Husqvarna RZ4623

Bottom Line

Users say the Husqvarna RZ4623 makes mowing fun, getting the job done quickly with great results. As an entry-lever mower it's missing a few convenience features, but most reviews call it a good value nonetheless. It comes standard with a fuel gauge, hour meter and hitch, and the 46-inch deck can mow up to 3 acres. As with all zero-turn mowers, the RZ4623 loses traction on wet and sloped terrain.

Performance

Dependable and durable. The RZ4623 is smaller and less expensive than the Toro TimeCutter SS5000 (Est. $3,300) , but experts say it delivers an impressive, even cut every time. Owners agree, saying the 23-horsepower V-twin Kohler engine has plenty of power. This two-cylinder engine has a longer life and more power than single-cylinder motors, professionals report.

Jose Castellanos of MowersDirect.com recommends the Husqvarna RZ4623, calling it a dependable mower. It can cut up to 3 acres -- 1 more than the SS5000 can -- with a 46-inch deck that users call solid and durable. "The Husqvarna deck feels like you can run into a brick wall and not dent it," says one Lowes.com customer.

An electric power takeoff engages the twin blades at the push of a button, but there's no cruise control or headlights. A couple of users say at Lowes.com that if you leave the mower parked in one place for too long, the exhaust cooks the grass underneath and leaves a brown spot.

Ease Of Use

Helpful convenience features. The RZ4623 has a maximum speed of 6.5 mph in forward and 3.5 mph in reverse, which is almost as fast as the Toro TimeCutter SS5000. Users praise the Husqvarna for being easy to handle, even for first-time zero-turn mower owners. Switching from a lawn tractor to a zero-turn mower is an "entirely different way of mowing," says one at Lowes.com, and it takes a few runs to become acclimated.

As with most top mowers, the RZ4623 uses a hydrostatic transmission. Its setup "lets you easily adjust your mowing speeds so that you mow large open areas at high speeds to get the job done fast, or at low speeds for easier maneuvering around trees and landscaping," says Castellanos.

This Husqvarna model has several convenience features that users love, including an hour meter with service reminders, a trailer hitch that works well with small attachments, a washout port for effortless deck cleaning and a 3.5-gallon fuel tank. However, it lacks a high-back seat and owners say it isn't quite as comfortable as some other mowers. Husqvarna covers the RZ4623 with a three-year warranty.

Safety

Poor handling. As with many zero-turn mowers, the RZ4623 uses caster wheels on the front, which can reduce traction and steering. "It handles poorly on slopes and its extra weight is a liability on soggy or soft ground," says one Lowes.com user. Another says, "We have uneven hilly areas to mow and the turf tires do not provide adequate traction for this application, so we changed tires to a tractor-type cleat."

Professional reviewers don't address the RZ4623's safety features, and Husqvarna doesn't specify whether recommendations from the American National Standards Institute are followed. One Lowes.com customer says, "I do like the fact that every safety position must be obtained to get a start."

Noise

Quieter than the Toro. Experts don't compare engine noise between zero-turn mowers, but do say that two-cylinder engines like the RZ4623's are typically quieter. Only a few users mention engine noise, and almost all call the Husqvarna quiet. One owner at Lowes.com says it's quieter than his previous zero-turn mower, a Toro TimeCutter. Experts recommend wearing hearing protection when using all zero-turn mowers.