Best Riding Lawn Mower under $2,000: Husqvarna YTH18542
After running testing over two dozen riding lawn mowers priced around $2,000, the model we’re most confident most people will enjoy using is the Husqvarna YTH15842.
Here’s a quick description of the YTH15842’s key specifications—
- 18.5-HP Engine
- 42-inch Deck
- Hydrostatic Transmission
- ReadyStart for Ride Technology
The YTH15842 sports a sizable 18.5-HP Braggs & Stratton engine that moves all 419 pounds of steel across long yards with ease.
This riding mower is also a great choice if you need to move up the sides of lawns at up to a 20-degree incline.
Starting up the YTH15842 is as smooth the ignition in your vehicle. Simply put the key in the ignition port, turn, and the YTH15842 ready for anything.
Switching between gears is done for you, thanks to the hydrostatic transmission. The YTH15842 will never bump or jolt the user forward while changing gears, providing a smooth ride across tremendously long yards.
The YTH15842 has a 42-inch deck that slices and dices grass and weeds easily. The wash port on the deck lets you attach a garden hose for quick cleaning at the end of the day.
Pros
- High-quality Husqvarna parts and technology
- Quick transmission for smoother mowing
- Outstanding mowing performance
- Great for yards and gardens over two acres
Cons
- Cruise control would have made this model perfect
Overall, the Husqvarna YTH15842 is an excellent riding lawn mower at an affordable price tag. If you’re looking for smooth operations and mowing excellence, the YTH15842 is for you.
A super, ultra, extra-beefy lawn mower will help upkeep you or your clients’ lawns in a jiffy.
No more sweating spending countless hours under the sun manually pushing heavy lawn mowers—with a riding lawn more, and an affordable one, to boot—you can let heavy machinery do the heavy lifting.
We’ve researched over 20 different riding lawn mowers to produce a meaningful list containing the best riding lawn mower under $2,000.
| Product Image | Product Name | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Husqvarna YTH18542 |
| Check Today's Price | |
| Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP 54 |
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| Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP 42 |
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| Cub Cadet XT1 Enduro |
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| CRAFTSMAN T135 |
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| Husqvarna YTH22V46 |
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| Husqvarna Z242F42 Kawasaki |
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Reviews of Top Riding Lawn Mower under $2,000
The Husqvarna YTH15842 isn’t the only top-performing, budget-friendly riding lawn mower on the market. Read our reviews of some of the best riding lawn mower under $2,000 below.
Best Premium - Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP 54-inch
Key Specifications
- 25-HP Kohler Engine
- 54-inch Deck
- Hydrostatic Transmission
- AudoDrive
The Super Bronco XP 54 is all about power and efficiency. It sports a massive 25-HP Twin Kohler engine that can hold up to three gallons of fuel.
The XP 54 has an electric start engine that does not disappoint. By turning the key, the engine will quickly catch fuel and start-up without sputtering the tiniest bit.
What we love the most about the XP 54 is its cruise control. By letting the XP 54 move forward on its own, all that’s left is to turn the wheel and navigate it to whatever grassy fields are in your way.
Pros
- Incredibly durable wheels for use on uneven terrain
- Efficient 54-inch cutting deck
- Easy on the lower-back
- Huge 3-gallon tank
Cons
- Maximum speed could be faster
If you’re looking for a premium-quality riding lawn mower at a reasonable price, the Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP 54 is the best option.
Everything about the XP 54 is oversized, making it a highly efficient machine for commercial mowing jobs.
Best Budget - Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP 42-inch
Key Specifications
- 18.5-HP Kohler Engine
- 46-inch Deck
- Hydrostatic Transmission
- AutoDrive
The XP 42-inch is everything that the big-bro XP 54-inch model is, except in a tinier package. The deck measures only 42 inches across, so it’ll take considerably more time to complete mowing acres upon acres of grassy field.
The XP 42-inch also has a smaller motor as opposed to its bigger brother. For the most part, this won’t pose much of a problem, and it even travels at the same max speed as the 54-inch version.
In every other regard, the two Super Broncos are one and the same. This means you get the same AutoDrive cruise control feature to make long mowing jobs easier to manage, as well as the instant-start ignition system.
Pros
- Premium features
- Excellent mowing capabilities
- Great for two-plus-acre fields
- Durable wheels for traveling on all terrain
Cons
- Smaller deck means longer mowing times
If you want all of the magnificent mowing performance of the premium Super Bronco XP 54 but can live a smaller cutting diameter, the smaller-bro version, XP 42-inch, is for you.
Cub Cadet XT1 Enduro
Key Specifications
- 18-HP Engine
- 42-inch Deck
- Hydrostatic Transmission
- Cub Connect App
Not very often will you find a “smart” riding lawn mower that has mobile app compatibility.
This is the XT1’s brightest feature—by downloading the app, you can check mowing performance, when to change the engine oil, when to replace the air filter, and blade quality.
The XT1 comes with an 18-HP engine that drives the 42-inch mowing blades. Cruise control moves the unit forward at a comfortable yet speedy pace.
There’s also an overload system that can boost torque by up to 20% when needed.
Learn all about the XT Enduro series by watching this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBqmxovWSVk
Pros
- Comfortable seat for long-term mowing sessions
- Handy optional accessories
- Comes with cruise control
- Mobile app compatibility
Cons
- App could have been designed better
The XT1 by Cub Cadet is a unique riding lawn mower that handles mowing and mulching jobs easily. The Cub Connect app eliminates a lot of the maintenance guesswork.
CRAFTSMAN T135
Key Specifications
- 18-HP Engine
- 46-inch Deck
- Automatic Transmission
- Built-In Deck-Washing Port
The T135 is rocking an 18.5-HP Briggs & Stratton engine that drives the 46-inch diameter mowing blades at high speeds to effortlessly saw through tall grass and weeds.
The T135 can also mow in reverse (not unique but a nice feature) to prevent the blades from bogging down.
There’s a built-in deck-washing port where a standard garden hose connects to. This makes washing the underside a lot easier while also keeping the blades thoroughly cleaned for your next mowing session.
The seat has a built-in suspension system to make long mowing jobs more tolerable to your backside. There’s no cruise control, but at its price, you really can’t ask for anything more.
Pros
- Comfortable seat for long journeys
- Quick cleaning with deck-washing port
- Can mow in reverse
- Great mowing and mulching performance
Cons
- Assembly could be easier
The T135 is an excellent riding lawn mower that powers through tall grassy fields without trouble. This riding lawn mower is great if you have more than two acres of mowing to do.
Husqvarna YTH22V46
Key Specifications
- 22-HP Engine
- 46-inch Deck
- Hydrostatic Transmission
- Cruise Control
If you’re not up to spending hours and hours on mowing large fields, the Husqvarna YTH22V46’s 46-inch deck will help by reducing the number of passes needed to cover acres of grassy terrain.
Powered by a hefty 22-HP engine, the riding lawn mower maintains a constant, moderate speed to complete your job quicker.
There’s even a cruise control feature, so users just need to sit back and enjoy the ride. Combined with hydrostatic transmission, all that’s left to do is turn the steering wheel every so often until you’re done.
Pros
- Reliable mowing and mulching
- Self-propelling to make lowing jobs a breeze
- Moderate moving speed
- User-friendly
Cons
- Construction could be a bit better
Everything about the YTH22V46’s inner workings proves that it’s a riding lawn mower made for large mowing projects.
Husqvarna Z242F
Key Specifications
- 18-HP Kawasaki Engine
- 42-inch Deck
- Hydrostatic Transmission
- ClearCut Deck
The final under-$2,000 riding lawn mower is of the zero-turn variety: the Z242F. As a zero-turn mower, it’s able to stop and turn on a dime without needing to back up. However, it does tend to pull grass out when doing so.
To prevent this, either go in reverse when making tight turns, or simply continue rolling forward while navigating around obstacles or lawn edges.
The Z242F comes with what’s known as a ClearCut Deck. It allows the 42-inch blades to cut deeper into grass blades, leaving nothing intact after the blades have had their say.
It also leaves a satisfying trail of super-fine grass clippings in its wake, which will become feed for future grass blades.
Pros
- Comfortable seating
- Reliable mowing on rough and flat surfaces
- Easy to navigate
- ClearCut for deeper cuts
Cons
- May be hard to stow away
The Z242F by Husqvarna is an incredibly reliable riding mower that’s able to turn on the spot for enhanced productivity.
FAQs
Let’s address some of the most FAQs people have about riding lawn mowers.
That’s difficult to say. On theone hand, you might enjoy spending countless hours under the scorching-hot sun and pushing around heavy tools to keep your lawn in pristine condition, and on the other, you’re a human who absolutely does not want to spend more time mowing than you need to. To this, we say yes, any piece of land larger than half an acre will require a riding lawn mower.
On average, a riding lawn mower has a lifespan of just 1,500 hours. This may not seem like much, but if you keep the engine well-maintained by the manual’s instructions, you might be able to squeeze several thousand additional hours of work from your riding lawn mower. Each product listed above has been in the hands of professional landscapers for more than two years.
That depends on your budget. Like most pieces of equipment, the more you spend, the better the quality of the machine, and the same applies to riding lawn mowers. That said, you certainly don’t to take out a second mortgage on your home to own a reliable lawn mower. Case in point: all seven riding lawn mowers on our list.
Summary
That concludes our guide on the best riding lawn mowers under $2,000.
We had to get several extra pairs of hands and minds to help us research and evaluate over 20 lawn mowers to create this list.
Hopefully, you’ll find this guide helpful in your journey in finding the most suitable riding lawn mower. Leave a message the comment section if you’re unsure of anything.
Last update on 2025-03-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API