Cub Cadet Riding Mower Reviews Apr 2024

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Last update on 2022-02-28 at 13:50 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

When it comes to picking the right mower for your precious backyard, it’s important to look for quality and reliability more than anything else.

However, finding that very reliability itself takes a lot of time and effort. Also, not every brand and mowing tool will be able to fit every customer needs and demands to begin with.

But the gardening tool manufacturer Cub Cadet does things a bit differently compared to other brands. Their products deal in versatile ranges of use more than anything else and if all my experience in garden care is something to go by, then in my opinion, they are one of the most reliable lawn care brands out there.

And today let me just take you through why I love this brand so much along with two of their most popular mowers.

Cub Cadet Zero Turn Mower Reviews Apr 2024

Ever since I started my own garden care business many years ago, Cub Cadet’s range of reliable yet affordable products saw me through most of the initial struggles.

This company which is based in Valley City, Ohio, is quite well renowned for being a manufacturer of a robust and high-end line of outdoor power equipment and services worldwide.

And though I might be making a review on 2 of their lawnmower series today, that doesn’t mean that Cub Cadet limits their product designs to grass cutting machines alone.

They have quite a versatile line up of garden tillers, leaf blowers, edgers, trenchers and pressure washers, which just goes to show that they are indeed one of the best when it comes to lawn care.

Their customers range from professionals from plowing companies to people who just want a simple walk behind mower for all their minor lawn maintenance needs.

Additionally, this company caters to turf managers (someone like me, if I might be so bold to put it that way) as well as people who need to mow golf courses and grass tennis courts, and even school football fields for that matter.

And as we are discussing mowers from this brand today, here are three of my absolute favorites:

Cub Cadet XT1 46 Review Apr 2024

cub cadet xt1 46 reviewWhere the Enduro LT42 lacks in power and mowing speed, the Enduro LT46, on the other hand, is a grass trimming beast, and it’s all thanks to the extremely powerful 22 HP Kohler V-Twin OHV engine and a hydrostatic transmission drive that it’s equipped with.

Standout Features

  • Comes with a powerful 22 HP Kohler V-Twin OHV engine that makes quick work of the most difficult trimming jobs.
  • The hydrostatic transmission drive of the engine makes treading over uneven and bumpy terrain as smooth as possible.
  • The steering wheel has a rubberized comfort grip. It is also designed with a soft touch feature which can help you to better control the mower on all forms of terrain.
  • For year-round versatile use, the mower even has multi-seasonal accessory attachment slots such as a twin bagger, a snow thrower, a mulching kit, etc.

My Experience

cub cadet lt46 reviewsIn terms of overall build and certain other utility features such as the anti-debris, high-powered jet and the 12 selectable cutting heights, the Cub Cadet LT46 is quite similar in design to the standard Enduro. Their main differences lie in performance and grass cutting speed.

In my opinion, the Cub Cadet LT is a professional mower through and through. It is equipped with an extremely powerful 22 HP Kohler V-Twin OHV engine that makes cutting through the toughest of vegetation feel like a breeze.

Even trimming overgrown Florida grass is not much of an issue for the LT. The automotive-style 16 inches turning radius allows for a very smooth trimming experience and along with the 12 easily selectable cutting height positions and a smooth lever engaged PTO, the mower can help you get perfect cuts every time and allow you to customize the lawn in whichever way you want.

I found the deck seat of this mower to be quite comfortable as well. It has an innovative open high-back seat which is specifically designed with an oversized base and elevated back support for enhanced comfort.

The push button cruise control will help you maintain a consistent mowing speed while the quick connect deck wash system keeps the mower free of built-up grass clippings and debris.

Another aspect of the mower which I really like is the multi-seasonal attachments which make the mower versatile all throughout the year by allowing it to equip a lot of towable attachments like a mulching kit, snow thrower, etc.

Last update on 2022-02-28 at 13:50 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

What could have been better?

With greater power comes compromised control!

The LT is not as easy to use and not as maneuverable as the standard Enduro series. Sure, it might have a lot of grass cutting capabilities, but even with the responsive steering system, moving it around obstacles at higher cutting speeds can indeed be an issue. And the difficulty will be all the more apparent to newer users who are new to lawn mowing and garden maintenance.

This is exactly why I will not be recommending the LT for the more amateur and domestic users.

Pros

Pros
  • Perfect for commercial and professional use
  • The turning radius provides one of the smoothest mowing experiences
  • The high-back seat provides excellent comfort
  • The cruise control maintains mowing speed and consistency

Cons

Cons
  • Moving it around obstacles and tight corners is difficult on higher speeds
  • Not recommended for beginners

Verdict

If you’re looking for an extremely powerful mower for professional use that will help you breeze through any tough lawn mowing job, then the Cub Cadet LT46 is sure to come in handy. This mower is the one that I use in a lot of my professional works as well, and it has steadily grown to be one of my favorite go-to for tougher jobs.

Cub Cadet XT1 42 Review Apr 2024

cub cadet xt1 42 reviewThe XT1 LT42 Enduro is going to be the first Cub cadet mower I am going to talk about in my review today.

When it comes to simplicity and ease of use, not many mowers will be able to provide you with what this mower can. User-friendly features coupled with excellent utility is what sets this mower as one of my all-time favorites.

Standout Features

  • The optimized steering system that the mower comes with is very responsive and significantly enhances the level of handling.
  • Designed with a high-power water jet that reduces periodic maintenance hassles and keeps the engine debris free and clean, thereby improving longevity.
  • Allows up to 12 different cutting levels and will help you to customize your lawn whichever way you want. This is not something that a lot of its competitors are able to provide.
  • Comes with convenient headlights which will come extremely handy if you are planning to work for more extended hours especially after sundown.

My Experience

cub cadet zt1 42 reviewAs I’ve mentioned before, what truly is unique and so very attractive about the Cub Cadet XT1 LT42 Enduro is the user-friendly aspect of its features.

But what draws me the most towards this model is the amazing maneuverability that it’s able to provide. The XT1 Enduro has an optimized steering system that is incorporated into its design. And this is precisely why I love to use this mower for trimming jobs where I have to move the machine around a lot of obstacles.

May it be trees, ponds, giant boulders or even extremely uneven terrain, the unique steering system of the mower allows me to maneuver around them with ease.

The steering is very sensitive to touch and movement. It’s highly responsive, and along with the steady cruise control option, you won’t have to worry about an uneven trimming job at all. Hence, I’ll recommend this mower for gardening tool enthusiasts who are still new to the field of lawn maintenance.

The mower is quite durable as well; it even has a water jet system that keeps the mower engine debris free and helps it to perform longer without periodic maintenance checks.

If all my years of experience in lawn mowing is something to go by, then perhaps one of the worst feelings in the world to a gardener is when the mower engine clogs and starts to shut down. This is something that the Cub Cadet is completely protected from and will allow you to work with it for hours on end.

Last update on 2022-02-28 at 13:50 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

What could have been better?

No gardening tool can be perfect, and this fact is especially true for lawn mowers as well.

So, one of the major gripes that I have against this mower is the lack of power and mowing speed. It’s true that this mower is very comfortable to use and work with, however, it’s not as powerful as some of the other models of its class. The trimming speed is average as well, and this is something which can be quite inconvenient for many professional gardeners.

For a mower that lacks substantial power, the price is quite steep as well. But it still remains an amazing piece of equipment for everyday use.

Pros

Pros
  • Perfect for amateur gardeners who are new to the field
  • Optimized steering system makes it very easy to maneuver
  • Durable build and long lasting
  • Water jet system keeps the mower debris free, reducing maintenance costs

Cons

Cons
  • Lacks power for the more difficult and bigger mowing jobs
  • Not recommended for commercial use

Verdict

If you’re quite new to garden maintenance and using a lawnmower, then the simplicity of the Cub Cadet XT1 LT42 Enduro is sure to fit your needs perfectly. And if you don’t mind the relatively higher price, then this mower can indeed be your pick for the day. However, I will not be recommending this mower much for professional use.

Cub Cadet XT1 50 Reviews Apr 2024

cub cadet xt1 50 reviewsWhen it comes to successfully completing the more difficult mowing jobs, the Cub Cadet XT1 Enduro has been my go-to for a very long time now.

With a 22 HP Kohler V-Twin OHV engine, this lawn mowing machine is an absolute beast that can chop down the toughest of Florida grass in a matter of minutes.

It’s very comfortable to use, is highly versatile, and comes with a hydrostatic drive which makes the ride incredibly smooth on all forms of terrain.

However, these are not the only features that draw me towards this model from Cub Cadet. So, let us take a closer look at what makes this one of the best mowers in the current market.

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What makes the Cub Cadet XT1 Enduro V-Twin Kohler so good?

The XT1 Enduro V-Twin Kohler is just amazing when it comes to the overall build. It has a variety of utility features like anti-debris and high-powered jet with 12 selectable cutting heights which makes it one of the more versatile models out there.

This model, in my opinion, is best suited for professional purposes than personal really. The 22 HP Kohler V-Twin OHV in incredibly powerful to say the least; mowing down large yards or even football fields with tough spring grass is not going to be an issue with it.

The automotive-style 16-inch turning radius allows for a very smooth trimming experience indeed. Additionally, the 12 cutting heights help me to custom trim the yard whichever way I want it to; they are easily selectable and has a smooth lever engaged PTO which allows me to get the perfect cut every time.

Another aspect of this riding mower which I absolutely loved is the deck seat. If I ever have to work for long hours during a particular day, the deck seat makes my trimming experience as comfortable and as enjoyable as possible.

The seat is high-backed and is specifically designed with an oversized base which has elevated back support. This unique design allows me to work for hours on end at a stretch, and my energy doesn’t wear out as quickly with this mower as it does with some of the others in the market.

Multi-seasonal attachments is another feature from the XT1 Enduro series that I honestly appreciate. It keeps the mower relevant all throughout the year, as you’re being able to attach several accessories such as mulching kits, snow throwers, etc.

However, the increased power of this machine does come with its very own side effects. The mower is not as maneuverable as most of the other Cub Cadet models, and I would not recommend this for beginners who are new to the garden care scene.

Pros

Pros
  • Incredibly powerful 22 HP V-Twin Kohler engine goes through the toughest of grass
  • Amazing transmission system provides a very smooth riding experience
  • Multiple cutting heights make the mower highly versatile
  • Comfortable seat with a high-backed elevated support feature

Cons

Cons
  • The power compromises on maneuverability and handling
  • Not a good choice for beginner gardeners

Final Thoughts

Cub Cadet is just amazing when it comes to catering to a wide variety of customer needs and demands. And I hope that my review on them today was able to help you out with all your backyard wants and needs.

Can’t make up your mind yet? Read our buying guide for riding mowers before you proceed with your purchase.

You should also check out our reviews of other models: