Cub Cadet vs Toro Lawn Mowers: Which One is Better?
Cub Cadet and Toro lawn mowers offer standard maneuverability, immense speed and high-power output.
Are you trying to decide between the two mowing machines? Then you might need to read our well-detailed comparison article.
In this article, we provide a head-to-head comparison of Cub Cadet vs Toro lawn mowers, evaluating metrics such as design, warranty, cutting performance, engine power, and cost.
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.
Toro Brand Overview
Toro is an American firm based in Bloomington, Minnesota.
The company designs, manufactures, and markets lawn mowers, snow blowers, and irrigation system supplies for agricultural, commercial, residential, and public sector use.
Founded in 1914, the Toro Motor Company was established to manufacture engines for an agricultural tractor manufacturer named The Bull Tractor Company.
It has generated a great reputation for its reliability, durability and exceptional mower design.
Toro offers a wide range of lawn mowers such as push lawn mowers, self-propelled mowers, ride-on mowers and mulching mowers.
Key Differences Between Cub Cadet and Toro Lawn Mowers
The main difference between them is that Toro lawn mowers come with larger decks (20-96 inches) while Cub Cadet mowers are cheaper.
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 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 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 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.
3. Cub Cadet ZT2 50 Zero Turn Mower
The Cub Cadet ZT2 50 mower 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 ZT2 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.
4. 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 15 cutting heights that range from 1- 4.5 to suit your mowing requirements.
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 enhance 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 Toro Lawn Mowers
1. Toro 60 in. Titan Max Zero-Turn Lawn Mower
The Toro zero-turn mower runs on a 26 HP Kohler engine that can get ground speeds up to 9.0 mph. It features a high back seat with armrests to enhance comfort while mowing.
The riding mowing machine is suitable for yards with obstacles that are up to seven acres.
Its blade speed of 19, 908 FPM can rip through even the wettest grass while preventing clumping.
It is equipped with a 60-inch cutting deck for efficient mowing on lawns.
Other features include a cup holder, step-through front deck, headlights, tubular steel frame, and removable floor pan.
2. Toro Timecutter 60 in. Fab Deck Zero-Turn Mower
The Toro Timecutter 60 in. comes with an impressive 60-inch cutting swath that can tackle large lawns.
Its IronForged Cutting System is designed to produce an even and clean cut on lawns.
The zero-turn mower has a ground speed of 7 MPH in mow mode, 5.5 MPH in tow mode and 4 MPH in trim mode.
The high-back seat with armrests provides maximum comfort and support while mowing.
3. Toro TimeCutter 54 in. MyRide Zero Turn Mower
The Toro Timecutter is an efficient zero-turn mower perfect for yards that are up to 4 acres.
It has a high-back seat with armrests that provide maximum comfort and support while mowing. The bladescan whip around at top speeds of 18,000 ft/minute.
Its Smart Speed technology enables you to have complete control over your mowing speed.
It is equipped with a durable 54-inch cutting deck for exceptional cutting performance on lawns.
The gas mower runs on a 24 HP Kohler V-Twin engine for a smooth operation.
4. Toro 30 in. TimeMaster 223cc Self-Propelled Lawn Mower
The self-propelled lawn mower features a 30-inch cutting deck that allows you to cut a wider path on every pass.
It comes with a Toro Spin-stop blade stop system to prevent the blade from spinning unless you are ready to continue.
It runs on a 223cc Briggs and Stratton engine to ensure a powerful mowing operation.
The self-propelled mower has side discharge, mulching and bagging capabilities.
Other features include an adjustable handle, recoil starter, cast-aluminum frame and Toro atomic blades.
5. Toro 22 in. Recycler RWD Auto Drive Mower, 163cc
The Toro 22-inch mowing machine is perfect for yards that are up to ¼- ½ acre.
The auto-drive mower can cut a wider path with each pass with an extra-long 22-inch blade.
The mowing machine can also cut through tight spaces with ease.
It has nine cutting positions that can be adjusted from 1-4 inches to suit your varying needs.
The wheels are designed with a tread pattern to ensure better traction.
Cub Cadet Vs Toro Lawn Mowers
Here is a well-detailed comparison of Cub Cadet vs Toro 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 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, Toro’s electric push mowers come with RunSmart software and an Automatic Drive system to enable you to mow at your pace.
Their zero-turn mowers are marked by features such as a high-back seat with armrests for comfort and support and a floor pan for easy access to the top side of the deck.
Other features include a rubber discharge chute, tubular steel frame, engine guard, automatic parking brake and cup holder.
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.
Toro lawn mowers run on Honda, ZX, Kohler and Kawasaki engines. The engine power of these Toro mowers ranges from 15HP-38 HP.
This means that most Toro lawn mowers generate more power output than several Cub Cadet mowers.
Cutting Performance
The deck sizes of Cub Cadet lawn mowers range from 21 to 60 inches while Toro lawnmowers come with a deck size that ranges from 20- 96 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.
Toro zero-turn mowers perform well on flat terrain but may not maneuver well on hilly terrain.
Similar to Cub Cadet zero-turn mowers, Toro zero-turn mower models can also fit into narrow spaces.
Both lawn mowers are ideal for side discharge, mulching and bagging purposes.
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, the fuel tank capacity of Toro lawn mowers ranges from ¼- 12 gallons.
Warranty
Cub Cadet zero-turn mowers come with a three-year warranty service while Toro mowers are backed by a 3-4 year warranty.
Ease of Use
Both Cub Cadet and Toro riding mowers come with high back seats to ensure maximum comfort while mowing.
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.
Toro lawn mowers also offer more ease-of-use features such as a step-through front deck for easy on and off and a removable floor pan for quick access to the top of the cutting deck.
Cost
The cost of Cub Cadet mowers ranges from $379-$24,999 while the cost of Toro lawn mowers is between $269-$39,999
This shows that Toro mowers are pricier than Cub Cadet 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
Toro Lawn Mowers
Pros:
- Toro mowers perform well on uneven terrain.
- They are durable and long-lasting.
- Toro mowing machines offer residential-grade, commercial-grade and heavy-duty mowing operations.
Cons
- They have weak wheel drivers.
- Toro mowers can stall in long and thick grass.
Final Verdict: Which One Should You Buy?
Both Cub Cadet and Toro lawn mowers are durable, reliable, and efficient. They also have large mowing decks, powerful engines, and innovative designs.
However, if you are more concerned about cutting power, we recommend Toro lawnmowers because they have a wider range of large cutting decks.