A riding lawnmower is a serious investment for any homeowner, and these gas-powered models rank among the most reliable riding mowers on the market.
Plenty of people take pride in their property and get personal satisfaction by showcasing beautiful, manicured landscaping. That’s one reason why many of us want top-notch outdoor equipment, though money is often also a factor. The more reliable a mower is, the less likely we’ll need to spend more on fixing or replacing it.
But when it comes to the best major lawn mower brands, which is the best may be hard to determine. If you’re only interested in a gas-powered riding mower, a brand known for having lawn mowers with the best battery life may not be the right choice. When you’re trying to figure out which brand and make is right for you, a good starting point can be Consumer Reports, the nonprofit organization that compiles massive amounts of data from both expert testing and consumer feedback.
One metric Consumer Reports measures for gas riding lawn mowers is reliability, which predicts the likelihood that a given machine will have issues or malfunctions within the first years of using it. Based on the findings of Consumer Reports and data from over 12,000 mowers purchased new between 2014 and 2024, these are the most reliable gas riding mower brands. More information on how this list was compiled can be found at the end of this list.Kubota
According to Consumer Reports, Kubota is the overall best brand for gas tractors and gas zero-turn mowers, scoring very high in both owner satisfaction and reliability. For tractors, it has a near-perfect score. The Japanese manufacturer makes a wide range of farm and construction equipment, including its B01 Series of compact tractors, which, among other uses, can mow grass. The B01 is four-wheel drive and has an engine that can generate nearly 24 horsepower and, like a lot of Kubota equipment, is highly customizable. Depending on which build you select, though, it can also get very expensive.
Similarly, Kubota offers many different models of zero-turn mowers, which also vary widely in price. Models include the Kubota ZG327, which is large enough and powerful enough for commercial applications and exceptionally big yards. With a 26-horsepower engine, it can mow up to 10.6 mph and offers rear or side discharge chutes.
While not as high as Kubota’s scores for its tractors (which can’t get much higher), the brand also beat all others in Consumer Reports reliability and owner satisfaction scores for zero-turn mowers. Even for those with smaller properties, Kubota’s mowers are very popular, with redditors on r/lawnmowers recommending the brand and calling it « one of the best » for both mowers and tractors — echoing Consumer Reports’ findings. One user reports they’ve owned a Kubota ZG227 for over 14 years and that « it is still running strong and I mow some really tough stuff. » The brand isn’t totally immune to complaints, though. While users generally find Kubota diesel zero-turn mowers reliable, for example, there are some reports of failing HTS fans, as well as dissatisfaction with the high cost of replacement parts.John Deere
John Deere is synonymous with tractors and farm equipment, and for good reason. It ranks highly in Consumer Reports’ findings for both tractor-class mowers and zero-turn mowers, with only Kubota performing better in either category. Its tractors, which include models like the X354 and S240-48, score very high when it comes to owner satisfaction. The brand also scores highly for reliability, though not quite as high as owner satisfaction.
User experience may vary from model to model, considering each is built differently. The 42-inch X354 lawn tractor has a 21.5-horsepower engine and delivers an 18-inch cut with an optional MulchControl kit available.
