Poulan XT PXT16542

Like most lawn tractors with manual transmission, the Poulan XT PXT16542 is a budget model; the front axle is stamped steel rather than cast iron. Poulan is a budget brand, but it's owned by Husqvarna, a company with a good track record for reliability. Owners give this model higher ratings than a comparably priced Bolens lawn tractor, and the 42-inch mowing deck is a size reviewers recommend for most homeowners because it cuts more evenly than larger decks. If you can afford it, however, reviews prefer the 42-inch John Deere LA 115 (*Est. $1,750), which has a cast iron axle, automatic transmission and other conveniences, and comes with anti-scalping wheels to keep blades from digging into the lawn.

We found a handful of owner-written reviews of the Poulan XT PXT16542 at HomeDepot.com. An owner-written review of an older five-speed Poulan Pro tractor at Amazon.com is also useful in assessing this brand, as is a detailed single-product review of a bigger Poulan model at ConsumerGuide.com.