Cub Cadet Vs John Deere Lawn Mowers: Which One Is Better?
Both Cub Cadet and John Deere brands have a good reputation for producing sturdy, durable, and reliable lawn mowers.
They are almost the same in terms of quality and performance.
But the big question is, which one is better? Read our Cub Cadet vs John Deere mower comparison article to find out!
Ready? Let’s dive right into it:
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, zero-turn mowers, 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.
John Deere Brand Overview
John Deere is the brand name of Deere & Company, an American firm that produces heavy equipment, forestry machinery, agricultural machinery, diesel engines, and other lawn care equipment.
The company was founded in 1837 and has its headquarters in Moline, Illinois.
John Deere is well-known for its durability, exceptional mower design, and excellent customer service.
With more than fifty years of manufacturing riding lawn mowers, John Deere has sold millions of outdoor equipment and these tools have played an important role in lawn maintenance.
Key Differences Between Cub Cadet and Bad Boy Zero-Turn Lawn Mowers
The main difference between them is that John Deere mowers have larger decks (36-62 inches) while Cub Cadet mowing machines are cheaper.
Best Cub Cadet Zero-Turn Mowers
1. 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.
2. Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 54 Zero-Turn Mower
The Cub Cadet ZT1 54 is a versatile ideal for mowing slight hills with several obstacles up to four acres.
It runs on a powerful 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 decks combined 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.
3. 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 owing 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.
4. Cub Cadet ZT2 50 Zero Turn Riding Mower
The Cub Cadet ZT2 50 zero turn is powered by a 23HP Kawasaki engine for a top mower performance.
It is equipped with a 50-inch AeroForce deck with reinforced leading edges that results in fewer clumps, finer clippings, and increased evenness.
The XT2 50 model has 15 cutting heights that can be adjusted from 1-4.5 inches to suit your mowing needs.
The 13-inch and 20-inch rear tires provide improved traction and offer a better ride on uneven grounds.
Other features include a high back seat, LED headlights, and ergonomic hand grips.
5. Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 50 Zero-Turn Mower
The ZT1 50 model 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 a nice cut with fewer clumps, finer clippings, and increased evenness.
The zero-turn mower has fifteen deck positions that range from 1- 4.5 to suit your mowing requirements.
Best John Deere Zero-Turn Mowers
1. John Deere Z530R 24-HP V-Twin Dual Hydrostatic 60-inch Zero-Turn Mower
The John Deere Z530R runs on a 24 HP John Deere Branded Kawasaki V-twin engine for a powerful mowing operation.
The 60-inch triple-blade high-capacity mower deck enhances efficient mowing on medium and large-sized yards.
It comes with LED headlights to provide ultimate vision in dark and low-light conditions.
Other features include rollover protective structure (ROPS), retractable seat belt, 22.5-in cut, and sewn seat with armrest and cup holder.
2. John Deere Z365R ZTrak 24-HP Dual Hydrostatic 48-inch Zero-Turn Lawn Mower
The John Deere Z375R is a durable and study zero-turn mower perfect for medium and large-sized yards.
It is equipped with a 48-inch triple Accel Deep Mower Deck that can cut tall grass at faster speeds.
This sturdy deck is capable of handling tough mowing and mulching conditions.
It can also maneuver around trees, flower beds, and shrubs. Its 18-in back two spring suspension seat with armrests enhances comfort.
3. John Deere Z345R 22-HP 42-inch Zero-Turn Mower
The John Deere Z345R ZTrak mower runs on a 22HP V-Twin John Deere engine which provides more power and torque for the mower to handle tough mowing, mulching, and bagging conditions.
The zero-turn mower mows fast with the 42-inch twin-blade Accel Deep Mower Deck. In addition, it operates efficiently on tall grass at faster speeds.
Other features include a comfortable 18-in two-spring suspension seat with armrests, cupholder, foot lift, and premium control levers.
4. John Deere W52R Commercial Walk-Behind Mower
The John Deere W52R runs on an 18.5 HP V-twin engine to provide smooth operation and plenty of power.
The 52-inch floating mower deck ensures efficient mowing on lawns while its convenient controls enhance operator comfort and productivity
The self-propelled drive system provides infinite mowing speeds while its welded frame ensures superior durability.
There is also an optional mulching attachment to restore nutrients to the soil while an optional grass catcher enhances the easy collection of grass and leaves.
5. John Deere W48R Commercial Walk-Behind Lawn Mower
The John Deere W48R is powered by an 18.5HP V-twin engine to provide smooth operation and plenty of power.
Its 48-inch floating mower deck ensures superb grass-cutting performance on lawns. The easy-to-use controls enhance operator comfort and convenience.
The self-propelled drive system provides infinite mowing speeds while its welded frame ensures superior durability.
Cub Cadet Vs John Deere Lawn Mowers
Here is a well-detailed comparison of Cub Cadet vs John Deere lawn mowers:
Design
Both lawn mower brands come with innovative features to ensure top-notch mower operation.
Some Cub Cadet walk-behind mowers feature a SmartJack deck wash system that allows you to clean the deck’s underside with ease while the soft-touch foam grip handle ensures maximum user comfort.
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, John Deere commercial walk-behind mowers such as W52R and W61R have easy-to-use controls for operator comfort and fabricated floating mower decks to ensure a high-quality cut.
Their zero-turn mowers come with suspension seats with armrests, and cup holders for comfortable mowing operations.
They have dual hydrostatic hydro-gear transmissions with 1-inch axles for power and durability.
Some models like John Deere Z545R and Z530R have rollover protective structure (ROPS), LED headlights, and retractable seat belts for superb mowing operation.
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.
John Deere mowers run on John Deere branded engines and branded Kawasaki V-twin engines.
The horsepower ratings of their walk-behind mowers range from 14.5 Hp- 25HP while their zero-turn mowers range from 20- 37.4hp.
This means that John Deere mowers offer more power output than several Cub Cadet mowers.
Cutting Performance
The deck sizes of Cub Cadet zero-turn mowers range from 21 to 60 inches while John Deere zero-turn mowers come with a deck size that ranges from 36- 62inches.
This means that the John Deere mowers can ensure efficient and faster mowing on lawns.
Most Cub Cadet zero-turn mowers have 15 cutting heights that can be adjusted from 1.5-4.5 inches.
John Deere zero-turn mowers like John Deere Z345R and Z355E models have 18 cutting heights that can be adjusted from 1 to 4 inches.
Cub Cadet zero-turn mowers come with three blades while John Deere’s zero-turn mowers have two blades.
John Deere zero-turn mowers can easily maneuver around level tracks of land, trees, shrubs, or flower beds and can handle rough terrains a bit better than its counterpart.
Both lawn mowers are ideal for side discharge, mulching, and bagging purposes.
Fuel 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, the fuel tank capacity of John Deere mowers ranges from 2.1 to 11.5 gallons.
John Deere wins this category because it has a larger fuel tank capacity.
Warranty
Cub Cadet zero-turn mowers come with a three-year warranty service while John Deere’s mowers offer a better warranty package of 2-4 years.
Ease of Use
Both Cub Cadet and John Deere riding mowers come with high back seats and rubber floor matting to ensure maximum comfort while mowing.
They also have an automatic drive system to ensure a simpler and more comfortable rider mower experience.
Cub Cadet zero-turn mowers are comfortable to ride. It doesn’t take too long to get used to the controls of their zero-turn mowers.
John Deere zero-turn mowers have easy-to-use control panels for easy mowing operations.
The lap bar panels allow users to adjust the speed settings of the mower while its color-coded controls are for easy identification.
Cost
The cost of Cub Cadet mowers ranges from $379-$23,999 while John Deere mowers are between $2,999- $ 28,019.
This shows that John Deere’s mowers are pricier than Cub Cadet mowers.
Pros and Cons
Cub Cadet Lawn Mowers
Pros:
- Cub Cadet lawn mowers have strong and responsive transmission
- They are easy to control and maneuver.
- Cub Cadet zero-turn mowers can easily cut around objects such as flower beds and bushes
Cons
- Their zero-turn mowers do not handle slopes well
- Cub Cadet mowers are not fuel-efficient.
John Deere Lawn Mowers
Pros:
- They ensure easy and convenient operation.
- John Deere mowers are reliable and durable.
- They are built with a good tuff-torq transmission.
Cons
- John Deere mowers are a bit pricey.
- Some of their models such as the John Deere Z335E and Z345M mowers have a small fuel tank.
Final Verdict: Which One Should You Buy?
Both Cub Cadet and John Deere brands produce high-quality mowing machines.
They feature sturdy mowing decks, powerful engines, and ergonomic design to ensure remarkable cutting results.
Overall, we recommend John Deere lawn mowers over Cub Cadet mowers because they have larger cutting decks, a better warranty package, and can handle rough terrains better than their counterpart.