EmailBest Reviewed
Lawn Tractors
- Best lawn tractor overall John Deere X304 *Est. $3600
- Best value, medium-duty lawn tractor John Deere LA115 *Est. $1750
- Budget lawn tractor for light duty Poulan XT PXT16542 *Est. $1000
- Best zero-turn lawn mower Toro TimeCutter Z4200 *Est. $2700
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Best lawn tractor overall
- Excellent performance
- Maneuverability and comfort
- Sturdy build, engine reliability
- Four-year warranty
- Expensive
The 42-inch John Deere X304 lawn tractor has better build quality than the entry-level John Deere LA series, and it is rated for mowing a larger area. Reviews praise the four-wheel steering and 15-inch turning radius, which make it easy to mow around trees and other obstacles. The X304 also wins praise for overall comfort, cruise control and many other conveniences. The warranty is for four years or 300 hours, whichever comes first. For smaller lawns with fewer obstacles, reviews recommend the less expensive LA series: for example, the John Deere LA115 (*Est. $1,750), though it may not last as long.
We found three excellent comparison reviews of the John Deere X304. At ConsumerReports.org, it's tested, rated and ranked in comparison with 21 less expensive lawn tractors. At the German publication Family Home and Garden, it's tested along with seven more comparable lawn tractors, over a longer period of use. At the Daily Telegraph (U.K.), it's one of five lawn tractors chosen for testing because all of them meet the strict emission limits set by the European Union. Useful comments from owners are at GardenWeb.com and ConsumerAffairs.com.
Our Sources
1. Family Home and Garden (Germany)
This German comparison test, translated by Google, names the John Deere X304 the clear winner among eight comparable lawn tractors tested over a summer of mowing by rotating testers on varied terrain. The ranking is based on 16 factors, but editors single out several features for special praise: the steering, mowing close to obstacles and overall comfort.
Review: Strong Performance in Long-Term Use -- Long-Term Mulching Lawnmower Test, Manfred Ecker Meier, April 2008
2. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
Consumer Reports compares the John Deere X304 lawn tractor with 21 models, all of which are less expensive. Ratings and rankings are based on several weeks of objective mowing tests in all three modes of handling clippings.
Review: Lawn Tractors, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, May 2009
This review says the John Deere X304 meets "the latest worldwide noise and emission regulations" and tractor hoods are made from recycled materials. It's the first review we've found that also evaluates each model for its environmental credentials.
Review: Best Ride-On Mowers (To Help the Llama), Jean Vernon, Apr. 20, 2007
This forum discussion compares the John Deere X304 with a zero-turn lawn tractor by Cub Cadet -- especially for mowing around obstacles. Most of the comments favor the John Deere for proven quality and durability, and several owners say it maneuvers around trees extremely well. Several other discussions at this forum also cover the John Deere X300 series.
Review: John Deere X304 Tractor or Cub ZTT 46, Contributors to GardenWeb.com, April 2008
This site publishes feedback from users and is well-organized by brand and manufacturer. Almost every lawn tractor manufacturer receives complaints here, including John Deere.
Review: John Deere, Contributors to ConsumerAffairs.com
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