Performance

Best-in-class mowing and mulching. The Honda HRX217VKA gets top marks from experts for its mulching and bagging abilities. Roy Berendsohn of Popular Mechanics raves about its “velvet finish.” Users say the mower mulches so well it’s hard to see the discarded clippings. The Versamow System lets you decide how much grass you want to bag, mulching the rest into fine pieces. It isn’t the best at side-discharging grass, but tests show it still handles the task very well. Users attest that the four-stroke GCV190 engine is tough enough to power through thick or wet grass without bogging down and say it’s effortless to start. The HRX217VKA meets emission requirements from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Honda self-propelled mowers rank among the most reliable brands in one large independent survey. The HRX217VKA comes with a five-year mower warranty. The 21-inch-wide deck also has a limited lifetime warranty for residential use.

Ease of use

Reliable and well-built. Though the Honda HRX217VKA is heavy — about 90 pounds — most users don’t have any problems maneuvering it around the yard, thanks to its self-propelled, rear-wheel drive. Owners like the automatic transmission, with five settings to drive from 0 to 4 mph. Testers at Popular Mechanics note that the deck-lift levers are too small, making it uncomfortable to adjust cutting heights.

Safety/noise

Be careful when cleaning. The one quibble that a few experts and owners have about the Honda HRX217VKA is that it lacks a washout port. That means you have to tip the lawnmower over to clean out any retained grass or clumps. Be sure to turn the engine off first and let the blades come to a full and complete stop before doing so. Honda does not rate its lawn mowers for noise levels, but experts recommend always wearing hearing and eye protection when using powered lawn equipment.

Specs

Type Self-propelled gas lawn mower
Power Honda GCV190 four-stroke OHC/OHV with automatic choke
Electric start No
Blade brake Flywheel (no override)
Maximum recommended mowing area 0.5 acres
Controls Across full handle
Blades Twin MicroCut blades
Engine brand Honda
Adjustable handle Yes, 3 positions
Steering Self-propelled
Cruise control Yes
Cutting height 0.75 to 4 inches
Choke Automatic
Fuel tank (gallons) 0.25
Bag Yes
Available attachments Stainless-steel guard decks
Warranty 5-year mower warranty, limited lifetime deck warranty for non-commercial use; 90-day commercial warranty