The Best Honda Lawn Mowers
If you want your neighbors to be jealous of your lawn, then you need a Honda lawn mower. They're super durable and reliable. You will get the job done fast and have the best lawn on the block!
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The Best Honda Lawn Mowers
There is no better feeling than receiving compliments about your lawn, especially if you do all your yard work.
Mowing your lawn shouldn't take hours and feel like a chore. I had a cheap self propelled lawn mower that I picked up at my local hardware store. It was decent, but after like the tenth use, the rear wheel would lock up and drag along the lawn, and the engine was leaking oil all over the place. I don't recommend cheaping out on a lawn mower; It will be much more expensive in the long run.
If you want a beautiful lawn, then you need the right equipment. Nothing is more important than a lawn mower that can get the job done quickly and with little effort.
You cannot go wrong with a Honda lawn mower. They are the toughest mowers out there and are trusted by thousands.
Our Top 3 Best Honda Lawn Mowers
Honda mowers provide durability and reliability that no other mower brand can. They offer a variety of different models to best suit your needs.
You will find that we have chosen one mower from the HRX, HRC, and HRN series. The mowers in each one will be the same overall except for some features, like electric start, blade brake, and drive type.
You can spend more or less on these features in each series. It is totally up to you. The engine, blade, size, and cutting options will be the same, and they will all perform the same. The last three letters after the three numbers will determine the specific mower’s features.
All of the mowers on our list have engine sizes larger than 160ccs, a cutting width of 21 inches, rear-wheel drive, adjustable handles, adjustable cutting heights, mulching, bagging, and rear discharge capabilities, a blade clutch, twin blades, and cutting heights ranging from .75 inches to 4 inches. All of these features make these mowers amazing. The blade clutch is an important feature to consider because it allows you to stop the blades without turning the mower off.
The engine size, deck material, mulching bagging, and reviews determined their position on the list.
HRX217VYA
Why We Picked It
The HRX217VYA is the best Honda lawn mower on the market today, and it is the best mower that Honda makes. If you want a reliable and very durable lawn mower, this is it. This HRX series is trusted by thousands of homeowners and even some business owners.
Engine
This specific model comes with a Honda GCV200 gasoline engine. A very efficient and reliable engine. The 200ccs and an engine torque of 8.9 lbs is more than enough power to tackle any mowing job thrown at it. It is not advertised for commercial use but is more than capable.
Bagging and Mulching
The GCV200 paired with the Honda Microcut twin blades, will mulch any tall or wet grass without having deck clumping issues that can be very common in other mowers. It does a fantastic job at mulching. It will finely chop those clippings and will do any leaf shredding that you need. It is difficult to tell the difference between a mulched mow and a bagged mow.
With its Versamow System, this Honda mower allows you to control how much of the clippings you want to bag and mulch the rest. It also has one of the biggest bags on the market. That, along with the finely chopped clippings, means that you will be able to mow for much longer before stopping to empty the bag.
Deck/Wheels
Everything is attached to a high-quality polymer deck. You might think it is a cheap plastic deck, but it is not just any plastic deck. It is Honda's Nexite Deck. It is an extremely durable and light polymer composite similar to the material used in football helmets. It also comes with a lifetime warranty.
It has 9-inch rubber wheels that have ball bearings. Those ball bearings can be a problem when they begin to act up and require a little more maintenance than a mower without wheel bearings.
Each wheel has a lever to adjust the cutting height. I love this because if a height lever fails on me, I can replace that one wheel, not both wheels, like you have to do in some mowers. I can also have one wheel lever fail and adjust the height on the other three and still be able to finish the job.
Drive
This model is the most comfortable in the HRX lineup because of its Honda select drive. It is similar to a cruise control drive, but with this, you are in total control of the speed without reaching down to move a lever. It is all in the handle and your speed can be adjusted by either the adjust dial or the control handle.
Specs:
Series: HRX
Model: HRX217VYA
Engine: GCV200 (200cc and 8.9lbs of torque)
Deck: Honda Nexite (Polymer Composite)
Blade(s): Twin Blades
Cutting Width: 21 inches
Cutting height: 7 height positions on each wheel (0.75in - 4in)
Cutting Options: Bagging, Mulching, Rear Discharge, and leaf shredding
Bag Size: 2.5 bushels
Wheel Size: 9 inches
Drive: Self-propelled RWD Variable speed
Weight: 97lbs
Start Type: Pull Start
Warranty: 5 years and lifetime on Nexite Deck
Pros:
- Largest mulch bag in the market
- Control how much to bag or mulch
- Full control of speed
- RWD rubber wheels with ball bearings
- Blade brake (Roto stop)
- Each wheel has a height lever
- Lightweight
Cons:
- Expensive
- Auto choke can be an issue down the road
HRN216VYA
Why We Picked It
The HRN series is the most popular choice when it comes to residential mowers. This specific model is one of their self-propelled lawn mowers. They also offer a non-self-propelled version. If you want a cheaper mower with the capability of an HRX, then this is your mower.
Engine
The HRN216VYA comes with a great engine, the GCV170. It is a lightweight but powerful engine for its size, with 170ccs and 8.2 lbs of torque.
It is not the best Honda lawn mower engine, but it is powerful enough to do an excellent job at mulching and bagging. It might struggle a little when going uphill with a full bag, but you might encounter that issue with the other models as well.
I have read that some users encounter a small leak at the base of the oil stick base with this engine. It is not that common and, if encountered, can easily be fixed.
Bagging and Mulching
This model can also bag, mulch, and rear discharge clippings. It has a lever that will switch from bagging to mulching, but you won't be able to control how much you can bag.
You can only go full mulching or full bagging mode. The bag is smaller than the HRX models, but it is the same size as other walk-behind mowers in its class.
This mower has the same twin-blade Microcut system that the others have, so mulching and leaf shredding can be done without a problem. Even with a smaller engine, it has excellent suction and can suck up anything from leaves to small twigs, along with your clippings.
Deck/Wheels
The deck is made out of 16 gauge steel. This would make it heavy, but because it has a smaller and lightweight engine, it is light compared to some of its competitors.
The deck’s design can lead to slight deck clumping when mowing wet grass. It is also susceptible to corrosion, but the steel’s finish protects it from the elements that delay the corrosion process. With proper care and storage, you can delay this process even further.
The cut height on this walk-behind mower is adjusted by a single lever on the rear and a single lever on the front. One lever adjusts the height for both rear wheels and another for both front wheels. If a lever fails, you will have two wheels down instead of one which can prevent you from finishing a job.
It is all held up by four 8-inch plastic wheels. The wheels have no wheel bearings, just sintered metal bushings on the rear wheels. This means that there is no maintenance to be done on the wheels.
Drive
This is a true walk-behind lawn mower because it is a fully self-propelled mower, and is RWD like the other models. You might encounter a slight power loss when bagging wet grass and going uphill.
It has Honda's Smart Drive system that lets you control the mower’s speed with a lever on the handlebars. You push down on the lever with your thumbs, but the downside is that it can tire out your thumbs.
Most people love the cruise control lever, but it is not an option within this series. They offer a standard push mower version as well.
Specs:
Series: HRN
Model: HRN216VYA
Engine: GCV170 (170cc and 8.2lbs of torque)
Deck: 16 gauge steel
Blade(s): Twin Blades
Cutting Width: 21 inches
Cutting height: 7 height positions two levers (1in - 4in)
Cutting Options: Bagging, Mulching, Rear Discharge, and leaf shredding
Bag Size: 1.9 bushels
Wheel Size: 8 inches
Drive: Self-propelled RWDs or push mowers
Weight: 88lbs
Start Type: Pull Start
Warranty: 3 years
Pros:
- Largest mulch bag in the market
- Control how much to bag or mulch
- Full control of speed
- RWD rubber wheels with ball bearings
- Blade brake (Roto stop)
- Each wheel has a height lever
- Lightweight
Cons:
- Expensive
- Auto choke can be an issue down the road
HRC216HXA
Why We Picked It
The HRC series is similar to the HRX series but built solely for commercial use. Some homeowners tend to go with this series because of how reliable and heavy-duty these mowers are. This lawn mower is for you if you don't want the automatic choke and want extra durability instead.
Engine
This commercial Honda mower is powered by a GXV160. One of the most durable and reliable engines that Honda has, and it is built to last and take on the most demanding jobs. It may seem like a small engine with its 163cc and 7.1lbs of torque, but it does an excellent job at keeping up with the GCV200 found in the HRX series.
It does not have the easy start and the automatic choke system that the other engines on this list have. It has a manual fuel shut-off valve and a manual choke. Which makes things easier when servicing or fixing your own engine
Bagging and Mulching
This walk behind mower has great suction. Along with the Honda Microcut twin blades, it does an excellent job of mulching and bagging your grass clippings. Despite having a smaller engine, it does just as good of a job as the HRX series.
Just like the HRN models, it can only bag or mulch. You can't control how much to bag, but it comes with the 2.5-bushel bag that the HRX series does. It also offers an optional side discharge as well.
Deck/wheels
The deck on this mower is also made of 16 gauge steel that has a cutting width of 21 inches. It has a front bumper and deck guards for extra protection. This model is actually one of the heaviest mowers that Honda makes.
It sits on four 9-inch strong lightweight Nexite wheels. Each wheel has a height lever to adjust the cutting height. You have 8 cutting height options ranging from .75 inches to 4 inches. You will also find sealed ball bearings in each wheel.
Drive
This mower is also a self-propelled mower with RWD. It has a commercial cruise control hydrostatic transmission. This transmission uses a hydraulic pump and motor instead of a belt or a clutch which can wear and tear.
The cruise control is found on the side of the handlebars, which can be set at any speed you desire. It also allows you to let the mower idle while you stop to empty the bag. I don't like that I need to take a hand off the handlebars in order to adjust the speed, but it is not a deal breaker
This mower is also offered in a standard push mower option, just like the HRN series. If using this for commercial use, I would stay away from that and get the self-propelled version.
Specs:
Series: HRC
Model: HRC216HXA
Engine: GXV160 (163cc and 7.1lbs of torque)
Deck: 16 gauge steel
Blade(s): Twin Blades
Cutting Width: 21 inches
Cutting height: 8 height positions on each wheel (0.75in - 4in)
Cutting Options: Bagging, mulching, and side discharge
Bag Size: 2.5 bushels
Wheel Size: 9 inches
Drive: Self-propelled RWD Cruise control
Weight: 123lbs
Start Type: Pull Start
Warranty: 2 years
Pros:
- Largest mulch bag in the market
- Control how much to bag or mulch
- Full control of speed
- RWD rubber wheels with ball bearings
- Blade brake (Roto stop)
- Each wheel has a height lever
- Lightweight
Cons:
- Expensive
- Auto choke can be an issue down the road
FAQ
How long will a Honda lawn mower last?
With the proper care and storage, any of these Honda lawn mowers can last you at least 10 years of residential use and around 7 years of commercial use. If you don't care for your mower properly, expect them to last at least half of that.
When should I cut my grass?
Try to mow your lawn anywhere from late morning to mid-afternoon. This will allow any water or dew to dry up. It also depends on the grass you will be mowing, so make sure to research how to properly care for your grass type.
How do I know if my lawn mower blades are dull?
If you have mowed for more than 20 hours without sharpening your blades, it is time to sharpen. A good sign that your blades are dull is when you notice that the tip of the grass is brown and looks like it has been chewed instead of having a clean cut with no browning.
Another sign that your blades might need to be sharpened is if you notice that your mower is not mulching properly. Seeing small clumps here and there might signal that the blades need some service.
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