Budget Lawn Tractors

Lighter-duty lawn tractors and riding mowers under $2,000

Budget entry-level lawn tractors in the $1,500 to $2,000 price range aren't built to the same level of durability as more expensive models; nor can they accept as many attachments. A budget lawn tractor can be fine, though, for mowing up to about two acres. Most reviews say that the best budget lawn tractors can perform well as long as you don't overload them. Good maintenance habits and proper storage also help prolong their life.

The light-duty John Deere 100 series of lawn tractors earns high marks in comparison tests; the current 2011 "D" models feature slightly more powerful engines than the preceding LA series (which also earned good reviews). As noted earlier, John Deere has an above-average repair record as a brand. The D-series John Deere lawn tractors have an 18-inch turning radius, deck-washout ports, and engines with full-pressure lubrication and spin-on oil filters. Experts say full-pressure lube adds to an engine's life, especially if you mow on slopes.

Tests show that while the 42-inch John Deere D110 (*Est. $1,600) doesn't bag clippings as well as the higher-rated John Deere X304 (*Est. $3,600), it equals the more expensive model at mulching and side-discharging, and outperforms most lawn tractors of similar size and price. At the time of this update, the John Deere D110 earns high marks from most of the dozen or so owners reviewing it at Lowes.com; they use it on lawns of up to about 1.5 acres, reporting that it's easy to operate and cuts evenly. One of the negative comments clearly refers to an earlier Deere lawn tractor; another notes that it's crucial to buy a John Deere only if a local authorized repair service is nearby.

Early reviews of the John Deere D110 lawn tractor at HomeDepot.com are also favorable. The John Deere D110 is available in most states and, as a new 2011 model, meets EPA emissions requirements, but not California's CARB III standard. The slightly more expensive John Deere D110 California Model (*Est. $1,800) is CARB-certified.

If your lawn has lots of obstacles or if bagging is your preferred mode for mowing, consider the Craftsman 28856 (*Est. $1,500), made by Husqvarna, another brand with a good repair record. This 42-inch lawn tractor uses Craftsman's Turn Tight feature, which delivers an 8-inch turning radius. Despite this, comparison tests give the John Deere D110 the edge for ease of use. The Craftsman lawn tractor isn't available in a CARB-certified version, though the 2011 model does meet EPA emission standards. For California consumers, the similar Craftsman 28866 (*Est. $1,680) is CARB-rated.

In bagging mode, the Craftsman 28856 outperforms the John Deere D110 tractor; in fact, tests show that it bags as well as the more expensive John Deere X304 (*Est. $3,600). The Craftsman 28856 earns top marks at TodaysMower.com, a site with detailed comparison reviews of Craftsman lawn mowers by Paul Sikemma, a landscape professional. This tractor is also one of the top-rated models in owner-written reviews at Sears.com. In addition to its small turning radius, the Craftsman 28856 features four anti-scalping wheels on the deck.

The main trade-off is that the Craftsman lawn tractor's tight turning radius can make for more need to trim after mowing: the front axle is wide, so the deck isn't as wide as the wheels. This makes it hard to mow close to a fence or wall. If this means you'd have to trim a lot, Sikemma notes that you can eliminate the problem by stepping up to the 46-inch Craftsman 28857 (*Est. $1,600), which also earns high marks from owners at Sears.com.

Both these Craftsman lawn tractors are powered by a 24-horsepower V-twin Briggs & Stratton Platinum engine that's more powerful than the 19.5-horsepower single-cylinder engine used in the John Deere. (Sikemma says two-cylinder engines also run more smoothly.) Both engines feature full-pressure lubrication for longer engine life, and all three tractors have cast-iron front axles. The two hood materials -- polymer on the Deere, 11-gauge steel on the Craftsman lawn tractor -- each have their fans. Overall, though, the John Deere holds a slight edge for most users -- based partly on Deere's wide network of repair facilities and its good overall repair record as a brand.

Cheaper lawn tractors with automatic transmissions can be found, but they're basic and meant for light-duty mowing. Experts say that in the long term, they can cost more to own than more expensive models, thanks to lower durability. Wheels to keep the mowing deck from scraping the lawn are considered essential, and they usually cost extra.

Manual-transmission lawn tractors

The least expensive John Deere 100 series lawn tractor, the 42-inch John Deere D100 (*Est. $1,500), has a five-speed manual transmission and features a deck-washout port, headlights and tool-free switching between side-discharge and mulching modes. It also has a rustproof hood, 12-gauge steel frame, cast-iron front axle and full-pressure lube. The turning radius is 18 inches.

As a brand, John Deere tractors have a better repair record than most. However, at Lowes.com, a higher percentage of owners recommend the less expensive 38-inch Bolens 13W1762F065 (*Est. $900) than the John Deere D100 (at least at the time of this update). This is partly because of the price difference; owners naturally expect more from a more expensive, well-known brand, but several owners complain about the transmission on the D100. The Bolens lawn tractor has a smaller 16-inch turning radius but also a narrower 38-inch cutting deck.

The half-dozen or so owners reviewing the Bolens 13W1762F065 say it's comfortable and most find it a good buy. However, one owner who's had it for two years (at the time of our report) complains of significant issues with durability. A similar Bolens lawn tractor has also earned criticism on this score. Home Depot carries three six-speed Poulan manual-transmission lawn tractors, one of which is CARB-certified, but none of them earn high marks at HomeDepot.com from owners.