the two Lawn Boys ?EUR??,,????'??performs nearly as well for less?EUR??,,????'?? than its more expensive cousin, the report notes.

The magazine's review reserves special praise for Toro's Recycler 20041, calling it a ?EUR??,,????'??Best Buy?EUR??,,????'?? with its $400 price tag. Lawn Boy's 10655 model is a very similar model, the report points out.

The complete review is available for a fee at www.ConsumerReports.org. Consumer Reports magazine is a non-profit monthly publication of the Yonkers, N.Y.-based Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.

Toro's Recycler 20041 model was named a Consumer Reports Best Buy. The mower has a base price of $400 with an electric starter added for slightly more.