Toro 828 Vs Toro 928 – What’s the Better Option?

When you first take a look at the Toro 828 and 928 snow blowers, they seem almost identical.

Both are 28” blowers and you can tell that both are professional-grade blowers just by looking at them.

However, there are slight differences that you would only notice if you look under the hood, so to speak.

And since not everyone has the time or opportunity to take a closer look, we have prepared a comparison review of these two blowers.

We tested the Toro 828 and the Toro 928 snow blowers to help you decide which is the better option.

Toro 828 Vs Toro 928 Overview

Toro took different approaches with the 828 and 928 snow blowers.

After testing, it would appear that they tried to make the Toro 928 more user-friendly and appealing to people who perhaps never used a blower of this size before.

For starters, the Toro 928 is a self-propelled snow blower with electric start. The 928 is also very easy to operate and steer.

With the Toro 828, it seemed that Toro was more interested in making a powerful snow blower. Not to say that the Toro 828 is hard to operate; but its features are obviously geared towards serious snow removal.

Quick Facts

Toro 828

Toro 928

Engine

252cc

265cc

Type

2-stage

2-stage

Clearing Width

28”

28”

Toro 828 Key Features

  • LED Headlight – The Toro 828 comes with a bright LED headlight that makes it safer to operate in low visibility conditions.
  • Serrated Auger – The serrated auger of the Toro 828 helped it chop up dense, hard snow.
  • All-Steel Design – Although we only tested the Toro 828 for a couple of days, we got the impression that the steel frame will hold up for many years.

Toro 928 Key Features

  • Self-Propelled Drive – The 928 has 6 forward speeds and 2 reverse speeds so it can adapt to your pace and the size of your property.
  • Adjustable Scraper – The height of the scraper can be adjusted to match the level of the snowfall you’re dealing with.
  • Adjustable Chute – The chute can rotate 200 degrees so you can control where the snow goes as you remove it.

Performance Comparison

It should be noted that both the Toro 828 and the Toro 928 blowers are self-propelled.

However, the 928 has more forward and reverse speed options. It was a bit easier to adapt to different conditions with the 928 because of these additional speeds.

However, both the Toro 828 and the Toro 928 have the same size serrated auger. And they are both 2-stage blowers which mean they both have an impeller to further cut down the snow as it enters the chute.

As such, they were both more than capable of handling dense, heavy snow. They are also both suitable for larger properties; but if you want your snow blower to be easy on your body, the Toro 928 may be the better option.

How Much Snow Can They Handle?

 Both the Toro 828 and the Toro 928 snow blowers can easily handle about 18” soft snow.

When it comes to the hard stuff, you are probably going to struggle a bit with anything more than a foot.

Throw Distance Comparison

 The Toro 828 can throw snow about 45 feet. The same goes for the Toro 928.

Noise Comparison

 We couldn’t tell any difference in sound between these two snow blowers. Even on the fastest speed, the Toro 928 was just as loud as the Toro 828.

Weight Comparison

 The Toro 828 weighs 256 pounds and the Toro 928 weighs 264 pounds.

Maneuvering Comparison

 One thing we really liked about the Toro 928 was the ability to zero turn. This makes clearing your driveway very efficient and actually a bit faster.

The Toro 828 was also maneuverable and easy on the body because it was self-propelled.

However, the lack of additional forward speeds and the more clunky turning made it less efficient overall.

Auger Comparison

 Both of these snow blowers are outfitted with a 14” serrated auger that requires no shear pins.

Durability Comparison

 The Toro 828 and the Toro 928 snow blowers have heavy-duty steel frames so they should both last a long time.

Toro 828 Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Triggerless power steering
  • Works great in hard snow
  • Self-propelled drive
  • Bright LED light
  • Adapts well to different levels of snowfall

Cons:

  • Drive link rod issues
  • Not as maneuverable as the Toro 928

Overall Score: 96/100

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Toro 928 Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Very easy to turn
  • Easy to start up
  • Chews through hard snow very easily
  • Bright LED light
  • More forward speeds than the Toro 828

Cons:

  • Drive link rod issues
  • Heavy

Overall Score: 97/100

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Who Should Buy Each?

 We like the Toro 828 for anyone with a large driveway to clear. The Toro 928 is better for people who want to cut their clearing time in half.

Other Snow Blowers to Consider

 

Husqvarna ST224

The ST224 is a great choice for 3+ car driveways. It has a 208cc engine and features electric start. Other features include power steering and adjustable handle height.

Pros:

  • Durable
  • Easy to start

Cons:

  • Engine cuts out randomly

Overall Score: 94/100

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PowerSmart PS26

The PS26 is a 2-stage snow blower with a 212cc engine. This is a self-propelled snow blower that can easily clear about 20 inches of snow.

Pros:

  • LED headlight
  • 180 degree chute rotation

Cons:

  • Hard to maneuver

Overall Score: 93/100

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Husqvarna ST227P

Featuring a 254cc engine, this 2-stage blower is a great one for large properties. It has a 27” clearing width and power steering as well.

Pros:

  • Easy to maneuver
  • Very powerful

Cons:

  • Loud

Overall Score: 95/100

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Final Assessment

When you take into account that the Toro 928 is actually cheaper than the Toro 828, the choice becomes clear.

Thanks to the lower price and the superior handling, the Toro 828 is the clear-cut best option.

Both are good for large properties; but the Toro 928 clears more efficiently and is easier to handle.