Is One of Kobalt’s Electric Ride-on Mowers Right for Your Lawn?
While Kobalt does have a pretty expansive line of battery-powered lawn care equipment, we were still a bit surprised that the brand has dipped its toes into the ride-on mower class. So far, there are three models: a zero-turn and two lawn tractors. They each target different performance levels, but surprisingly, not all of them run on the same battery system.
I wanted to examine each of Kobalt’s electric riding mowers to see which one deserves a space in your garage or shed.
Kobalt Crossover 80V 42-inch Zero-Turn Riding Mower
As Kobalt’s first and only zero-turn electric lawn mower, the KZ 5680-06 is on the 80V Max system. It has six battery ports, and when all six batteries are inserted, this mower can cut up to 2 acres on a single charge. A total of four brushless motors spin the dual-action blades at up to 3200 RPM, and a 42-inch steel deck gives you a wide cutting swath to make quick work of large properties.
On the design side, this Kobalt riding mower is equipped with 20-inch rear wheels to help traverse over any terrain. Kobalt also claims it tackles hills with up to a 15-degree incline. You also adjust the cutting height between 1.5 inches and 4.5 inches, with 7 positions to choose from to tackle any type of grass.
- Model: Kobalt KZ 5680-06
- (4) Brushless motors
- Deck width: 42 in
- Max cutting speed: 8 MPH
- Runtime: 2 acres
- Hauling capacity: 200 lbs
- Cutting height: 1.5 – 4.5 in
- Battery ports: 6
Should You Buy It?
Zero-turn mowers are popular with both landscaping pros and homeowners with large properties to manage. In the case of the KZ 5680-06, Kobalt is targeting the latter, especially for those with medium to large properties who are already on the 80V Max battery platform for their other lawn care tools. If you’ve been waiting to upgrade your mowing capabilities using the same battery system, Kobalt makes a compelling choice with the KZ 5680-06.
If zero-turn mowers aren’t your top choice, Kobalt also has two other riding mowers that we’ll go over below.
Price: $5,499
Kobalt Crossover 80V 42-inch Lawn Tractor
Another entry into the 80V Max category is the Kobalt KT 5680-06 lawn tractor. While it doesn’t share the ZT’s 0-degree turning radius, there are quite a few similarities between this model and Kobalt’s 80V zero-turn riding mower. It’s equipped with a 42-inch deck and mows around 2 acres per charge when you use all six included batteries. It also features dual-action blades and a top blade speed of 3200 RPM.
However, as opposed to the ZT, this model has standard steering wheel controls. 15-inch front wheels and 20-inch rear wheels allow this mower to travel across most terrains, even inclines up to 15 degrees.
- Model: Kobalt KT 5680-06
- Deck width: 42 in
- Max cutting speed: 6 MPH
- Runtime: 2 acres
- Hauling capacity: 200 lbs
- Cutting height: 1.5 – 4.5 in
- Battery ports: 6
Should You Buy It?
At $4,999, the KT 5680-06 lawn tractor has many of the same performance features as its zero-turn 80V counterpart, like a 42-inch deck, 200-pound hauling capacity, and 2-acre runtime. If you want an upgrade to your lawn care routine, the standard steering wheel controls have a less intense learning curve compared to zero-turn maneuvering. Plus, for existing Kobalt 80V Max users, this mower includes six batteries that you can use in your entire lawn care arsenal.
However, if price is a deciding factor for you, Kobalt has one more riding mower that I’ll cover below, which is the least expensive model on the roster.
Price: $4,999
Kobalt MAX-Lithium 42-inch Battery-Powered Lawn Tractor
Unlike the first two entries in this list, the Kobalt KLMR 4252A-03 electric lawn tractor features a different power source. Instead of running off multiple 80V Max batteries, this lawn tractor has one internal 52V battery that recharges via the included wall-mounted EV-style charger. However, like the other two Kobalt riding mowers, this lawn tractor has a 42-inch cutting deck. On a single charge, the KLMR 4252A-03 can mow around 1.5 acres, and the internal battery recharges in around 4 hours.
Three brushless motors deliver up to 20 HP equivalence and spin the dual blades at up to 3000 RPM. Unlike the 7-position cutting heights in the two 80V Kobalt riding mowers, this lawn tractor has a 12-position cutting height adjustment, letting you further dial in your target grass length between 1.5 and 4.5 inches.
- Model: Kobalt KLMR 4252A-03
- Deck width: 42 in
- Blade speed: 3000 RPM
- Max cutting speed: 6 MPH
- Runtime: 1.5 acres
- Cutting height: 1.5 – 4.5 in (12 positions)
Should You Buy It?
At $3,799, this Kobalt 52V battery-powered lawn tractor is the least expensive riding mower in the brand’s lineup. It’s also on the lower end of the price scale for battery-powered lawn tractors as a whole. There are some trade-offs to consider, though.
The internal battery is easier to manage than several individual removable batteries; however, it also means that you can’t use the same batteries in the rest of your lawn care tools. You also need a dedicated area in your shop or garage to plug the mower into the included wall-mounted charger.
That said, 1.5 acres is a pretty reasonable amount of runtime for a 42-inch lawn tractor, and Kobalt claims it fully charges in just 4 hours if the first pass isn’t enough. If your lawn is around that size and you’re looking to ditch the gas can at a reasonable budget, this Kobalt riding mower is worth a second look.
Price: $3,799
