Push-type mowers.(Lawn Mowers - Test)(Evaluation)

These simplest of power mowers cost the least, and include both gasoline-powered and plug-in electric models. Among the 19 in this report, four CR Best Buys did especially well and cost as little as $140.

Mowers you move yourself are a money-saving option for level lawns one-quarter of an acre or so and for trimming around larger ones. Typically priced at $125 to $225, push mowers lack the complexity of driven models and tend to break less often; readers reported fewer problems with them (see "Repairs and Reliability," page 35). The latest also share some improvements with the self-propelled models covered in the preceding report. Many we tested meet California's more stringent emissions rules, a requirement for sale in that state; models that don't are noted in the Ratings at right.

One buying option you'll find only on push mowers is plug-in power. The Black & Decker MM675 electric we tested performed respectably, runs cleanly and relatively quietly, and weighs just 50 pounds, compared with about 72 pounds for mowers you fuel. But like most electrics, it cuts a swath of just 18 inches, compared with 21 or 22 inches for gas mowers. It's also pricey for a plug-in. Even cleaner and quieter are manual reel mowers, about $100 to start, though they don't cut nearly as well as power mowers.

You'll also see many mowers with high rear wheels. The outsized wheels look impressive at the store, but they can make U-turns and side-to-side jockeying more difficult in your yard. Models with high rear wheels are noted in the Ratings.

THE TESTS, THE RESULTS

The push mowers in this report include 19 models in all. We focused on rear- and side-bagging models available at Home Depot, Lowe's, Sears, and Wal-Mart, since that's where most mowers are now sold. That selection includes relatively expensive brands such as Honda and Snapper, which were once sold only at dealers. You don't have to pay top dollar for competent mowing, however; four CR Best Buys from Poulan and Yard Machines by MTD cost $140 to $220. While none of those is sold in California, the $220 Yard Machines by MTD 11A-549G129 has a California equivalent that costs just $10 more.

All of the mowers we tested mulch, bag, and side-discharge clippings. Some handle one or more of those tasks better, so choose one based on the mowing you do and what you're willing to spend.