John Deere vs Toro Lawn Mowers: Which One is Better?
If you are in the market for a fast, durable and highly maneuverable lawn mower for your yard, you can never go wrong with either John Deere or Toro.
But which one is better? Read our John Deere vs Toro lawn mowers comparison article to find out.
Ready? Let’s dive right into it:
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.
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 John Deere and Toro Lawn Mowers
The main difference between them is that the Toro lawn mower has a wider range of deck sizes (20-96 inches) and generates more power output (15HP-44HP).
On the other hand, John Deere mowers come with deck sizes that range from 32-62 inches and engine power that is between 14.5HP- 37.4HP.
Best John Deere Lawn 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 Z515E ZTrak 24-HP V-Twin Dual Hydrostatic 54-in Zero-Turn Mower
The John Deere Z515E is a sturdy and durable zero-turn mower perfect for yards that are up to 2 acres.
It runs on a 24HP V-Twin John Deere Extended Series (ELS) engine to handle tough mowing conditions.
The 54-inch triple Accel Deep mower deck has enough capacity to mow tall grass at faster speeds. It has 18 cutting heights that can be adjusted from 1-4 inches to suit your varying needs.
Its 18-in back suspension seat with armrests ensures ultimate comfort while mowing.
Other features include a retractable seat belt, rollover protective structure, anti-scalp wheels, cup holder and dual hydrostatic transmission.
3. John Deere Z345M Zero-Turn Mower
The John Deere Z345M zero-turn mower comes with a 42-inch cutting deck that delivers an excellent cut quality at higher mowing speeds. It runs on a 22HP V-Twin John Deere branded engine for a smooth and powerful mowing operation.
The gas-powered mower features an 18-inch high back seat for maximum comfort while the foot platform flips up for easy access to the topmost part of the cutting deck for ease of maintenance.
This mowing machine has a heavy-duty formed and welded steel frame for reliability and strength.
The Z345M model has 18 cutting positions which can be adjusted from 1-4 inches to suit your mowing needs.
Other features include a cup holder, hour meter, dual EZT transmissions and large 18-inch drive tires.
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.
Best Toro Lawn Mowers
1. Toro Timecutter 60 in. Fab Deck Zero-Turn Mower
The Toro Timecutter 60 comes with an impressive 60-inch cutting swath that can tackle big 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 and 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.
2. Toro TimeCutter 42 in. Fab Deck MyRIDE Zero-Turn Riding Mower
The Toro TimeCutter 42 in. zero-turn mower comes with a MyRIDE suspension system to absorb bumps caused by rough terrain.
The SmartSpeed technology enables you to have optimal control over your mowing speed and pick your own pace.
It runs on a 23 HP Kawasaki V-twin 726cc engine for a powerful mowing operation.
Its 42-inch fabricated cutting deck is compact enough to navigate in tight areas. In addition, it has durable construction for a reliable mowing performance.
Its cutting heights can be adjusted from 1-05-4.5 inches to achieve customized cuts on lawns. Other features include dual wrap-around levers, shock-absorbing dampeners and deck washout ports.
3. 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 is powered by a Briggs and Stratton 223cc 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.
4. Toro 21 in. Super Recycler RWD Mower, 163cc, 21565
The Toro 21 in. RWD mower comes with wide-tread wheels to guarantee easy maneuverability and precise control on challenging terrain.
The flex handle suspension technology delivers optimal comfort for your hands and wrists. In addition, the mowing machine can be easily stored in your garage or shed.
Its dual blade accelerators help to deliver ultra-fine mulch to restore nutrients into the soil while the ball-bearing wheels reduce friction and elongate the lifespan of your mowing machine.
The RWD mower comes with a 21-inch cutting deck for efficient mowing on small and medium-sized yards.
It is powered by a 163cc Briggs and Stratton engine for a smooth mowing operation.
5. 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 comes with 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.
John Deere vs Toro Lawn Mowers
Here is a well-detailed comparison of John Deere vs Toro lawn mowers:
Design
John Deere commercial walk-behind mowers such as W52R and W61R models 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. The rollover protection structure provides operator protection.
Some John Deere mowers such as Z515E and Z345 models come with dual hydrostatic tuff torq with 1-inch axles for power and durability.
Some models like John Deere Z545R and Z530R have LED headlights and retractable seat belts for superb mowing operation.
On the other hand, Toro’s electric push lawn mowers have RunSmart software and an Automatic Drive system to enable you to mow at your own pace.
Their zero-turn mowers come with a high-back seat with armrests for comfort and a floor pan for easy access to the top of the cutting deck.
Toro models such as TimeCutter 54 in and 42-inch mowers feature Smart Speed technology which enables you to have maximum control over your mowing speed.
Other features include a tubular steel frame, rubber discharge chute, automatic parking brake cup holder and engine guard.
Engine Power
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.
Toro lawn mowers run on Honda, ZX, Kohler and Kawasaki engines. The engine power of these mowers ranges from 15HP-44HP.
Cutting Performance
John Deere’s lawn mowers come with a deck size that ranges from 36- 62 inches while Toro lawn mowers come with a deck size that ranges from 20- 96 inches.
Their zero-turn mowers such as John Deere Z345R and Z355E models have 18 cutting heights that can be adjusted from 1 to 4 inches.
John Deere zero-turn mowers can easily maneuver around level tracks of land, trees, shrubs or flower beds.
Toro zero-turn mowers operate efficiently on flat terrain and they can also maneuver well in narrow spaces.
Both lawn mowers are ideal for side discharge, mulching and bagging purposes.
Fuel Capacity
The fuel tank capacity of John Deere mowers ranges from 2.1 to 11.5 gallons. On the other hand, the fuel tank capacity of Toro lawn mowers ranges from ¼- 12 gallons.
Warranty
John Deere’s mowers offer a better warranty package of 2-4 years while Toro mowers are backed by a 3-4 warranty service.
Ease of Use
John Deere’s 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.
Toro-lawn mowers also offer 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.
They also have a high-back seat for comfortable mowing operations.
Cost
John Deere mowers are between $2,999- $ 28,019 while the cost of Toro mowers ranges from $269-$39,999.
Pros and Cons
John Deere Lawn Mowers
Pros:
- John Deere mowers are reliable and durable.
- They are built with a good tuff-torq transmission.
- John Deere mowers ensure easy and convenient operation.
Cons
- They are a bit pricey.
- Some of their models such as Z345M and Z335E mowers have a small fuel tank.
Toro Lawn Mowers
Pros:
- Toro mowers are durable and long-lasting.
- Toro mowing machines offer residential-grade, commercial-grade and heavy-duty mowing operations.
- Toro lawn mowers perform well on uneven terrain.
Cons
- They have weak wheel drivers.
- Toro mowers can stall in long and thick grass
Final Verdict: Which One Should You Buy?
Both John Deere and Toro brands make mowers that offer comfort, durability and reliability.
After considering their unique features, engine power and cutting performance, we recommend Toro mowers over John Deere mowers because they have a wider range of deck sizes and generate more power output.