Next-Gen DeWalt RWD Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Delivers Confident Cutting Power
DeWalt’s battery-powered lawn mower lineup has had mixed results with consumers, but the product teams have been steadily improving with each new generation. We got our hands on the updated DeWalt 60V Max 21-Inch RWD Self-Propelled Lawn Mower to see what they’ve done differently and how much it affects your mowing experience.
Pros
- Excellent cutting power
- Long runtime
- RWD System
- Effective 3-in-1 system
- Dual blade system
- Onboard battery-meter
Cons
- Battery changeover requires you to flip a manual switch
- Mulching function could use some improvement
Check our best battery-powered lawn mower recommendations of the year!
DeWalt RWD Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Performance
- Cutting Height: 1.5 – 4 in.
- Deck Positions: 6
- Runtime: 85 min.
Cutting Power
The DeWalt DCMWSP700 is powered by a brushless motor that power the dual stacked blades to shear through thick grass with relative ease. Unfortunately, DeWalt doesn’t give us too much information concerning blade speed, motor torque, or gas equivalent power. However, during our testing it’s clear that this mower means business.
It features three modes—Auto, Eco, and a Boost mode. In the default Auto mode, the blade speed feels similar to the Eco mode, but it will automatically kick up the RPMs when you encounter tougher cutting conditions. This helps extend the overall runtime by allowing the mower to kick into high gear only when necessary rather than continuously running the throttle wide open.
The Eco mode operates at a constant speed and will not increase the blade speed if you encounter thicker grass. This helps extend runtime, which is ideal for weekly maintenance cuts. On the other hand, Boost mode is great for tackling tough grass patches, but it will drain the battery faster than the other two modes.
After some hands-on time with this mower, it feels like this is a big step forward for DeWalt’s battery-powered selection. To me, this feels like a real contender against other models like the Greenworks 60V 21-Inch MO60L810 and Ryobi’s 40V HP Brushless RY40HPLM02 in terms of cutting power and cut quality.
This mower also has six speed settings, so you can match the drive speed to your walking pace. I found that setting 4 was ideal for me and allowed me to maintain a reasonable pace. However, if you’re keen on keeping up with your fitness, setting 6 will definitely give you a workout.
3-In-1 Design
As with most mowers, the DeWalt DCMWSP700 features a 3-in-1 deck, allowing you to mulch, bag, or utilize the rear side-discharge chute to disperse clippings.
Many battery-powered mowers tend to struggle with a rear side-discharge chute due to its requirement to bend air and clippings around instead of shooting it straight out. DeWalt has to deal with this as well, and only managed to throw the grass clippings a little over four or five feet in dryer areas.
The distribution performance was understandably lower when I hit areas with more moisture and thicker grass, but it could still clear my current path. If you’re a discharger, I recommend using it during regular dry maintenance cuts to avoid clumping and clogging.
As for bagging, this mower was extremely effective, despite its relatively shallow deck. However, the mulching function did leave something to be desired. The clippings we observed were a little larger than what we’ve seen from other mowers. This leads us to believe that the grass is dropping out of the deck before it can be sufficiently mulched.
Runtime
It’s a little tricky to nail down an exact runtime estimate because there are a number of contributing factors. These include mowing mode, temperature, ambient humidity, grass height, and species.
DeWalt tells us that you can expect up to 85 minutes of continuous runtime when using two 12.0Ah FlexVolt batteries. When your first battery is exhausted, all you need to do is turn the battery selector switch to the remaining battery, and you’re good to go. Keep in mind, this mower will run on a single battery, but you’ll see an obvious drop in the total runtime.
These numbers make it ideal for lawns up to 1/2-acre. Anything more than that and we recommend you start thinking about upgrading to a larger lawn tractor or zero-turn mower.
DeWalt RWD Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Design Notes
- Model: DeWalt DCMWSP700
- Power Source: DeWalt 60V FlexVolt battery
- Weight: 87 lbs
- Deck Size: 21 in.
- Deck Material: Steel
- Wheel Size: 7 in. (front), 9 in. (rear)
Drive Controls
After testing dozens of mowers over the years, it’s safe to say that I’ve developed some pretty strong preferences when it comes to blade and drive controls. For me, I think DeWalt hit a home run with their design.
The control panel sits directly in the middle of the grip and houses the battery-life meter, blade speed control button, and a simple drive speed control dial. Here, you also have two low-profile drive control paddles and a presence bar that recesses flush with the grip.
What I really like is that the drive paddles and the presence bar don’t require much force to hold down. This small detail delivers improved hand comfort during longer mowing sessions, which I certainly appreciate.
Deck Design
Right out of the box, our entire team was drawn to DeWalt’s deck design. This mower features a very low-profile stamped steel 21-inch deck. This deck is noticeably lighter than other steel deck mowers, making it easy maneuver during turns.
The only thing I noticed during my testing is that the mower does tend to jump a little upon initial startup. Most battery-powered self-propelled mowers have a little kick when the drive starts up, but the mower’s lower weight makes it a little more noticeable on this model.
Blade Orientation
One thing we noted right away was the X-shaped cross-blade design. This is quite a departure from the typical stacked blade configurations we’ve seen on other mowers. This blade design delivers a more aggressive cut, but it can lead to increased clogging with thick, wet grass.
RWD Self-Propelled Drive
Of all the improvements on this next-generation mower, one of the most significant is replacing the belt-driven front wheel drive system with a direct-drive rear wheel drive system. From our experience with both mowers, the DCMWSP700 is much easier to handle in thick grass because the drive system is pushing rather than pulling. Moreover, the larger rear wheels deliver better traction, improving the overall mowing experience.
Vertical Storage
When you look at the market for walk-behind and self-propelled lawn mowers, you’ll be hard-pressed to find one that you can’t store vertically. So why am I talking about it? Well, DeWalt took a few creative liberties with their design that puzzled our experienced team, so we thought it was definitely worth mentioning!
In order to fold the handle down, you need to press the release button that’s located on the underside of the plastic cross member. Next, push the telescoping portion of the grip all the way in until it clicks into place. At this point, the hand will freely fold forward and lock in place and you can then stand it up on its end.
To fold the handle up, simply reverse the process.
Height Adjustment
I’m happy to report that DeWalt designed this mower with a single-point deck height adjustment lever. This system is much easier and faster to use than more traditional 4-point adjustment configurations.
With one swift motion, you can adjust the deck height from 1.5 to 4 inches to accommodate your grass species or mowing preference.
Additional Features
- Compatible with all DeWalt FlexVolt batteries
- LED Headlight
DeWalt RWD Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Price
The DeWalt DCMWSP700 retails for $949 as a kit that includes two 12.0Ah 60V Max FlexVolt batteries and a charger. DeWalt backs this mower with a 3-year limited warranty, 1-year of free service, and a 90-day money-back guarantee.
The Bottom Line
Overall, the next-gen DeWalt RWD Self-Propelled Lawn Mower represents a significant step forward for Team Yellow’s battery-powered lawn care lineup. It delivered confident cutting power during our testing, and it has an excellent feature set for residential use. On top of that, it’s relatively lightweight design makes it easy to maneuver, even in thicker grass.
I think there’s a real argument to be made for the DCMWSP700. It offers a decent amount of runtime, and the overall design is very approachable for all skill levels. Moreover, the stacked blades deliver clean-cut results and generate plenty of under-deck airflow for effective mulching and side-discharging. With all of this in mind, I think DeWalt has earned its spot at the table if you’re considering ditching your gas-powered mower this season.
