Budget Lawn Tractors

Lighter-duty lawn tractors under $2,000

In the $1,000 to $2,000 price range, you can get an entry-level lawn tractor with automatic transmission. These can mow lawns up to about two acres at most, and durability might be a problem down the road. It can be tempting to overload these lawn tractors, pushing them to mow a larger area or using attachments that wear them out faster. In this price range, reviews recommend John Deere, Craftsman and Husqvarna lawn tractors.

The relatively low prices are tempting, but there's no way lawn tractors in this price range can be built as sturdily as the John Deere X300 series discussed earlier. Hence, the less expensive lawn tractors might cost more in the long run. Aside from this issue, however, you can find lawn tractors that perform very well, as long as they're not pushed beyond their limits. Good maintenance and proper storage also help prolong their life.

The most recommendations are for the John Deere 100 series, now the LA100 series. These are light-duty lawn tractors with an 18-inch turning radius. All the models in this series come with deck washout ports, and the engines have full-pressure lubrication with spin-on oil filters. Experts say full-pressure lube adds to an engine's life, especially if you mow on slopes.

Still, reviews say that John Deere lawn tractors in the lightweight 100 or LA series aren't made to be as durable as the John Deere X300 series, and they use Briggs and Stratton OHV engines rather than engines by Kawasaki or Kohler. But because they sell for half the price of the John Deere X304 lawn tractor, reviews say they are good buys for smaller lawns. An older Popular Mechanics review finds that John Deere lawn tractors in this series have the best build quality in their price range.

Greg Weekes of John Deere tells us that all the CARB-certified versions of the LA series are fully compliant, not just achieving certification under the "400 rule" that exempts low-volume models. Their engines meet the stricter California emissions requirements, and fuel lines and tanks meet the new evaporative limits. Prices are about $150 more for the CARB-compliant versions of the LA-series lawn tractors, but they're significantly better for the environment as well as for the health of the user and anyone else nearby. They're available in California and in the bordering states of Nevada, Oregon and Arizona, but they can't be ordered elsewhere.

The John Deere warranty for this less expensive LA series is for two years. A review at ConsumerGuide.com says that although independent John Deere dealers register the warranty for you, you must register it yourself if you buy from Lowe's or The Home Depot. The warranty is also specific to a geographic area. At ConsumerAffairs.com, there are quite a few owners who say they had difficulty with warranty service.

Reviews recommend the 42-inch John Deere LA115 (*Est. $1,750), as an excellent buy -- and one of the quietest. This lawn tractor earns praise for handling and bagging (with an optional bagging kit (*Est. $340). Powered by a 19.5-horsepower Briggs & Stratton engine, this model can mulch clippings well with the addition of an inexpensive mulching plug (*Est. $50). Even at this price, you get a cast-iron front axle (better than steel), a high-back seat and a translucent fuel tank. It's also available in California as a CARB-compliant tractor for $100 more.

Moving up to the John Deere LA125 (*Est. $1,900) adds cruise control and a 21-horseppower V-twin engine. The John Deere LA135SE (*Est. $2,000) uses a 22-horsepower V-twin engine and gets reasonably high ratings from owners at Lowes.com. The 48-inch mowing deck on the more expensive John Deere LA145 (*Est. $2,100), also powered by a 22-horsepower V-twin engine, speeds up mowing a big area. As is typical for larger mowing decks, the LA145 doesn't cut or distribute clippings as evenly as the 42-inch decks. However, at Lowes.com, this is one of the top-rated lawn tractors by nearly 30 owners. Stepping up to this model also brings you an electric power take off (PTO).

The 54-inch John Deere LA175 (*Est. $2,750, CARB $2,900) also gets reasonably high average ratings from about two dozen owners at Lowes.com -- though one says the reverse pedal is uncomfortable. Experts say the 16-amp alternator on this larger tractor is an advantage; there's also a 12-volt outlet for powering accessories.

Runner-up budget tractors

Reviews recommend the 54-inch Craftsman 28990 Yard Tractor (*Est. $2,000) for use with heavy-duty attachments, comparing it favorably with more expensive garden tractors. The spring-loaded deck adjustment is fender-mounted to ease lifting. At TodaysMower.com, in a blog specializing in reviews of Craftsman lawn tractors, the Craftsman 28990 is recommended as "the best mower in the Craftsman lineup."

Like other Craftsman lawn tractors, the 28990 carries only a two-year warranty overall. At Sears.com, several owners reviewing the previous version, the Craftsman 27690 lawn tractor, say they had belt problems, backfiring and repair delays. The newer Craftsman 28990 also is accumulating complaints about belt problems and poor traction in reviews by owners at Sears.com. The Craftsman warranty covers only manufacturing defects; to get labor covered requires buying a three-year service contract. Owners say labor costs can be quite high.

Husqvarna mowers earn praise from reviewers for performance and features as well.

Editors at Popular Mechanics like the 48-inch Husqvarna YTH2348 (*Est. $1,800) powered by a 23-horsepower engine. It has an 18-inch turning radius. This lawn tractor also earns high ratings from owners at Lowes.com, where it's sold as the Husqvarna 84182 Model 960450005. It earns mixed reviews from two owners reviewing it at Sears.com, however, with one liking it and the other saying he can't get it to start.

Consumers Digest recommends the entire Cub Cadet 1000 series as best buys, partly because of the long five-year warranty on the frame, chassis and cast-iron front axle. Cub Cadet covers everything else for three years. The review also praises the 15-amp charging system on the 42-inch Cub Cadet LTX 1042 (*Est. $1,650), noting that most lawn tractors in this price range use 9-amp alternators. Comparison tests elsewhere find the Cub Cadet LTX 1042 mulches better than the Husqvarna YTH2348. The Cub Cadet lawn tractor gets some positive reviews from users, but owners also say that getting it into reverse can be tricky. A five-year warranty is a plus, but this brand -- like other brands made by MTD -- has a poor repair record compared with John Deere, Husqvarna and Craftsman lawn tractors.

It's possible to find less expensive lawn tractors with automatic transmission, but they have fewer features and are built only for very light-duty mowing. Most have splash lubrication rather than full-pressure lube, for example. Front axles are usually steel rather than cast iron. Experts say that the least expensive lawn tractors might cost more in the long run because of a shorter lifetime and high repair costs. Wheels to keep the mowing deck from scraping the lawn are considered essential, and they usually cost extra.

A handful of owners reviewing lawn tractors at Sears.com like the 42-inch Craftsman 28922 (*Est. $1,400). Owners give a slightly lower average rating to the 46-inch Craftsman 28924 (*Est. $1,400). Both have full-pressure lubrication. The review at TodaysMower.com says that they have redesigned decks that mow more evenly. They also have cast-iron axles, cruise control and gauge wheels for the mowing deck, all features found on more expensive mowers. The 16-inch turning radius is another plus.

The 42-inch Troy-Bilt Bronco 28804 (*Est. $1,300) also has cruise control and full-pressure lube, and is powered by an 18-horsepower Kohler engine. However, the front axle is steel, rather than cast iron; the tractor comes with only two wheels for the deck, and the 18-inch turning radius makes it a bit harder to mow around obstacles. At first, owners gave this model unusually high ratings, especially for ease of use -- perhaps because of the cruise control. But now it has one of the lowest average ratings at Lowes.com. Most lawn tractors require a safety override to mow in reverse -- to remind the driver to be extra careful -- but the Bronco doesn't cut in reverse.

Lawn Tractors with Manual Transmissions

Inexpensive lawn tractors with manual transmissions usually rank a bit higher in owner-written reviews than similarly priced automatic models. There's less to go wrong, and some owners say manual lawn tractors perform better on hills. (Experts say, however, that it's dangerous to try to mow on a slope higher than 10 degrees.)

The least expensive model in the John Deere LA100 series is the 42-inch John Deere LA105 (*Est. $1,500), which has a five-speed manual transmission. Most reviews say it's worth moving up to the John Deere LA115 (*Est. $1,750) discussed earlier to get an automatic transmission. However, even the John Deere LA105 comes with a deck-washout port and headlights. It moves as fast as 5 mph and lets you switch from side-discharge to mulching mode without using any tools. It also has a rustproof hood, 12-gauge frame, cast-iron front axle and full-pressure lube. Nearly 50 owners give it a reasonably positive overall rating at Lowes.com, where it's sold as the John Deere BG20444.

If you live in California, you have access to the six-speed Craftsman 28601 (*Est. $900), which earns one of the highest overall ratings of all the lawn tractors that owners review at Sears.com. The 38-inch mowing deck is fine for a relatively small yard -- or if you don't mind spending extra time mowing. This basic lawn tractor is powered by a 15.5-horsepower Briggs & Stratton OHV engine (502cc), but the splash lubrication isn't considered as desirable as full-pressure lube. The steel front axle isn't as desirable as the cast-iron axle on the John Deere.

The six-speed Poulan XT PXT16542 (*Est. $1,000), also made by Husqvarna, has an 18-inch turning radius with a 42-inch deck. It gets excellent reviews from the handful of owners rating it at HomeDepot.com. It's powered by a 16.5-horsepower engine, and a CARB-certified model is available for $100 more. The cast-iron front axle is a definite plus, but the 14-gauge steel frame is on the thin side. The larger 46-inch Poulan XT PB19546LT (*Est. $1,530) includes two deck gauge wheels and is powered by a 19.5-horsepower engine.