Lawn tractors are a great option for homeowners who have mid to large size residential lots. You get the wide cutting deck of a tractor, but more compact and residentially-inclined, making it the best of both worlds.
The benefits of buying a lawn tractor
The biggest benefit of buying a lawn tractor is you get the wide cutting deck that mimics that of a tractor one who owns a lot of land in the country might have, but with the accessibility and ease of use of a standard lawnmower. This may seem obvious, but it’s a very fine line to walk, and lawn tractors walk that line exceptionally well. And when you do your research and tailor the cutting deck size to your lawn’s needs, you’ll really see a big difference at that point, because you’ll have both efficiency and maneuverability working for you.
Tips on how to choose the best lawn tractor for your needs
There are a few thinks to keep in mind when searching for the best lawn tractor for your needs. Consider the following:
- Always tailor your cutting deck to the size of your yard (or the yards you plan on mowing). This may sound obvious, but it’s a common thing homeowners often forget to consider. If you have a big yard, go with a bigger cutting deck. If you have a small to medium yard, you may want that huge, powerful lawn tractor, but you’re really just shooting yourself in the foot, because it’ll be a huge pain to get a good cut with a huge deck on a smaller yard.
- Consider comfort if you have a large property (and therefore will be out there mowing awhile) or if you will be cutting many yards in a row (such as for friends, family or a budding lawncare business). Again, it may sound obvious, but you’ll thank yourself later.
- Automatic transmission is an ease of use feature that cannot be recommended enough.
- Consider how much height adjustment you need and plan accordingly—very important.
Lawn tractor reviews
Troy-Bilt 382cc 30-Inch Premium Neighborhood Riding Lawn Mower
30-inch cutting deck
The Troy-Bilt 382cc 30-Inch Premium Neighborhood Riding Lawn Mower’s 30-inch cutting deck is a nice, compact choice for suburban homeowners with mid-sized lots, because it allows you to make reasonably wide passes for efficiency without being too bulky to easily maneuver for the size of your yard.
Height adjustable blade
The 30-inch cutting deck on the Troy-Bilt features five different height adjustments so you can easily find the blade height that best suits your lawn’s needs.
Great for standard neighborhood lots
The designers at Troy-Bilt took careful consideration with the 382cc 30-Inch Premium Neighborhood Riding Lawn Mower’s design specs to optimize it for the standard American residential suburban lawn. The 30-inch cutting deck, while impractical for the sprawling acreage of farms and country estates, is great for a half-acre suburban lot, because for a lot that size, it’s a relatively wide cutting deck width. So, you get the advantage of a comparatively wide cutting with, as well as height adjustment features and great maneuverability, all on a lawnmower designed specifically for the needs of suburban homeowners.
Fuel tank with fuel sight window
The 1.3-gallon fuel tank is more than enough room to up your lawnmowing efficiency for an average residential lot, saving you from the annoyance of refueling trips. Meanwhile, the lawnmower has an easy-to-read fuel sight window that lets you know what the fuel level is at a glance, so you’re always prepared.
Comfort features
The premium front and rear wheels give a smooth ride, while the mid-back seat with lumbar support lets you cut the grass in comfort. The 13-inch steering wheel is ergonomic and features a soft-grip, further upping the comfort factor.
The pros
What to like:
- Limited 2-year warranty
- 30-inch cutting deck
- Height adjustable blades—five settings
- Optimized for standard suburban lawns
- 382cc OHV engine provides more than enough power
- 3-gallon tank with fuel sight window
- 18-inch cutting deck provides for easy maneuverability
- Manual power takeoff
- 13-inch x 5-inch front wheels
- 16-inch x 6.5-inch rear wheels
- 13-inch steering wheel with soft grip
- Compact and easy to store
The cons
What to consider:
- The manufacturer recommends that this lawnmower is best used for yards with relatively level terrain. While this is obviously a downside for those with highly variable or bumpy terrain, it’s important to note their intended customer for this lawnmower is the standard suburban homeowner who likely has a very level lot. If you have a level lot, this terrain thing isn’t a concern, but those with bumpy terrain should look for a lawn tractor more suited that very specific purpose.
Husqvarna YTA24V48 24V Fast Continuously Variable Transmission Pedal Tractor Mower, 48″/Twin
Automatic transmission
The Husqvarna YTA24V48’s automatic transmission makes for easy riding and easy operation. Additionally, the clutch is electric for further convenience and ease of use.
Chokeless start
The chokeless start on the Husqvarna YTA24V48 is another ease of use feature that makes it a popular choice among today’s homeowners.
Air Induction Mowing Technology
Husqvarna’s smart Air Induction Mowing Technology allows for better airflow under the mower and in the cutting deck. The result is a more even, cleaner cut for your lawn.
Easy operation
For those with larger properties who don’t like the idea of lever steering for their tractor, the Husqvarna YTA24V48 makes a great alternative option, thanks to its handy, easy to use steering wheel. Because it uses a steering wheel, you control the speed with a standard pedal instead of hand levers, making for a much more natural experience for someone who isn’t used to using tractors that use hand levers for both steering and acceleration.
Deck lever
The mounted deck lever is easy to reach and spring assisted, so height selection is a snap.
The pros
What to like:
- 3-year limited warranty
- 5-year warranty on frame, chassis and front axle
- 10-year cutting deck consumer warranty
- 48-inch cutting deck
- Adjustable height deck made with 13-gauge reinforced steel
- Spring assisted deck lever
- Comes with a trailer hitch on the back
- Steers via standard steering wheel for ease of use
- Pedal acceleration and breaking
- Automatic transmission
- Electric clutch
- Chokeless start
- Charge port
The cons
What to consider:
- The 48-inch cutting deck will be hard to maneuver around a standard suburban neighborhood lot, but obviously this isn’t going to be an issue if your yard is larger than that, and it’s actually a great choice for someone with a couple of acres or more.
- While this has been a likeable mower for some time now, recent online reviews warn of electrical problems; this could indicate a temporary manufacturing issue, since overall this has been a very popular mower. If you experience problems with the mower, remember the warranty and contact Husqvarna’s customer service team for a resolution.
Troy-Bilt 540cc Briggs & Stratton Intek Automatic Riding Lawnmower
46-inch cutting deck with adjustable height
The Troy-Bilt 540cc Briggs & Stratton Intek Automatic Riding Lawnmower’s large 46-inch cutting deck is ideal for mowing larger lawns, saving you plenty of time out of the hot summer heat. The sturdy reinforced steel deck features height adjustment to five different settings, for an easy to customize experience.
Easy to operate
The Troy-Bilt features a foot-pedal CVT automatic transmission and traditional soft-touch steering wheel that makes operation as easy as driving an automatic car. This is great for those who want a straightforward piece of equipment with straightforward operation.
Reverse mowing
One of the more unique features on this offering from Troy-Bilt is the reverse mowing capability. Miss a spot? Not a problem. Plus, reverse mowing is easily engaged, so even if you’ve never had a reverse mower before, there’s not much of a learning curve.
Robust engine
The 19hp, 540cc Briggs & Stratton Intek engine is both high powered and high performance. A workhorse, it is a great engine choice for a lawnmower of this class.
Comfort features
In addition to the soft-touch steering, the Troy-Bilt Automatic Riding Lawnmower has offers a soft midback seat that provides both cushioning and lumbar support to make the lawnmowing experience that much more pleasant.
The pros
What to like:
- 2-year limited warranty
- 46-inch reinforced cutting deck
- 5 adjustable height settings
- Side discharge
- Reverse mowing
- Automatic pedal-operated transmission
- Manual power takeoff
- Soft-touch steering
- Soft, mid-back seating for comfort
- Step-through frame for easy use
- Integrated deck wash
- Ideal for large residential lawns
The cons
What to consider:
- While the 46-inch cutting deck is perfect for a large lawn, it’s likely going to be simply too big to maneuver on a small suburban lot. Of course, it’s always wise to tailor the size of your cutting deck to that of your lawn, so what is a con for small lot owners is obviously a big pro for those with an acre or two to maintain.
Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP 25HP 54-Inch FAB Deck Electric Start Lawn Tractor
54-inch cutting deck
The extra-large 54-inch cutting deck on the Super Bronco XP from Troy-Bilt ensures ultimate performance on very large properties.
Adjustable deck height
The 54-inch fabricated cutting deck features easy height adjustment with a whopping 12 unique cutting heights for an exceptional level of customization—ideal for perfectionists. This, by far, is its biggest standout feature, as there are a lot of large cutting deck automatic transmission mowers out there, but many of them don’t feature 12 cutting heights.
Easy to use
This Troy-Bilt offering features a push-button start for ultimate convenience, and both the hydrostatic transmission and cruise control are foot pedal-operated, upping the convenience factor to a whole new level. The mow-in-reverse feature is as easy to accomplish as standard forward mowing.
Powerful
The 25hp, 724cc Twin Kohler 7000 Series engine is a robustly powerful and super-efficient engine that really gets the job done, making your lawnmowing life a lot easier.
Comfort features
The Super Bronco XP’s high-backed seat features cushioned armrests for thoughtful support while you work, making everything nice and comfortable for longer mowing sessions.
The pros
What to like:
- 3-year limited warranty
- 54-inch cutting deck
- 12 adjustable height settings
- 25hp, 724cc Twin Kohler 7000 Series engine
- Push-button start
- Foot pedal transmission
- Cruise control
- Side discharge
The cons
What to consider:
- The large 54-inch cutting deck and the 16-inch turning radius on top of that are going to make it very unwieldy for a standard residential lawn; that said, it’s still a great choice for larger properties where it has room to spread its wings, as it were.
Troy-Bilt TB42 42-inch 420cc Auto Drive 7-Speed Side Discharge Riding Lawn Tractor
42-inch cutting deck
The Troy Bilt TB42’s 42-inch cutting deck is a nice middle ground for homeowners with standard residential lots that crave the raw power of a large mower but need something that is more practical than an extra-large mower.
Adjustable height
The reinforced 13-gauge steel cutting deck features five different height adjustments, so you’ll never have trouble finding the one that suits you and your yard best.
Easy to use
The TB42 features a foot-pedal operated continuously variable 7-speed transmission for ultimate usability, and uses a standard soft-touch steering wheel for that familiar, old-school ease of use.
Powerful
The robustly powerful 420cc Single Troy-Bilt engine is capable of propelling this sturdy mower of speeds up to 5.2mph, which is quite impressive for a mower of this class.
The pros
What to like:
- 2-year limited warranty
- 420cc Single Troy-Bilt engine
- 42-inch reinforced 13-gauge steel cutting deck
- Five adjustable height settings
- 7-speed continuously variable transmission
- Fast at 5.2mph max speed
- Ideal for mid to large-size residential yards
The cons
What to consider:
- This is a mower meant for level terrain. So, while this is great news for those with level lawns, those with inclines and hills should look for a mower with that can handle those specific challenges.
Top Recommendation
As always, there can only be one winner in a roundup. And the winner of the roundup for best lawn tractor is the Troy-Bilt 382cc 30-Inch Premium Neighborhood Riding Lawn Mower. It takes the cake because of its extremely high level of maneuverability, as well as being reliable and surprisingly powerful thanks to an engine that meets and surpasses expectations in a mower that size. Additionally, it’s easily the most practical lawn tractor for the average homeowner, and you can’t beat practicality—especially when a lawn tractor has it going on it so many other areas as well.
![Mows Up to 2/3 Acre / 29,000 Sq. Ft, Triblade Brushless Motor, Multiple Mowing Patterns, Self-Charging, IPX Waterproof, Wi-Fi App Control [2022]](https://techmowers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/71e1krRY4aL._AC_SL1500_-185x95.jpg)
