Which Honda Battery-Powered Lawn Mower is Right for You?

In partnership with Honda Power Equipment

When Honda announced its exit from the gas mower market a few years ago, it left many of us stunned. However, the promise of a new line of battery-powered models gave us hope that Honda’s outstanding designs would bring something special to the industry. Now that those mowers are available, I’ll share more about what they have to offer and help you decide which one is right for you.

Why Buy a Battery-Powered Honda Lawn Mower?

Honda has built a stellar reputation in the walk-behind lawn mower industry. Combining their legendary small gas engines with forward-thinking mower design was a recipe that set the standard for the class. But now that their gas engines have been replaced by battery-powered brushless motors, are they still as good?

I had the opportunity to chat with the Honda Power Equipment team about the shift to battery power, and there are several reasons these mowers are poised to lead the competition. It all boils down to one mindset—they want to make sure you get the performance, cut quality, and reliability you expect from a Honda mower.

Familiar Design

When Honda decided to make the shift to battery power, the engineering team was tasked with making the transition as easy as possible for customers. They delivered.

When you stand behind one of these mowers for the first time, it looks and feels like the previous gas models. The major difference is that you have battery ports and electric motors where the engine used to be.

Even the model naming system is designed to help you easily translate gas to battery. If an HRX series gas mower was your favorite, an HRX series battery mower is the direct replacement.

That doesn’t mean everything is exactly the same, though. There are some tweaks the design team had to make for the electronic components to operate properly and features that work slightly different. So, you may notice some minor differences, but they’re all designed to make the mower feel as much like the gas models as possible when you’re using it.

No Compromise Performance

One of the major points of focus for Honda’s battery-powered lawn mowers is that there’s no compromise in the performance and cut quality you’re used to.

It starts at the power source. The HRN and HRX models use a 1.5Kw brushless motor, which is comparable to the GCV170 engine. The HRC model has a 2.0Kw brushless motor that’s comparable to the GCV200. If you were using a Honda gas mower, you’ll notice the same performance when you’re cutting with the equivalent battery-powered model.

Then there’s the cut quality Honda is known for. All four mowers feature the MicroCut stacked blade system. While there are some minor changes to optimize the blades for use with a brushless motor, the clean, even cut and fine mulching benefits are the same.

Service That’s There When You Need It

Switching to battery power has several key benefits. There’s no oil or gas to mess with, no engine emissions, and much less noise. But the one that might be best, especially after a long winter, is that there’s very little maintenance. Aside from sharpening the blades occasionally, you just pop your battery in and go.

Plus, Honda is so confident in the quality of their components and build that the same warranty the gas mowers had carries over to the battery models.

However, it’s possible that you’ll need service or repair at some point and Honda has you covered there as well.

For starters, these mowers are not built to be throwaway products. They’re designed to have serviceable and replaceable components, so your mower continues providing outstanding performance for years.

Another advantage Honda has over other brands is that all of their dealers are also service centers. You don’t have to worry about driving three states away, dealing with expensive packaging, or adding shipping time into the process. Just visit your local Honda Power Equipment dealer and let their experienced service team take over. You’ll be back up and running with much less frustration.

Which Honda Lawn Mower Is Right For You?

There are four Honda battery-powered lawn mowers to choose from. As you’re considering them, the two biggest things to keep in mind are which features you want and your lawn size. We’ve included a chart at the bottom so you can easily compare them side-by-side.

Honda’s batteries are cross-compatible between all four models. An 8.0Ah battery can cut up to 0.25 acres, while the 12.0Ah battery is good for up to 0.37 acres. That’s based on actual grass, not just lot size. Keep in mind that your house, driveway, sidewalks, and landscaping take up a good chunk of space.

If the mower you prefer doesn’t have enough runtime for your lawn, no sweat, you can always purchase extra batteries to get the coverage you need.

Honda HRN-BV

The HRN-BV is Honda’s most affordable and lightest residential model, but it’s far from entry-level. The mower’s 1.5Kw brushless motor is the same one you’ll find in the HRX models and is the electric equivalent of the GCV170 engine. Plus, the MicroCut twin blade system ensures you get the cut quality you expect from a Honda mower.

This model uses the 5-position Smart Drive self-propelled drive system to select speeds up to 3.8 MPH.

For clipping management, you can choose between mulching, bagging, and rear discharge. Switching is simple thanks to the Clip Director lever. Just slide it into the position instead of fiddling with a removable mulch plug.

Additional Highlights

• Dual-lever deck height adjustment
• 8-inch plastic wheels
• Easy Fold quick release handle with two handle heights

Price: $899 with one 8.0Ah battery

Honda HRX-BV

Moving up to Honda’s mid-range residential model, the HRX-BV has some significant upgrades. While the brushless motor and blade system is the same as the HRN-BV, one of the biggest changes is that it swaps the steel deck for NeXite.

If you’re not familiar with NeXite, it’s a high-impact resin material similar to what car bumpers and football helmets are made from. It won’t rust, corrode, or dent the way steel decks can. Plus, it’s incredibly tough—strong enough to withstand being run over by a car in testing.

The drive system shifts to Select Drive. With this design, a dial allows you to select a more precise speed that matches your stride better. It’s also slightly faster, offering speeds up to 4.0 MPH.

The other big upgrade is to the 4-in-1 clipping management system. It has the Clip Director lever and can mulch, bag, or rear discharge, but it adds Honda’s Versamow feature. It’s a special mode that enables better leaf mulching and collection, as well as combination mulching and bagging for when the grass is high or damp. Living in central Florida, it’s an outstanding feature for our fast growing season and affinity for St. Augustine grass.

Additional Highlights

• 1.5Kw brushless motor
• MicroCut twin blade system
• Dual-lever deck height adjustment
• 9-inch plastic wheels
• Easy Fold quick release handle with three handle heights

Price: $1049 with one 8.0Ah battery

Honda HRX-BE

The HRX-BE is Honda’s premium residential lawn mower. It shares the same foundation as the HRX-BV, but has several key upgrades.

First, it has two battery ports rather than one. If you have a larger lawn, it you can add an extra battery to have more uninterrupted mowing time. This model also comes with a 12.0Ah battery, so you’re starting with 50% more runtime than the previous two models.

This model upgrades to the e-Select Drive system. It uses thumb buttons on either side to quickly and precisely adjust your speed on the fly. Roto-Stop is built into the drive system as well. For the electric mowers, it enables you to transport the mower using the drive system without the blades on, saving you runtime.

Additional Highlights

• 1.5Kw brushless motor
• MicroCut twin blade system
• NeXite deck
• 4-in-1 clipping management with Clip Director and Versamow
• Dual-lever deck height adjustment
• 9-inch ball bearing wheels
• Easy Fold quick release handle with three handle heights

Price: $1299 with one 12.0Ah battery

Honda HRC-BE

If you run a commercial lawn care crew, the Honda HRC-BE was built for you. While there are a number of similarities to residential models, including the same battery compatibility, this model is beefed up to deal with the longer hours and higher durability needs of commercial use.

It starts with a more powerful 2.0Kw brushless motor, equivalent in performance to the GCV200 engine.

As you look around the steel deck, you’ll notice deck guards around the sides and a front bumper to improve the durability.

The handle frame is made from 1-inch tubing and features heavy-duty reinforcement on the handles. Even the cable system is upgraded with heavy-duty cables that are sealed and adjustable for optimal performance and durability.

The Electronic Cruise Control drive system moves the controls away from the center and down to the side of the handle. Both its position and component selection are designed for commercial-grade durability.

Additional Highlights

• MicroCut twin blade system
• Roto-Stop
• 4-in-1 clipping management with Clip Director and Versamow
• Two battery ports
• 9-inch NeXite ball bearing wheels
• Four-lever deck height adjustment

Price: $1999 with one 12.0Ah battery

Honda Battery-Powered Lawn Mower Comparison