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Cub Cadet 11A-18MC

*Est. $250

Fuel-efficient four-cycle OHV engine
Quiet
Cutting height adjusts with a single lever
Three-year warranty

Some durability complaints
Can be difficult to start and restart
Narrow 19-inch deck
Handle could be more comfortable

Our Analysis

May 2009. The 19-inch Cub Cadet 11A-18MC, also sold as the Cub Cadet CC-500, is a basic gas push mower. It's powered by a fuel-efficient Chinese-made four-cycle OHV engine, but it doesn't meet California Air Resource Board (CARB) requirements. Most reviews say this mower performs well, is easy to use and priced attractively. It has single-lever height adjustment, a feature owners say they appreciate, and carries a three-year warranty. The drawback is that this mower is hard to find; it's not sold in big-box stores so you'll need to track down a dealer. It doesn't have an OHV engine and carries a two-year warranty, but the Craftsman 38905 (*est. $225) is easier to find and gets good scores for mulching and bagging. The Craftsman mower also has a wider 21-inch cutting deck.

Consumer Reports compares the Cub Cadet 11A-18MC with 49 other lawn mowers, ranking all based on objective tests. The single-product review at Consumer Guide, part of HowStuffWorks.com, is based on less formal tests, but provides more details. Consumers Digest magazine also recommends this mower, and we found very useful owner-written reviews at HomeDepot.com, Epinions.com and Lawn-Mowers-Review.com.

Our Sources

1. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe

Consumer Reports tests the Cub Cadet 11A-18MC against nearly 50 other lawn mowers, including 10 gas push mowers. Unfortunately, there are no ratings for noise or environmental impact, and mowers meeting California's stricter emissions limits aren't distinguished from mowers that pollute more.

Review: Lawn Mowers, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, May 2009

2. ConsumerGuide.com

Consumer Guide reviews and rates lawn mowers on actual test usage. The Cub Cadet mower earns a Budget Buy designation and receives praise for its OHV engine and enhanced mulching performance.

Review: Cub Cadet CC-500 Gasoline-Powered Push Mower Review, Editors of ConsumerGuide.com, July 2008

3. Consumers DigestDetails/Subscribe

This review recommends the Cub Cadet as the budget choice, but it lacks any comparison testing. This article does explain the new and upcoming changes based on CARB and EPA regulations.

Review: Lawn Mowers: The Changing Landscape, Steve Trusty, April 2008

4. Epinions.com

A handful of owners review and rate the Cub Cadet CC-500 here, giving it above-average ratings. One owner reports that it takes the same amount of time to finish mowing his lawn with the 19-inch Cub Cadet as it did with his previous 21-inch mower.

Review: 19" Cub Cadet Lawn Mower CC500 reviews, Contributors to Epinions.com

5. Lawn-Mowers-Review.com

The few owners reviewing the Cub Cadet 11A-18MC push mower here report that it can take quite a bit of pulling to start, and isn't very easy to push and maneuver. One says it's better for tall users than for someone closer to five feet tall. Overall, though, owners say it's ok for the price.

Review: Cub Cadet 11A-18MC