Have you ever been in a situation where you have to choose between two top-tier options? That’s what it feels like if you have to choose between a Honda and Toro lawn mower. These two brands make exceptional mowers and have something for almost every yard type.
However, both brands are different and don’t make the same products. Therefore, it’s essential to understand the difference between the mowers from both brands when you’re in the market.
This article will educate you on all you need to know about Toro and Honda lawnmowers. You’ll get an honest comparison of these two brands to know the one that suits your needs.
About Toro
Toro is an American company that manufactures lawnmowers, snow blowers, and irrigation systems. It was founded in 1914 and manufactured tractor engines for The Bull Tractor Company.
The brand made its first stride in the lawn mowing market in 1948 when it bought Whirlwind Corp. It’s currently one of the biggest lawn mower manufacturers in the world.
Toro produces different kinds of lawnmowers, including push mowers, riding tractors, robotic mowers, and many others. The Toro Timecutter is arguably the brand’s most famous riding mower. Toro also makes many lawn and power equipment.
About Honda
Honda was founded on the 24 of September 1948 in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan. The brand manufactures automobiles and is one of the most successful brands in it. It also produces engines and is the world’s largest internal combustion engine manufacturer by volume. The brand has its headquarters in Minato, Tokyo.
Honda makes engines for almost all the top lawn mower-making brands, including John Deere, Toro, and Husqvarna. It’s one of the largest engine producers in the lawn mower market. Aside from making mower engines, Honda also produces lawnmowers on its own.
Honda produced its first walk-behind mower in 1978 and hasn’t stopped production. Now, it makes different kinds of mowers, whether it’s push or riding.
While it may not be on the levels of John Deere or Husqvarna, it’s still one of the biggest mower manufacturers. Some of the best models in its collection are the Honda Nexite Variable Walk Behind Mower and the HRC216HXA. Honda also makes different types of power equipment for lawns and gardens.
Toro vs. Honda Mower: Engine
Toro lawnmowers feature engines from brands like Briggs & Stratton, Lincoln, or even Honda. If you’re surprised that Honda makes engines for Toro machines, it’s just how it works. The Honda mower and engine-making sects are different, and any interested brand can outsource engine production to it.
Toro has incredible taste, explaining why you see them feature Honda engines. Briggs & Stratton and Lincoln are also among the best engine producers in the market. The auto choke is a feature that you’ll find in almost all Toro mowers. It eliminates the need for choke and throttle levers, making starting it easy.
As you might’ve guessed, Honda makes the engines for its lawnmowers. They’re strong, durable, and usually have great power. Honda’s engines are known to be emission efficient and satisfy the emission standards of most jurisdictions globally.
Summarily, both Honda and Toro make good mower engines that you’ll enjoy when you use them. However, Toro has a range of engines from different brands, and they don’t function the same. You’re stuck with self-built engines if you go for a Honda mower.
Toro vs. Honda: Which is More Expensive
Price is an essential factor when you want to buy a lawn mower. Both Toro and Honda have cheap and expensive machines. The most affordable Honda machines are the push mowers which can cost just over $400. On the other hand, you can get Toro push mowers that cost $270.
If you’re going for the high-end models, both brands have mowers that reach the $5,000 mark. However, you’d barely need a mower with that high specs for a residential property.
As for head-to-head, Toro is the cheapest of the two models. However, they cost more to maintain than Honder machines. If you want a mower that costs less at the purchase price, you should opt for Toro.
Honda vs. Toro: Which Lasts Longer?
Lawnmowers are expensive machines, and the only way they can be worth their price is to last years in good condition. The good news is that both Honda and Toro are long-lasting machines. Specifically, Honda’s premium mowers can last you for up to 20 years. If you visit used model stores, you’ll see many Honda mowers that are up for sale.
As for Toro, expect a lifetime of around 8-10 years in its regular mower models. Its top mower models can last for 15-20 years.
Understand that the key to making the machine last longer is adequate maintenance. If a mower’s projected lifespan is ten years, you can make it last for 11 or 12 if you always do the right thing at the right time. The mower can also break down before the projected ten years if you fail to maintain it as the manufacturer recommends.
Toro Lawn Mower vs. Honda: Which Cuts Better?
The deck type, size, and blades influence cut quality. Most Toro lawnmowers are made from a 13-gauge steel deck to ensure that you get a good cut. The build material also makes it durable and able to withstand many yard types.
Toro zero turn has a cutting width of 21 to 30 inches to help you cover more areas of your grasses. Its lawn tractors and zero turns can have cutting widths of 34 to 50 inches plus. The bigger your yard, the wider the deck size you should choose.
All Toro mowers let you adjust the height from 1-4 inches at an increment of a half inch. Toro usually equips them with the high lift 2-in-1 blades, which provide a higher-lifting airflow. If you get the Toro recycler, you can enjoy the functionality of the 3-in-1 blade. Toro 3-in-1 blades will collect, mulch, and side discharge your clippings as you mow.
As you may expect, Honda’s deck and blade are top tiers. They’re mostly made from 14-gauge pressed steel and are built to be durable, lightweight, and rust-resistant. Some of the cheaper Honda models feature plastic decks, which aren’t as efficient as the steel ones, but it works for the price.
Honda’s regular mower also carries the 2-in-1 high lift blades, which make cutting and bagging easier. If you get yourself any of the HRX and HRR models, you get the 3-in-1 Microcut Twin Blades. The upper mower blade cuts your clippings before the second lower one cuts them into a smaller size. The clippings keep circulating in the deck, and the third blade helps deliver the MircroCut.
Most Honda walk-behind mowers usually have a 21 Inches deck size, while its riding tractors can have up to 48 inches. Honda doesn’t have any zero turns in its collection now, but it makes engines for some of the best zero-turn mower brands in the market.
Which Has A Better Warranty?
The warranty condition of any product you want is a way to protect its quality. A mower with longer, more reliable warranty terms shows the manufacturer’s confidence in its product. Therefore, there’s a relatively high chance that you’ll get good use of the mower.
All Honda residential and domestic lawnmowers come with a two-year warranty. On the other hand, Toro mowers come with a 3-year guaranteed-to-start warranty and a 2-year-complete-warranty. The guaranteed-to-start guarantee means that the engine will start in the first or second pull two years from the date of purchase.
It’s imperative to be careful of the terms because some are only if you purchase the goods directly from the dealer. Of Toro and Honda, Toro is the brand with the better warranty terms because it’s more predictable and dependable. However, both brands are already renowned, and the odds that the product will encounter any issue if you maintain it well is very low.
Which is Easier to Maintain?
Toro and Honda’s machines are both easy to maintain. If you get the gasoline-powered models, you don’t need to do much other than the basic mower maintenance routines like changing the spark plug and cleaning the air filter. You should also sharpen your blades regularly, and both mower models require you to do so around once every year.
The only difference between the two regarding maintenance is that Toro’s components are unique and may be hard to find if they’re unavailable near you. On the other hand, Honda parts are easy to get, and maintenance is easier and cheaper. You should go for Honda machines if cost-effective maintenance appeals to you.
If you want to spend the least on maintaining your machine, you can get an electric-powered mower from any of these brands instead. Electric-powered mowers eliminate the need for the complex maintenance associated with gasoline engines. With a few hundred dollars on top of the purchase price, you get a machine that’ll serve you well in the long run.
Which Has Better Standout Features?
Honda and Toro have fantastic standout features which make them easy to use. If you get a Honda mower, expect features like the Roto-Stop Blades, SmartDrive Hydraulic Cruise Control, and the Twin Blade and Auto Choke System.
Toro equips its mowers with features like the Personal Pace System, 9-Place Adjustable Deck, Washout Port, and Smartstow. The Smarstow is a feature that lets you store your mower such that it takes up lesser space than a regular one. With the innovation, you can save up to 70% storage space.
Toro edges out Honda when it comes to standout features. The deck washout port and Smartstow are the two that stand out. Honda’s Roto-Stop blades are also among one the best safety features you can get in a mower.
Conclusion
Whether you should buy Honda or Toro depends on your needs. You should go for Honda mowers if you have a residential home that only needs frequent grass cuts. The brand provides you with many residential mower options.
Consider looking Toro’s way if you want a mower that can withstand more work. The brand has incredible models that are never scared of any yard. If you search the list of the best mowers in every category, it won’t take long for a Toro mower to pop up.
