Honda HRX-BE Review: 21 in Battery Self-Propelled Mower

The HRX-BE is best at cut quality and long-term ownership on lawns of about a third of an acre.

• Fine clippings. The twin-blade MicroCut system uses four cutting surfaces to make finer clippings, which Honda says fits more into the 2.2 bushel bag and disappears better when mulching.
• No-attachment mode changes. Versamow with Clip Director shifts between mulch, bag, discharge and leaf shred without swapping plugs or chutes.
• A low minimum cut. Seven heights from 0.75 to 4 inches, lower than most battery mowers, which suits short warm-season grass.
• Room to grow. A second battery bay doubles runtime when you add a second 12Ah pack.
• Support. A 5-year residential warranty and Honda's nationwide service network, with parts available; Honda describes it as built for the long haul, not as a throwaway.
• Safety features. A blade control button and lever against accidental starts, a rear shield and discharge guard, and automatic shutoff after 3 minutes of blade control inactivity or on motor overload.

The biggest drawback is paying premium money for one battery and a slow charger. The kit includes a single 12Ah pack rated for about 0.37 acre, and the second bay stays empty until you buy another pack. The included charger is a standard 2A unit, and simple arithmetic on a 12Ah pack and a 2A charger points to a recharge measured in hours, not minutes; check the manual's figure before assuming a same-day second mow.

Runtime per dollar is also lower than EGO's. The EGO POWER+ LM2135SP 21 in. Select Cut Self-Propelled Mower Kit costs less and lists up to 60 minutes with a 60 minute rapid charge. And while EGO's 56V batteries run an entire lawn and garden tool line, the HRX-BE listing does not describe a broad Honda battery tool platform to share its pack with.

These themes summarize published owner reviews of the HRX-BE and the HRX line, not our own use. The battery model is newer than the gas HRX, so review volume is lower.

Praise themes

• Mulching and bagging quality match what owners expect from the gas HRX.
• Quiet, smooth self-propel with easy button speed control.
• Honda build quality and dealer support.
• The 5-year residential warranty.

Complaint themes

• High price, especially with only one battery included.
• Charging is slow with the standard charger.
• A second battery adds significant cost.
• Heavier to push and lift than lighter battery mowers.

Buy it if

• Your lawn is about a third of an acre, or you will buy a second battery for more.
• You bag or mulch and care about fine clippings.
• You mow warm-season grass short and want a 0.75 inch minimum height.
• You value a 5-year residential warranty and a local Honda dealer.

Skip it if

• You want the most runtime for the money; the EGO POWER+ LM2135SP 21 in. Select Cut Self-Propelled Mower Kit lists up to 60 minutes.
• You want one battery system for many tools; EGO's 56V line is broader.
• Your lawn is over half an acre and you will not buy a second pack.
• You want a wider deck to save time; the Toro 60V MAX 30 in. eTimeMaster Personal Pace Mower (Tool Only) cuts 30 inches.

Warranty: the listing states a 5-year residential warranty covering the mower top to bottom, plus a 90-day commercial use warranty. Confirm battery and charger coverage with Honda or your dealer, and register the mower.

Certification: battery mowers need no engine emissions certification. The listing does not state a UL, ETL or CSA listing; check the charger and battery labels for a safety certification mark and charge only with Honda's charger.

Recalls: we cannot query the recall database for you, so check the CPSC recall database at cpsc.gov/Recalls for this model and its serial range before you buy, and again once a year after you own it. Register the product with the manufacturer so a recall notice reaches you directly.