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Best Reviewed
Lawn Mowers
- Best cordless electric lawn mower Black & Decker SPCM1936 *Est. $450
- Best self-propelled gas lawn mower Honda HRX217HYA *Est. $700
- Best value self-propelled lawn mower Honda HRR216VKA *Est. $400
- Best gas push mower Husqvarna 7021P *Est. $280
- Corded electric lawn mower Black & Decker MM875 *Est. $240
- Best manual reel mower Fiskars StaySharp Max 6201 *Est. $230
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- Efficient, durable and relatively quiet
- Meets strict California emission standards
- Variable cruise-control speed
- Variable adjustment between mulching and bagging
- Blade brake clutch stops the blade, but not the engine
- Handle too long for some users
- Complex height adjustment
- Finicky about gasoline, maintenance
- No oil drain plug
Reviewers agree that the 21-inch Honda HRX series offers the best self-propelled gasoline mowers on the market. The drive is variable-speed with cruise control, and you can set the mode to mulch some of the clippings and bag the rest -- with an infinite number of settings. This is one of the few mowers available in all 50 states that already meet California's strict emission standards as well as 2012 EPA rules. The four-cycle OHV engine is fuel-efficient, relatively quiet and durable -- though some owners report that the carburetor can get messed up if the proper gasoline or additives aren't used. The Honda HRX217HXA lacks an electric starter, but reviewers say the recoil start is easy to use. A blade brake override lets you pause the engine to move something out of the way. If you prefer an electric start, the HRX217HMA (Discontinued) adds that feature.
The Honda HRX217HXA is put through exhaustive objective tests at ConsumerReports.org, and 2010 comparison tests at Popular Mechanics cover a similar Honda HRX model. As a lawn mower brand, Honda earns top ranking in the 2010 customer-satisfaction survey by J. D. Power and Associates. The single-product review at HowStuffWorks.com provides even more detail and is based on tests. About 70 owners review the Honda HRX217HXA at HomeDepot.com, and ConsumerReports.org also publishes owners' reviews of it, accessible only to subscribers. A brief review in Popular Mechanics magazine is useful in comparing the cruise-control system on the HRX series with that of the newer HRR lawn mowers.
Our Sources
1. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
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. All are rated and ranked based on performance, handling and ease of use.
Review: Lawn Mowers, Editors of ConsumerReports.org
2. PopularMechanics.comDetails/Subscribe
Tests here give top ranking to the similar Honda HRX217VKA (*Est. $600), which lacks cruise control, comparing it with seven other lawn mowers that also convert easily between mulching and bagging. The Honda earns praise as "the luxury car of walk-behind mowers," with the sole drawback its inconvenient cutting-height adjustment.
Review: Best Lawnmowers of the Year: Comparison Test, Roy Berendsohn, March 2010
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. Honda takes the award for best overall.
Review: 2011 Walk-Behind Lawn Mower Study, Editors of J. D. Power and Associates, May 2011
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. The ball-bearing rear wheels provide excellent traction. The four-lever height adjustment and long handle are the only drawbacks.
Review: Expert Review: Honda HRX217K2HXA Self-propelled Gas Mower, Editors of HowStuffWorks.com, April 2008
5. National Noise Pollution Clearinghouse
Based on objective tests, this older review recommends the Honda HRX217HXA as the quietest self-propelled gasoline mower.
Review: Quiet Lawns, Editors of NoisePollution.org, 2005
6. AskMen.com
Nearly 70 owners give the Honda HRX217HXA a near-perfect average rating here.
Review: Honda HRX217HXA, Contributors to HomeDepot.com
7. PopularMechanics.comDetails/Subscribe
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.
Review: Honda's Thumb Operated Lawnmower Controls, Roy Berendsohn, April 2007
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