You Don't Have To Pay A Lot For A Good Mower

SEATTLE - Here's some good news for anyone who needs to buy a new lawnmower this year: You don't have to pay $700 or more for a top performer.

For its May issue Consumer Reportstested two dozen mowers: self-propelled, push and electric.

The editors liked the new Honda HRR2163VXA, a gasoline-powered, self-propelled mower. It's performs about as well as the top-rated Honda HRX217HXA, but sells for less at $580.

The magazine's Peter Sawchuck says the Honda HRR has an interesting self-propelled drive system called "Smart Drive."

Here's how it works:

"There are two little paddles up on the handle bars which you push with your thumbs, kind of like you'd push the accelerator on a car," Sawchuck says. "Push down a little harder and it goes faster; you just lift your thumbs up and it slows down."

The Toro Recycler 20070, another self-powered model, was named a CR Best Buy. "It's very good at virtually everything it does," Sawchuck says. "At $400 it's a great price and that includes electric start."

If you're looking to pay even less and have a fairly small, flat yard to mow, consider the Yard-Man 11A-439Q, named a CR Best Buy. At $200, the magazine says it's a "good, inexpensive choice."

When it comes to mowing your lawn, Consumer Reports says gas-powered mowers still do a better job. But if you want an electric, consider the cordless Black & Decker CMM 1000. It has starts with the push of a button and produces zero emissions. At $430, the editors say, "it's pricey and provides limited run time per charge."

Peter Sawchuck says no matter what model you get, buy a second blade so you can change it during the season.

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