Lawn Mowers: Reviews

ConsumerReports.org: The Black & Decker SPCM1936 is compared with 13 other cordless lawn mowers here, including another self-propelled cordless mower by Worx -- based on thorough objective testing.

J.D. Power and Associates: Black & Decker garners mostly "average" ratings from people who've bought a lawn mower within the past two years and reported back to J.D. Power and Associates.

Amazon.com: Well over a dozen owners review the self-propelled cordless Black & Decker SPCM1936 mower here; most are quite enthusiastic about its ease of use, with only about 10 percent unhappy with it (mainly finding it underpowered for thick or tall grass).

YouTube.com: This is just a video ad for the mower, but does do a good job of demonstrating how the controls and lift-out battery work.

ConsumerReports.org: In this roundup review based on thorough objective tests lasting several weeks, ConsumerReports.org compares the Honda HRX217HXA with 39 other self-propelled lawn mowers and 34 mowers of other types.

PopularMechanics.com: Tests here give top ranking to the similar Honda HRX217VKA (*Est.

J.D. Power & Associates: Honda, Husqvarna and John Deere earn top marks in this latest J.D. Power and Associates customer-satisfaction survey of over 2,000 users who've bought a lawn mower within the past two years.

HowStuffWorks.com: This detailed single-product review of the Honda HRX217K2HXA (the same model as the HRX217HXA) gives it perfect ratings for features and performance, plus praise for the Versamow system, transmission and blade brake clutch -- noting that the engine is quiet and nearly free of vibration.

National Noise Pollution Clearinghouse: Based on objective tests, this older review recommends the Honda HRX217HXA as the quietest self-propelled gasoline mower.

AskMen.com: Nearly 70 owners give the Honda HRX217HXA a near-perfect average rating here.

PopularMechanics.com: This brief review notes that the Smart Drive on the newer Honda HRR series of lawn mowers isn't as comfortable to use as the Honda HRX mowers, because it can strain the hand and wrist.

ConsumerReports.org: Based on weeks of testing, the Honda HRR216K7VKA is rated and ranked in comparison with 39 other self-propelled gas mowers and 73 other lawn mowers in all.

J.D. Power & Associates: As a brand, Honda is the Award Recipient in this latest J.D. Power and Associates customer-satisfaction survey, ranking 10 lawn mower brands.

PopularMechanics.com: This brief review covers the Smart Drive controls on the Honda HRR series, concluding that it can strain the hand and wrist.

HomeDepot.com: Based on ratings and reviews by over 100 owners, the Honda HRR216VKA is one of the top-rated mowers at this retail site.

Amazon.com: In older reviews, a handful of owners give the Honda HRR Smart Drive paddle controls ratings at both extremes; the blade override system (available on the top-of-the-line HXA model) earns criticism for needing repairs.

YouTube.com: This is basically a video ad for the Honda HRR mower series, but demonstrates the Smart Drive system well.

ConsumerReports.org: Thorough, objective tests here cover the similar Husqvarna 6021P (identical to the 7021P except for the Kohler engine, which has higher emissions) -- ranking it in comparison with 14 other push mowers and 73 other mowers in all.

J.D. Power & Associates: Based on a survey of over 2,000 mower buyers, Husqvarna is one of the highest-rated mower brands behind Honda, especially for performance and durability.

MowersDirect.com: Editors at this retail site recommend the Husqvarna 7021P as a good budget buy because of its Honda engine and good features.

Amazon.com: About a dozen owners review the Husqvarna 7021P push mower here, making it one of the top-rated mowers at this site.

Epinions.com: The single owner-written review here (at the time of our report) complains that the Husqvarna 7021P worked well only for a month before needing carburetor repairs, and that the automatic choke makes it hard to keep the engine from flooding.

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org compares the Black & Decker MM875 with 18 other electric mowers, though only four of them have cords.

HowStuffWorks.com: This single-product review of the Black & Decker MM875 has more detail than ConsumerReports.org but much more informal testing.

J.D. Power and Associates: In this annual customer-service survey of 10 lawn mower brands, Black & Decker garners an average overall satisfaction rating.

GreenerChoices.org: The Black & Decker MM875 is one of four mowers recommended at this site, which is associated with ConsumerReports.org but places more emphasis on environmental impact.

Which? magazine: A similar Black & Decker electric mower is reviewed at this U.K. review site, where mowers are rated for speed, quality of cut and ability to bag clippings.

Amazon.com: More than 440 owners review the corded electric Black & Decker MM875 lawn mower here, giving it above-average ratings.

HomeDepot.com: Over two dozen owners give the Black & Decker MM875 mostly positive reviews here.

Epinions.com: About two dozen owners review the Black & Decker MM875 here, giving it mostly positive marks.

Sears.com: Over two dozen owners give the MM875 mostly positive ratings, but a few of the most recent reviews warn that parts fall off and the mower isn't durable -- so there may be quality-control issues.

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org is not enthusiastic about manual reel mowers in general, but comparison tests of three current models favors the Fiskars Momentum as easiest to push.

PopularMechanics.com: Editors give the Fiskars Momentum mower one of their 2010 Green Design Awards, praising this mower's innovations: a "clever blade-spool design" for cutting "edges typically trampled beneath the wheels," plus the blade design and energy-storing dual gears that ease pushing.

GreenerChoices.org: This site, associated with ConsumerReports.org, praises the Fiskars as a good choice for small lawns, but warns that the cutting quality doesn't equal that of a good gas or electric mower, presumably favoring rotary blades over reels.

MayDreamsGardens.com: Garden writer Carol Michel tests the Fiskars Momentum in her last mowing session of the year, reporting that it takes less effort to push than a gas-powered mower.

Lowes.com: Nearly 40 owners give the Fiskars 6201 mower a reasonably high average rating, but only about 75 percent say they'd recommend it to a friend.

Amazon.com: Most of the half-dozen or so owners reviewing the Fiskars reel mower here are very enthusiastic; one says it took 40 minutes to cut a third of an acre, and that the Fiskars copes with weeds, pine cones and sweet gum balls without any problem.

YouTube.com: This is the best video review of the Fiskars Momentum we found, though it's a bit like an ad.

TheGadgetGuy.com: This illustrated review provides a good overview of the new Fiskars Momentum reel mower, detailing its features, including the way the position of the wheels eliminates one of the main complaints about manual reel mowers.

TreeHugger.com: This enthusiastic review explains how the flywheel action on the Fiskars Momentum stores energy for mowing tough patches.

ReelMowerReviews.com: This preview describes features without conducting any testing, but notes some useful details: for example, a "quick and easy one-touch cut height adjustment system."

AskMen.com: Although a robotic mower takes top honors here, the Fiskars Momentum reel mower closely follows it as a recommended model -- as "best and slickest option" among green lawn mowers -- for women as well as for men.

People Powered Machines.com: The comparison chart at this retail site provides the features and specifications of 10 current manual reel mowers.