Cub Cadet vs Honda Lawn Mowers: Which One is Better?
Both Cub Cadet and Honda brands have been on the market for a long time and they manufacture durable mowing machines.
Trying to decide between the two popular mower brands? Our well-detailed Cub Cadet vs Honda lawn mowers comparison article can help.
In this article, we compare the two mowers to help you decide which one suits your varying needs.
Cub Cadet Brand Overview
Cub Cadet is an American company that was founded in 1960 and has its headquarters situated in Cleveland, Ohio.
It offers a wide range of products such as lawn and garden tractors, push mowers, self-propelled mowers, top rated zero-turn mowing machines, snow throwers and utility vehicles.
The company is committed to moving outdoor power equipment forward. They are well-known for innovative and durable products.
Cub Cadet lawn mowers stand out with well-designed mowing decks and cutting systems.
Honda Brand Overview
Honda was founded in 1948 by Soichiro Honda and Takeo Fujisawa. The company is one of the biggest and most popular automotive brands in the world.
They manufacture a wide variety of lawn care products such as lawn mowers, brush cutters, trimmers, blowers, and hedge trimmers alongside motorcycles, pumps, and generators.
Honda produces HRN residential series, HRX residential mowers, HRC commercial walk-behind mowers, and HRS discharge model series.
Honda mowers have solid cutting power, an easy starting system, and a high power out. They are more expensive than several mowers out there.
Key Differences Between Cub Cadet and Honda Lawn Mowers
The main difference between them is that Cub Cadet lawn mowers have larger deck sizes (21-60 inches) while Honda mowers come with a better warranty package (5 years).
Best Cub Cadet Lawn Mowers
1. Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 54 Zero-Turn Mower
The Cub Cadet ZT1 54 is a versatile mower ideal for mowing slight hills with several obstacles up to four acres.
It is powered by a 24 HP Kohler engine for smooth operation. The V-twin cylinders reduce vibration for a smoother ride.
The zero-turn mower is equipped with a high back seat for comfort while mowing. Its dual-LED headlights provide an ultimate vision for mowing in low-light conditions.
The riding mower has 54 in. fabricated deck combines with reinforced leading edges that result in fewer clumps and finer clippings.
It has 15 cutting positions which can be adjusted from 1 to 4.5 inches to ensure precise and even cut.
2. Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 42 Zero-Turn Mower
The Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 42 is a durable zero-turn mower suitable for yards that are up to 2-4 acres.
It comes with an 11-inch front wheel that can pivot 180 degrees without turf damage and 20-inch rear wheels to provide better traction on uneven terrain.
The dual-LED headlights provide an ultimate vision for mowing in low-light conditions.
The zero-turn mower features a 42-inch steel cutting deck to ensure efficient mowing on lawns. Its cutting options range from 1-4.5 inches to suit your mowing needs.
Other features include a high back seat, electronic fingertip blade engagement PTO, ergonomic hand grips and a removable floor pan for excellent mower performance.
3. Cub Cadet ZT2 50 Zero Turn Mower
The gas-powered mower is powered by a 23HP Kawasaki engine for a top mower performance.
It is equipped with a 50-inch cutting deck to enhance optimal mowing results on medium and large-sized yards.
The 13-inch and 20-inch rear tires provide a smooth ride on uneven grounds.
Other features include a high back seat, LED headlights and ergonomic hand grips.
4. Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 50 Zero-Turn Mower
The zero-turn mower runs on a premium 23 HP/726cc Kawasaki FR691V engine to meet the yard’s toughest demands.
It is equipped with a 50-inch AeroForce fabricated deck that offers superb grass-cutting performance on lawns.
The Cub Cadet ZT1 50 comes with a removable floor pan to enable easy accessibility to the deck and engine for ease of maintenance.
5. Cub Cadet Ultima ZTX4-60 Zero-Turn Mower
The Cub Cadet ZTX4-60 model can handle yards that are up to 4-12 acres with slightly rolling hills and several obstacles.
It comes with a 20-inch high back seat with cushioned armrests to provide maximum comfort.
Its 13-inch front wheels help to prevent turf damage while the 22-inch premium rear tires offer excellent traction on lawns.
The 60-inch AeroForce cutting deck with smooth arc triple-blades ensures superb grass-cutting performance on lawns.
The riding mower runs on a 24HP Kohler V-twin engine for a reliable starting.
Best Honda Lawn Mowers
1. Honda 662300 21 in. GCV200 4-in-1 Versamow System Walk-Behind Mower
The Honda 662300 walk-behind mower runs on a Honda GCV200 engine that can deliver powerful mowing on lawns.
Its variable speed select drive makes it easy to move around the yard with minimal effort.
The twin MicroCut System uses four cutting surfaces that can result in ultra-fine clippings for superior mulching and more clippings per bag.
It comes with a 21-inch cutting deck for efficient mowing on lawns.
The walk-behind mower has seven cutting heights that can be adjusted from ¾-inch to 4 inches to suit your mowing needs.
2. Honda 664100 GCV200 Versamow System 4-in-1 21 in. Walk-Behind Mower
The Honda 664100 is suitable for tackling tough mowing jobs. The 21-inch cutting deck is made of NeXite material to resist corrosion, rust and dents.
Its auto choke system enhances easy starting while the 3-position quick-release adjustable handle enhances comfortable mowing operations.
You can also fold the handle for compact storage. The gas-powered mower can mulch, bag, discharge and leaf shred via the 4-in-1 option.
The twin MicroCut System uses four cutting surfaces to provide ultimate cut quality and smaller clippings for better mulching and bagging.
3. Honda 664060 GCV170 Engine Smart Drive Self-Propelled Mower
The self-propelled mowing machine is powered by a Honda GCV170 engine for a reliable and easy start.
It also provides adequate power to tackle the toughest mowing conditions.
The Honda 664060 has a lightweight design, making it easy to maneuver on lawns. In addition, it is easy to assemble.
The gas-powered mower can be easily adjusted to seven cutting heights to enable you to cut the grass to the desired grass height.
Its twin-blade design provides fine cuts and small clippings.
4. Honda 663040 21 in. GCV170 Self-Propelled Lawn Mower
The Honda 663040 self-propelled mower is powered by a Honda GCV170 engine to tackle the toughest mowing conditions.
Its 21-inch steel deck optimizes air flow for superb mulching and bagging.
The gas-powered mower comes with a MicroCut twin-blade system to provide ultimate cut quality and smaller clippings for better mulching and bagging.
The four-position quick-release handle can be easily adjusted for compact storage while its 8-inch wheels ensure improved maneuverability on lawns.
5. Honda HRX217VLA 21” Walk Behind Lawn Mower w/Electric Start
The gas-powered mower is equipped with Honda MicroCut twin blades to provide ultra-fine clippings for superior mulching and more clippings per bag.
Its 21-inch deck is made of NeXite to prevent rust, dent or corrosion.
The mowing machine runs on a powerful and reliable Honda GCV200 engine to ensure superior mowing performance, even in thick grass.
Its 9-inch ball-bearing wheels provide smoother drive, maneuverability and increased durability.
Cub Cadet vs Honda Lawn Mowers
Here is a well-detailed comparison of Cub Cadet vs Honda lawn mowers:
Design
Both lawn mower brands come with innovative features to ensure superb mowing operation.
Some Cub Cadet walk-behind mowers feature a SmartJack deck wash system that allows you to clean the deck’s underside with ease.
The soft-touch foam grip handle ensures ultimate comfort while mowing.
Most Cub Cadet zero-turn mowers come with illuminating dual-LED headlights that provide ultimate vision in low-light conditions.
Their front and rear wheels prevent turf damage and ensure better traction on lawns.
The high back seat provides maximum comfort while mowing. The electronic fingertip blade engagement PTO ensures the smooth operation of the deck.
Other features include ergonomic lap bar design, parking brake, vibration-dampening soft rubber floor mat, and removable floor pan.
On the other hand, Honda mowers come with a MicroCut twin-blade system to provide ultimate cut quality and smaller clippings for better mulching and bagging.
They have a 3 or 4-position quick-release handle which can be adjusted for comfort or folded for compact storage.
Some Honda models such as Honda 664100 and 663040 models have an auto-choke system for easy and reliable starting.
The flywheel brake safety system quickly stops the engine when you let go of the flywheel brake lever.
Other features include a manual fuel shut-off valve, large ball-bearing wheels and a SelectDrive control.
Engine Power
Cub Cadet zero-turn mowers run on Kawasaki, Kohler and Briggs and Stratton engines. The engines have between 22-35 horsepower in different types.
Honda lawn mowers are powered by four-stroke GXV/GCV to ensure superb mowing performance and efficient fuel consumption.
Cutting Performance
The deck sizes of Cub Cadet lawn mowers range from 21 to 60 inches.
Most Cub Cadet zero-turn mowers have 15 cutting heights that can be adjusted from 1.5-4.5 inches.
Cub Cadet mowers can handle hilly landscape features and can tackle obstacles thanks to their large rear wheels.
Most Honda lawn mowers come with a 21-inch mower deck. HRR models have a cutting height that can be adjusted from 1.125 to 4 inches.
The cutting options of HRS models range from 1.35 inches while HRC and HRX series range from 0.5-4 inches.
In terms of cutting capabilities, both mowers can discharge, mulch or bag via the 3-in-1 option.
Some Honda models such as the HRX and HRS series have a 4-in-1 capability (rear discharge, mulching, bagging and leaf shred).
Fuel Tank Capacity
Most Cub Cadet zero-turn mowing machines such as Cub Cadet ZT1 50 and ZT2 50 models have a 3.5-gallon tank, meaning that you can always finish your mowing on a single tank.
On the other hand, most Honda lawn mower engines have a 0.98-quart fuel tank capacity.
Warranty
Cub Cadet zero-turn mowers come with a three-year warranty service while Honda mowing machines are backed by a five-year warranty.
Ease of Use
Cub Cadet riding mowers come with high back seats to ensure maximum comfort while mowing.
Their zero-turn mowers are comfortable to ride. It doesn’t take too long to get used to the controls of their zero-turn mowers.
Some Honda mower models come with an auto choke system for easy starting.
The mower’s handle can be easily adjusted to three or four positions for comfort or compact storage.
The HXA, HYA and HZA models come with a cruise control hydrostatic transmission to enable you to set and easily change the speed.
Cost
The cost of Cub Cadet mowers ranges from $379-$24,999 while the cost of Honda lawn mowers ranges from $469-$1,489.
This means that Honda walk-behind mowers are pricier than Cub Cadet walk-behind mowers.
Pros and Cons
Cub Cadet Lawn Mowers
Pros:
- They are durable and efficient.
- Cub Cadet mowers are easy to control and maneuver.
- They can easily cut around objects such as flower beds and bushes.
Cons
- Cub Cadet mowers are not fuel-efficient.
- Their zero-turn mowers do not handle slopes well.
Honda Lawn Mowers
Pros:
- Honda mowers provide enough power to complete your mowing task.
- They are easy and comfortable to use.
- Honda mowers are reliable and durable.
Cons
- DIY repairs are a bit difficult.
- Honda walk-behind mowers are a bit pricey.
Final Verdict: Which One Should You Buy?
Both Cub Cadet and Honda lawn mowers could be an ideal choice for you but it depends on what suits your mowing needs.
If you have a yard that is less than one acre, we recommend Honda lawn mowers such as Honda 662300 GCV200 and Honda 664100 GCV200 walk-behind mowers.
However, if you own a yard that is more than an acre, we recommend Cub Cadet zero-turn mowers such as Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 54 and ZT1 42 models.