Cub Cadet vs John Deere vs Husqvarna

Tractors, just like hotdogs are great American symbols. Tractor mowers, lawn mowers, garden tractors, riding lawn mowers, and riding mowers are legendary symbols of the American way of life. Cub cadet vs john deere vs husqvarna are three of the most iconic riding mower brands. Which one is the best for you?

If you have a big lawn, it is more practical to have a riding mower than a walk-behind mower. Riding mowers are more expensive than traditional walk-behind mowers but they are worth the price when you have to tend to a big lawn. 

Riding mowers enormously speed up the process and requires less work to tend to a lawn that is at ½ acre or larger. 

If you need to buy a riding mower or tractor lawn mower, Cub Cadet LT46 vs. John Deere E120 vs. Husqvarna YTH24V48 is three of your best options. 

Cub Cadet

Cub Cadet is an American machine and outdoor power tools manufacturer. It started off as one of the lines of International Harvester in 1961. Today is a subsidiary of MTD Products. Cub Cadet manufactures garden and lawn tractors, snow-blowers, lithium ion- and gasoline-powered handheld and chore products and other similar equipment. 

John Deere

John Deere is an American company established in 1837 as a maker of large tools such as shovels and pitchforks.  Today, the company manufactures forestry, agricultural, and manufacturing machinery. It also manufactures gearboxes, transmissions, and axel drive axels as well as lawn and garden care machinery and equipment. 

Husqvarna​

Husqvarna, a Swedish company was established in 1689. It started as a military weapons foundry and in its over 300 years of operation has manufactured everything from motorcycles to sewing machines. Since 1918, it has focused on the manufacture of lawn mowers, power cutters, chainsaws, and other power tools. 

Riding Lawn Mowers

A riding lawn mower is a major investment thus homeowners want to make sure they find a brand that will give them long years of service. When you speak about riding lawn mowers Cub cadet vs john deere vs husqvarna are always part of the conversation. 

What is the average life of a riding lawn mower? The average life of a riding lawn mower depends on such factors as engine and transmission types as well as its care and maintenance. 

So, what is the average life of a riding lawn mower?  A well-maintained riding lawn mower could last for between 7-10 years. In terms of mowing hours, it will be roughly between 200 for the low quality and inexpensive machines and up to 500 hours for the top quality brands.

Putting heavy strains on the blades from overgrown and thick grass can also affect what so the average life of a riding lawn mower. 

Going back to the discussion of which is the right riding mower or tractor lawn mower, here is a comparison of husqvarna vs john deere vs cub cadet lawn tractor. 

Specs	Cub Cadet LT46	John Deere E120	Husqvarna YTH24V48
Drive Type	Tuff Torq® foot-controlled hydrostatic transmission (K46	Two Pedal Hydrostatic Transmission	Pedal-operated Hydrostatic Transmission
Engine HP	22 HP Kohler®	(20 hp)	24 hp Briggs & Stratton
Cylinders	7000 Series twin-cylinder engine	V-twin Engine	V-twin
Fuel Capacity	3-gallon	2.4 U.S. gal.
Forward Speeds	Variable	variable	Varibale
Power Steering	No	No	No
Cutting Width	46”	42 “	48”
Blades	Twin blades	Twin blades	triple blade
Cruise Control	Yes	Yes	Yes
Cuts in Reverse	Yes	yes	Yes
Seat	High back seat with 10 degree incline	15-in. back height for good support.	Adjustable 15 in. high-back seat
Washout Port	Yes	Yes	Yes
Warranty	3 years (5 years on the front pivot bar)	2 year/120 hour bumper-to-bumper	3 Year bumper-to-bumper warranty

Comparisons

If you are asking, is Cub Cadet better than John Deere? Well, both Cub Cadet and John Deer riding mowers result in beautiful cuts because they come with great cutting capabilities and powerful engine, thus you can choose either model. Both are effective for medium-sized lawns, too. 

The cub cadet xt1 lt46fab efi riding mower however, keeps lawns healthier for longer periods, mulches better, and is more cost-effective than the John Deere E120. It also comes with a 3-year warranty compared to the 2 years of this John Deer model. So, is Cub Cadet better than John Deere? Many users would always prefer a John Deere. 

What is the best way to answer the question, Is Husqvarna better than John Deere? The best way is to answer is to refer to their durability. 

Many users said that after 4 years of use the Husqvarna lawn tractor is most likely to need more repairs than the John Deere lawn tractor. The John Deere lawn tractor comes with an engine that is more durable than that of the Husqvarna model.  Both models though are suitable for lawns 2 acres and more and for all kinds of terrain. 

Is Husqvarna better than John Deere? In terms of the number of years it takes before requiring repair, the John Deere is better. 

One of the main differences between husqvarna vs john deere vs cub cadet lawn tractor lies on their cutting width and therefore the land area of the lawn they are most suitable with. 

If your lawn is less than ½ acre and basically flat, the John Deere E120 with a 42-inch cutting width is sufficient. If your lawn is larger than ½ acre, you will be better off with the Cub Cadet LT46 with a 46-inch cutting width.  The Husqvarna YTH24V48 with a 48-inch cutting edge is best for lawns larger than 1 acre. 

The john deere vs cub cadet vs husqvarna riding mower differ also in the location of their cutting deck. The Cub Cadet LT46 is a lawn tractor with a mid-mounted cutting deck. The E120 Lawn Tractor Riding Mowers and Husqvarna Riding Lawn Mowers YTH24V48 are riding mowers / lawn mowers with cutting decks under the vehicle’s front. This makes front-end mounted cutting decks more maneuverable especially when a lawn is lined with trees and shrubs. 

A cub cadet efi engine review says that the electronic fuel injection (EFI) fitted in a Cub  Cadet lawn tractor allows it to start with just a push of the button. Its hydrostatic transmission also allows just a push of the medal for this machine to go. 

When differentiating cub cadet versus husqvarna, you will always have to discuss about their cutting widths or size of the machines. Cutting widths are important because it determines the size of your lawn the machine can efficiently work on. The Cub Cadet has LT46 has a 42-inch cutting width while the Husqvarna YTH24V48 has a 48-inch cutting width. 

Cub Cadet LT46

Pros

• Rock solid engine

• Sturdy frame

• 2-Blade , 46-inch stamped steel mower Deck

• Good acceleration and turning radius

• Transmission is responsive and strong

• Cleaner, cooler and faster Kohler V-Twin 4-Cycle Engine

• Seamless acceleration 

• Cuts beautifully

• Good cut even on faster speeds because of double blade cutting deck

• Soft touch cruise control 

• LED headlights for night mowing

• Easy to get on and off

• Seat has good lumbar support

• E-coat corrosion defense system 

• Lots of cubby holes for lawn materials

• Competitive price

Cons

• Plastic front wheel bearing easily wears off

• Noisy engine

• A bit underpowered

• Hydrostatic drive needs some getting used to

• Light does not come with a turn off switch

• Mulch attachment is not too good

John Deere E120

Pros

• Hydrostatic transmission for smooth operation

• Powerful V-twin engine

• Fast starting 

• Solid cast iron front axle

• 12-gauge fully-welded steel frame

• 42-inch cutting width

• Reduced engine noise

• Ergonomically-designed 10-position adjustment seat

• Affordable

Cons

• Small gas tank 

Cub Cadet LT46

Pros

• Rock solid engine
• Sturdy frame
• 2-Blade , 46-inch stamped steel mower Deck
• Good acceleration and turning radius
• Transmission is responsive and strong
• Cleaner, cooler and faster Kohler V-Twin 4-Cycle Engine
• Seamless acceleration 
• Cuts beautifully
• Good cut even on faster speeds because of double blade cutting deck
• Soft touch cruise control 
• LED headlights for night mowing
• Easy to get on and off
• Seat has good lumbar support
• E-coat corrosion defense system 
• Lots of cubby holes for lawn materials
• Competitive price

Cons

• Plastic front wheel bearing easily wears off
• Noisy engine
• A bit underpowered
• Hydrostatic drive needs some getting used to
• Light does not come with a turn off switch
• Mulch attachment is not too good

​

Husqvarna YTH24V48

Pros

• 48 inches cutting width
• Good quality cuts
• Forward and rearward moving gears tough terrain or hills
• Three blade system
• Hydrostatic transmission with pedal operation
• Good cruise control 
• Perfectly-sized front and back wheels 
• Small steering wheel 
• Easy to control 
• Comfortable seat

Cons

• Inefficient level read out
• Not suitable for tough or thick grass

Buyer’s Guide

Standard riding lawn mowers or tractor mowers operate with a steering wheel. They come with optional attachments such as a bag for leaves and clippings and a storage space for landscaping materials. These vehicles can also be used for spreading seeds. Some models are also capable of aerating, removing and detaching snow.

In choosing the right riding lawn mower, you will need to take into consideration the size of your lawn and how you intend to use the vehicle (for choosing attachments)

Type of Transmission

• Automatic Transmission

This type of transmission operates just like the transmission of your car. The speed is controlled by the gas pedal. Changing speed is easy especially when there are obstacles and you need to slow down. 

• Manual Transmission

This type of transmission comes with various speeds. It is best to look for models that allow you to shift up or down without using a clutch or stopping. 

• Hydrostatic Transmission

This type of transmission operates similar to an automatic transmission. Power is, however, transferred from the engine to the wheels with the use of fluid instead of belts. 

If your lawn has many obstacles, you should consider getting a riding lawn mower with an automatic or hydrostatic transmission to make your work a lot easier. 

Size

The size of a riding lawn mower pertains to the width of its cutting deck. To determine the ideal cutting width, you need to know the area of your lawn. You also need to take into consideration the layout of your lawn. Working with a wrong-sized riding lawn mower will not only increase the time need to work on your lawn but it will also be ineffective. 

Here is a guide on how to match your riding lawn mower to the size of your lawn.

Size of Lawn	Cutting Width
¾ acre	30 – 40 inches
1 acre	42 – 52 inches
2 acres	50 – 54 inches
3 acres	54-62 acres
5 acres	60 inches or greater

You will need a push mower instead of a riding lawn mower if your lawn is less than ¾ acre. You 

• Other features you also need to look into:
• Engine Horsepower or power output of the engine available to distribute to mower components such as the blades and transmissions. 
• Engine torque in ft-lbs is the force that spins the mower blades. The higher the torque the better the mower will cut thick and tall grass.
• Engine displacement is the size of the engine cylinder in cubic centimeters (cc). A more powerful engine has a high engine displacement. 
• A  V-twin engine has more power than a single-cylinder engine to run a large tractor. It also has less vibration which means a quieter operation, less wear and better comfort. It also burns cleaner fuel and runs cooler extending the life of the engine. 
• The number of blades determines the number of passes needed to clear your lawn. Small tractors with one blade can easily clear a small lawn with a single pass. A two-or three- bladed tractor can clear larger lawns with a single pass, too.
• Cruise control on tractors with automatic or hydrostatic transmissions allows you to mow in one speed straight and long stretches of land.
• The turning radius determines how tightly the mower turns. You can make sharper turns with a small turning radius which is useful in lawns with many obstacles.
• Deck wheels are useful in maintaining mowing height when working over uneven terrain.

• Forward speeds of riding lawn mowers are usually 5 ½ miles per hour. 
• Automatic parking brakes improve convenience and safety.
• Not all riding lawn mowers come with bagging and mulching features.

You may also like to look into some comfort features such as a high-back seat, lumbar support, armrests, rubber foot pads, and extended leg room. These added features can make mowing less stressful and tiresome.  

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