Toro e-Cycler 20360

Bottom Line

The combination of strength, good cutting performance and a low carbon footprint makes the Toro e-Cycler 20360 one of the best electric mowers on the market, according to some experts. It's powerful enough to mow through obstacles (grass and sticks) that usually stop other cordless models, but users may have trouble maneuvering up hills. Owners say the 20360 is dependable, and Toro receives a high customer satisfaction rating from J.D. Power and Associates.

Performance

Cuts evenly. The Toro e-Cycler 20360 is an impressive cordless mower, according to experts and owners. Jose Castellanos of MowersDirect.com says it "delivers both power and performance in an environmentally friendly package." And editors at GreenerChoices.org find it has "great cutting with smooth, even mowing and mulching." It's strong enough to handle small sticks, and owners say it delivers a great cut when mowing at a slow, steady speed.

However, the 20360's bagging performance suffers. Owners say the bag is small and requires frequent emptying. "There was a lot of clogging in the test with the bag attached," recall editors at GreenerChoices.org. Plus, the 20360 is unable to side-discharge clippings.

A 36-volt battery powers the 20360, with enough life to mow about one-third of an acre. The battery charger can quickly charge the lead-acid battery to 70 percent in a few hours; a full charge takes 12 hours. Steve Holdgren with 10Rate.com appreciated the battery's LED indicator, which displays the charging status.

Ease Of Use

Handling requires extra effort. While most users have no problem pushing the 20360 along level ground, it can be difficult to mow on slopes. Although a hefty 77 pounds, it's actually "about 20 pounds lighter than a standard Toro gas powered walk-behind mower," as MowersDirect.com points out.

The 20360 has seven adjustments to set the cutting height from 1 to 4 inches, but to do so, you have to adjust each wheel to change the deck height. One user at HomeDepot.com describes the height adjustment as "cumbersome," and because of the extra time needed to adjust all four wheels, reviews find it less than ideal for frequent changes.

Many owners say the 20360 is dependable, and according to two years of surveys from J.D. Power and Associates, customers are happy with the Toro brand. In 2012, Toro takes the second place slot for customer satisfaction. This is partially due to product performance, explain editors. The Toro warranty covers this mower and battery for two years.

Safety

Awkward but safe. The Toro e-Cycler 20360 uses a safety key, which must be inserted before the lawn mower can start and run. If the key is removed, the motor turns off and the blades stop spinning within three seconds. One owner at MowersDirect.com says the blade control lever can feel awkward, especially when turning, because it's "only operable by the right hand."

Noise

No information. One owner at MowersDirect.com calls the 20360 "whisper quiet." We found very little user feedback regarding noise and no expert tests that measure noise levels of the mower.