The Best Honda Lawn Mowers to Make Short Work of Your Long Grass

Has your lawn mower reached the end of the road? Well, unfortunately, nothing lasts forever. But the best equipment does last a great deal longer than the rest. When it comes to lawn mowers, Honda is one of the brands that are a cut above the rest.

For over 70 years, Honda has manufactured some of the most popular things that go “vroom-vroom,” including lawn mowers. In this guide, we’ll look at what makes this Japanese brand so great, as well as highlights from our picks for the best Honda lawn mowers.

Backyard Boss Top 5 Honda Lawn Mowers

Why You Can Trust Us

When I was a teenager, and throughout my twenties, I worked as a part-time landscaper and lawn care specialist. One of the first riding mowers I operated was a little red Honda. It must have been older than I was at the time, but it still ran like a champ. We also operated Cub Cadets, Toros, Craftsman, and other brands of lawn care and landscaping equipment.

Today, I mow my yard using a self-propelled mower topped with a 150cc Briggs and Stratton motor. It is not a Honda, but I will always remember zipping around lawns on that little red Honda and how well it cut grass regardless it was at least 25 years old.

Best Self-Propelled Lawn Mower

What We Like: This Honda gas lawn mower is also a bagger and a mulcher. It comes with a robust motor and super-fine cutting blades.

The first Honda self-propelled mower on our list is a powerhouse walk-behind well-suited for almost any yard. In addition to its advanced self-propulsion system, it features a big and powerful updated GCV200 engine, a Micro-Cut twin-blade cutting system, and a rust-free signature NeXite deck. 

This Honda self-propelled lawn mower is fully adjustable with seven height settings and a three-position quick-release adjustable handle. It is also crucial to point out that the deck of the mower has a limited lifetime warranty, and the rest of the mower is covered by Honda’s five-year manufacturer warranty.

Who Should Buy It: If you’re tired of your back doing all the work when it’s time to cut the grass, the NeXite Variable Speed 4-in-1 can help you get it done while barely breaking a sweat.

Best Reel Mower

What We Like: The California Trimmer takes the superior grass cutting skills of a reel mower and updates it with an engine to do all the hard work for you. 

Most landscaping professionals agree that a reel mower gives your lawn a superior trim, leaving no blade of grass out of place. Honda has gone and added an engine and self-propulsion capabilities to this reel mower for superior results with less effort. This reel mower is self-propelled. That means you get a beautifully manicured lawn, typical of reel mowers, without having to push a manual reel mower around your yard.

Reel mowers have been the weapon of choice for landscaping professionals for decades. It all comes down to the fact that reel mowers are more effective at cutting the grass, like a pair of sharp scissors, instead of tearing or shredding the grass like typical mowers. The result is a beautiful lawn, every time.

Who Should Buy It: If you’re serious about your lawn and imagine frolicking in a yard that rivals a golf course in terms of perfection, consider this reel mower. If you’re in charge of maintaining a golf course, give this machine a whirl to keep your tees in tip-top shape.

Best Commercial Lawn Mower

What We Like: The HRXHYA is a step up compared to other NeXite models, performance-wise. It also comes with slightly smarter features and nicely adjustable settings.

The third Honda machine on our list also happens to be the second NeXite model we picked. This one is a great choice for commercial operations or larger yards when a riding mower isn’t an option (or simply isn’t desired). It has the same strengths as our top pick, the standard 21-Inch NeXite, but with a few more bells, whistles, and advantages.

For example, it comes with a hydrostatic setup that allows for such benefits as cruise control and precise speed control. It also features Honda’s signature Roto-Stop capability as Honda’s signature auto-choke system.

Who Should Buy It: For bigger mowing jobs, be it your lawn or a client’s property, this self-propelled walk-behind from Honda is just the sort of machine needed to reduce not only cutting times but maintenance tasks as well.

Best Standard Lawn Mower

What We Like: Sometimes, you just need a solid lawn mower to get the job done, no frills required. If this sounds like you, this Honda Lawn Mower might be what you’re looking for. 

The large, powerful engine will breeze through some tough terrain. The dual blades make sure that no blades are left uncut. The roto-stop feature stops the blade without stopping the engine, perfect for emptying the bag or adjusting the blade height on the go.

Talking about the grass bag, this mower has an easy adjustment system to decide where the clippings go. Simply slide the clip directly to the appropriate setting, and your mower will direct the clippings to be mulched, bagged, or discharged. Easy as that.

Who Should Buy It: This is the machine for you if you’re looking for a reliable lawn mower that will leave you with a neat lawn. The roto-stop feature, as well as the clip director feature, means you can adjust your settings and preferences without stopping and starting. 

Best Budget Lawn Mower

What We Like: This classic Honda push mower is everything you could ask for in a standard machine and then some. It cuts, mows, bags, and is lighter than many comparable units.

A slightly lesser version of the NeXite mowers featured higher up on our list, this 3-in-1 Self-Propelled HRN Honda with new GCV170 is a real deal for those looking for the best value for their money. Sure, it isn’t a 4-in-1, but it functions as a mulcher and bagger. It also comes with some of the best features of more expensive walk-behinds like seven cutting height positions, Micro-Cut twin-blades, and auto choke.

The bottom line? This Honda push lawn mower is a souped-up push mower with a self-propulsion system and is by far one of the best cheap mowers around.

Who Should Buy It: For those looking for a standard mower that is both affordable and easy to use at the same time, the HRN Variable Speed Walk Behind may be the best option.

What Sets Honda Lawn Mowers Apart?

Honda has made waves in the outdoor power equipment and lawn care industries ever since they decided to get into the game back in the late 1940s. The company changed the face of the lawn mower market forever with the release of the world’s first BBC-style model lawn mower. BBC, or blade brake clutch, was created by Honda in the late 1970s.

This new design made it possible for the blade to stop spinning without cutting the engine off. It also incorporated less noise and vibration than other mowers that existed at the time. Further, it paved the way for manufacturers, including Honda themselves, to produce equipment that performs better, lasts longer, and is safer for operators.

During the early 1980s, Honda did it again with the creation of the first four-stroke walk-behind lawn mower. The mower was built with an overhead valve engine, which made it even quieter than earlier machines. It also made it more fuel-friendly and easier to start as well.

Today, Honda continues to produce high-quality mowers that have true longevity. Like I mentioned at the beginning of this article, I can personally vouch for using a 25 to 30-year-old Honda machine that was more reliable than some of our newer mowers were at the time. Part of the reason Honda mowers are so long-lasting and reliable is that they are easy to work on, and parts are widely available.

Types Of Honda Mowers

As one of the leaders in the lawn mower try, Honda produces a wide variety of lawn mowers that will fit most property owners’ needs. Honda produces four-wheeled petrol lawn mowers, rear-roller mowers, electric mowers, and ride-on mowers.

All of Honda’s gas-powered machines are powered by a 4-stroke engine, which was a huge innovation when it was first released. It is all testament that Honda is committed to producing machines at the leading edge of innovation when it comes to efficiency.

Honda’s ethos is simple; build better machines that last longer. That’s why you might see an ancient Honda Izy, the brand’s most popular lawnmower, still mowing lawns in your neighborhood today. It is a pushed wheel mower perfect for the small home garden. They have larger versions of the Izy for larger gardens, and they even have a self-propelled version for the less athletically inclined folks among us.

If you like to maintain your lawn in tip-top shape at all times, or if you’re a landscaper for the Queen, the HRX range might be more suited to your needs. This range is designed for the larger yard in mind and brings new levels of comfort and cutting performance to your lawn. You can also choose to mulch or collect the clippings or do a mixture of both for some reason.

Honda also has a range of mowers that come with a rear-roller attachment. It will allow you to mow striped patterns into your lawn if you so wish. In keeping up with the times, there is a range of Honda electric lawn mowers that are gaining in popularity.

Notable Features

A brand like Honda doesn’t develop its reputation overnight. It takes years of consistent quality and innovation to get to this point. Here’s how all those years of innovation affect you.

First off, Honda engines have a reputation for being easy to work on with widely available parts. It is a major factor, as anything with moving parts will require maintenance and spare parts at some point. Nobody wants to sit with a broken engine while you wait weeks for an essential part to show up. It won’t be the case with a Honda.

When it comes to lawnmowers specifically, Honda’s have their fair share of notable features. While the following is no longer a big deal, when Honda released a lawnmower powered by a four-stroke engine, it changed the lawnmower industry. All of Honda’s machines are still powered by four-stroke engines thanks to the lower emissions noise levels associated with four-strokes.

Honda lawn mowers are designed to cut grass into smaller clippings. It means that your collection bag can hold more grass while making it easier to collect that grass. The grass bag is also easy to remove. All Honda lawnmowers have ball-bearings supporting the wheels, which means greater maneuverability and durability for you.

FAQ’s

At what height should I mow my lawn?

If you’re mowing long grass, first mow at the highest possible setting and then mower again at a lower setting a few days later. Don’t take off more than a third of the grass height in one mowing. Otherwise, you’re at risk of developing brown spots. If you look closely at your grass, you’ll notice grass has stems and leaves. If you cut off all the leaves, your grass will struggle to bounce back after mowing.

How do I know if the blade is dull? 

A sharp blade cuts cleanly. A dull blade tears the grass, leaving shredded tips that turn brown.

When should I cut my grass? 

Ultimately, this comes down to personal preference. When your grass has grown to between 1/2 inch and 1 inch above the desired height, you should consider mowing again. It’s important to allow your lawn a few days between mowing to recover. That being said, if you mulch your clippings, you may need to mow your lawn up to twice a week.

Does it matter in which direction I mow? 

For the evenest results, overlap each mowing pass by an inch or two. For longer grass, increase the overlap for best results. Unless you have a rear-roller fitted to your mower, the direction in which you mow doesn’t make much of a difference, as long as you make sure you overlap with each pass.

How We Picked

Honda is one of the brands that seems like it never fails. From their long-lasting and gas-friendly cars to their durable walk-behind and riding mowers, the company continues to leave its mark on the markets that they compete in.

For this guide, we sorted through all of the most popular models of Honda lawn mowers, including push, self-propelled, and riding versions. The task was not easy, but we rolled up our sleeves, put our noses down, and hit that grindstone with everything we had. What we ended up with is five of the best Honda mowers for homeowners and lawn care specialists just like you.

Picking the Best Honda Mower for You

The best Honda lawn mower is Honda’s standard NeXite GCV200. The mower has a larger engine than most typical self-propelled units, smarter features, and a 5-year warranty (as well as lifetime coverage on the deck). All in all? This machine is great for small, medium, and large yards as well as commercial lawn care work, and it comes at a price that is more than fair.

Choosing the right Honda lawn mower for you and your yard doesn’t have to be rocket engineering. It also doesn’t need to break your budget. Hopefully, our guide helps you narrow down your selection and make the best-informed purchase possible. Just keep your personal needs, yard size, and personal preferences in mind, and you should have no problem picking the best Honda mower for you.