John Deere Riding Mowers Reviews – Is It A Reliable & Good Brand
John Deere is definitely a name that everyone has heard.
Most likely you know someone with a shirt or hat that says John Deere – this is how popular the brand is.
They grew their name by being reliable and by offering products that surpass their competition. So then, how about their riding lawnmowers?
This article will take a brief look at the brand itself including its history. Then we will look at the riding lawnmowers they have to offer to see how good they are.
Brief History
John Deere is the brand name of the Deere & Company corporation, an American manufacturer of machinery.
It was first established back in the early 1800s by a man known as John Deere. John Deere was a simple blacksmith, but his skills and ambitions grew to create one of the biggest companies in the world today.
Is John Deere A Good And Reliable Brand
John Deere is one of the best and most reliable brands you can find today.
Even across all the different industries, they are one of the names that stand out.
As a brand, it has proven itself by giving consumers high-quality products and high-quality service.
For this reason, you will always see people walking around with John Deere hats or shirts – this is how much pride they have to support this brand.
Are John Deere Riding Mowers Worth The Money
If you look at all the riding lawn mowers on the market, you will see that John Deere tends to be a more expensive option.
That extra investment is absolutely worth it if you consider what you get.
With John Deere, you are guaranteed a well-designed machine that was manufactured at a high standard and that comes with world-class support including troubleshooting support, spare parts, and expert advice.
Why Are John Deere Riding Lawnmowers So Good?
The Deere & Company corporation has been around for almost 200 years, and today they are bigger and better than ever.
They have so much experience and knowledge in their field that they can offer products with far superior technology, durability, and trustability compared to competitors.
What Are The Best John Deere Riding Mowers?
John Deere has a huge variety of machines, and that includes riding lawnmowers.
We evaluated all their options to bring you the 8 best John Deere lawn mowers.
John Deere Riding Mowers
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1. – John Deere S180 – Best Choice
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2. – John Deere S110 – Small Yards
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3. – John Deere Z345M – Best Residential Riding Lawn Mower
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4. – John Deere Z515E – Best Zero Turn Lawn Mower
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5. – John Deere S140 – Best For The Money
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6. – John Deere S240 – Best For Hills
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7. – John Deere 636M – Best Commercial Stand On Mower
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8. – John Deere X350 – Best For 2 Acres+
THE TOP 3
#1 – John Deere S180 – Best Choice
Selling Points:
- 24 hp V-Twin extended life series engine.
- 30-Second oil change system.
- 2-Year/120-hour bumper-to-bumper warranty.
Quick Facts
- Fully steel frame for strength.
- Easy to read fuel gauge.
- Has a heavy-duty hydrostatic transmission.
Overview And Key Features
Mobile and easy-to-use mower with a powerful and smooth-running engine. Has great snow-removing capability and has a spring-assisted hand grip leaver.
Who Should Buy It – What Garden Does It Suit
In general, this is the best overall choice so it will work in most cases. It is especially well suited for medium-sized residential lawns.
Options
Can come with an optional rear bagger, mulching system, front blade, sun canopy, and more.
Pros And Cons
- Pro – simple and easy-to-use.
- Con – with the size, you are limited to residential lawns (not commercial).
Overall Score: 97/100
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#2 – John Deere S110 – Small Yards
Selling Points:
- Powerful engine with full-pressure lubrication
- 2-year/120-hour bumper-to-bumper warranty
- No-tools oil drain with replaceable filter
Quick Facts
- 19 hp engine
- TLT200 hydrostatic, two-wheel drive
- Hydrostatic transmission
Overview And Key Features
A compact lawnmower that works well for smaller properties. It is easy to use and easy to handle.
Who Should Buy It – What Garden Does It Suit
The best use for the S110 is small residential yards. Anything too big will become a difficulty.
Options
Additional options include a rear bagger, mulching system, front blade, snow blower, and more.
Pros And Cons
- Pro – one of the more popular options with lots of customer feedback.
- Con – a small machine so only works for smaller yards.
Overall Score: 92/100
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#3 – John Deere Z345M – Best Residential Riding Lawn Mower
Selling Points:
- Long life is guaranteed with the powerful V-twin engine.
- A very comfortable and easy-to-use machine.
- 2-year/120-hour bumper-to-bumper warranty.
Quick Facts
- 22 hp V-Twin engine.
- 18-inch two spring suspension seat with armrests.
Overview And Key Features
The Z345M is an easy-to-manufer lawnmower that works great for getting an even cut with its 107cm mower deck.
Who Should Buy It – What Garden Does It Suit
This is a great option for anyone who is living in a residential area and has a small to medium yard.
Options
Options include a mulching system, rubber floor mat, sunshade, mounted sprayer, light kit, and storage cover.
Pros And Cons
- Pro – a compact model that is great to maneuver.
- Con – only works for smaller lawns.
Overall Score: 90/100
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#4 – John Deere Z515E – Best Zero Turn Lawn Mower
Selling Points:
- A large 152cm deck.
- 4-year/300-hour bumper-to-bumper warranty.
- Folding rollover protective structure.
Quick Facts
- 24 hp V-Twin engine.
- 18-in. cut and sewn seat with armrests and easy-to-read fuel gauge.
Overview And Key Features
A comfortable riding mower that offers superior cut quality and productivity with the flat-top design mower deck.
Who Should Buy It – What Garden Does It Suit
The Z515E model is a great lawnmower for medium-sized yards and it is especially a good zero turn lawnmower.
Options
Additional options include a mulching system, sunshade, mounted sprayer, and a light kit.
Pros And Cons
- Pro – zero turn mower.
- Con – limited number of additional options available.
Overall Score: 88/100
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#5 – John Deere S140 – Best For The Money
Selling Points:
- 2-year/120-hour bumper-to-bumper warranty.
- Large 48-inch mower deck.
- The entire frame is welded steel for strength and durability.
Quick Facts
- 22 hp V-Twin engine.
- Hydrostatic transmission.
Overview And Key Features
This model is another great compact option that is easy to maneuver and easy to use.
Who Should Buy It – What Garden Does It Suit
The S140 is another great option for something that is small and works well for smaller residential yards.
Options
Additional options include a rear bagger, mulching system, front blade, snow blower, and more.
Pros And Cons
- Pro – a good price for a lot of features.
- Con – the small size limits it to smaller properties.
Overall Score: 90/100
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#6 – John Deere S240 – Best For Hills
Selling Points:
- K46 heavy-duty hydrostatic transmission.
- 3-year/200-hour bumper-to-bumper warranty.
- Full-length steel frame.
Quick Facts
- 5 HP* V-Twin Engine.
- 42-inch deck mower.
Overview And Key Features
The S240 comes with a bit more power compared to the 100 series, but it maintains maneuverability. It comes with all the key features.
Who Should Buy It – What Garden Does It Suit
This is a great option for properties that have hills due to the extra power of the 21.5 hp engine.
Options
Additional options include a rear bagger, mulching system, front blade, spreader, bucket holder, and more.
Pros And Cons
- Pro – a longer warranty compared to many other models.
- Con – drive belt will need good upkeep.
Overall Score: 85/100
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#7 – John Deere 636M – Best Commercial Stand On Mower
Selling Points:
- A powerful commercial-level engine.
- Compact design for easy use.
- Hydrostatic drive system
Quick Facts
- A large operator platform and quality leaning pad enhance operator comfort.
- 19 hp engine.
Overview And Key Features
The 636M is a stand-on mower that can be used for larger properties. The maintenance is easy and the build is compact and strong.
Who Should Buy It – What Garden Does It Suit
This model is better for larger properties and it is better quality so it can be used at a commercial level.
Options
There are no additional options for this mower.
Pros And Cons
- Pro – a strong and durable machine.
- Con – you have to stand while operating the mower.
Overall Score: 94/100
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#8 – John Deere X350 – Best For 2 Acres+
Selling Points:
- 4-year/300-hour bumper-to-bumper warranty
- Air-cooled engine design.
- Low-effort steering and comfortable seating.
Quick Facts
- 5-hp iTorque engine.
- 42-inch deck.
Overview And Key Features
The X350 model comes with a powerful engine, an extended warranty, and lots of great features. It is still a compact machine, but it is able to do larger properties.
Who Should Buy It – What Garden Does It Suit
A great option for larger properties of 2 acres or more.
Options
Additional options include a rear bagger, mulching system, sprayer, spreader, and more.
Pros And Cons
- Pro – comes with a very long warranty period.
- Con – the price is higher than other models.
Overall Score: 85/100
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What’s the best oil for the John Deere Riding mower?
It is recommended by John Deere X350 that you use the John Deere brand of engine oil.
Their own oil was developed for their engines so it has the necessary additives to keep the engines in good condition.
A 10W-30 is the recommended oil to be used in all John Deere gasoline-powered engines. This includes their lawnmowers.
What’s the best gas for the John Deere Riding mower?
Most John Deere mowers have a 4-cycle engine that uses unleaded gasoline, or sometimes diesel.
If you want to take good care of the engine, it is important that you provide it with high-quality fuel.
Premium gasoline is recommended because it has a higher octane rating and thus it burns cleaner.
Why does a John Deere riding mower shut off after using it for an hour?
Most commonly, this can happen because the lawnmower engine gets too hot after using it for an hour.
It protects itself by switching off so that it does not sustain any serious damage like burning out.
These smaller riding mowers are designed for residential use so their engines are smaller and their continuous operating time is less.
There are also bigger, more commercial-level, mowers or lawn tractors that run for much longer.
How often should you service a John Deere riding mower?
In general, you should service it every 100 hours of use or every 1 year.
Each John Deere riding lawn mower will also come with its own manual and service schedule. It will also depend on what type of mower it is and in what conditions it operates.
For example, if it operates in dusty conditions it should be serviced more frequently. Keeping it well serviced will keep it running smoothly for many years.
Who builds John Deere mowers?
John Deere mostly builds their own lawnmowers. John Deere Delaware is a subsidized company, founded by John Deere, responsible for the manufacturing of most mowers.
There are also smaller and cheaper John Deere mowers that get built by the American company MTD (Modern Tool and Die Company).
Is John Deere as good as Cub Cadet?
John Deere is not only as good as Cub Cadet, it is far superior.
Cub Cadet is also a good and trusted lawnmower brand, but their products are not the same quality as John Deere. For this reason, you will find Cub Cadet has a lower price tag.
What kind of engine do John Deere Mowers have?
The engine that the lawnmower has will depend on the model. However, all John Deere engines are top quality, but some are better for certain jobs than others.
The more common 100 and 200 series mowers come with a V-Twin cyclonic engine.
Where are John Deere riding mowers manufactured?
Most of the riding lawn mowers are manufactured in America.
In general, John Deere products are manufactured mostly in the US, but also at a number of other locations internationally like Brazil, China, and India.
Conclusion
Towards the end of this article, we hope that you have a better understanding of the John Deere brand as well as John Deere riding lawnmowers in particular.
We took a brief look at some of the best lawnmower options that are available on the market and we answered some of the most frequently asked questions.
There is also a lot of information available on the John Deere website, or if you need any more assistance, you can also contact a sales consultant directly.
