Best Zero Turn Mowers for 2024 | Australian Buying Guide

Guide to Zero Turn Mowers

Zero Turn Ride On Lawn Mowers are a serious investment, so some of the most important considerations are, sadly, the most boring: buying the best mower brands; warranties; maintenance costs.

Also, they will need regular servicing for safety, and to prolong their life, so consider how easy it is to find a dealership, or local mechanic who knows what they’re doing.

Most Zero Turn Mower buyers will be professional landscapers, but there are some smaller mowers by brands like Cub Cadet. Cub Cadet Zero Turn Mowers are some of the best, and easiest to store too, so are a decent choice for commercial and domestic gardeners alike.

But John Deere and Kubota Zero Turn Mowers have a great range too, so whatever your reason for needing these grass care beasts, there will definitely be something to suit your space, and your budget. They are trusted brands that also made it to our list of the best compact tractor brands in Australia.

What is a Zero Turn Mower?

Zero Turn Mowers are the best type of ride on mower by a long, long, way. Their name comes from their ability to achieve an almost zero turning radius, meaning no missed corners.

They work with a two-level steering system, giving drivers the ultimate control over their vehicles, and cut in front of the driver rather than beneath the seat.

The front facing blades allow the machines to be driven right up to lawn boundaries, fences and hedges without missing significant portions of lawn. Common zero turn mower manufactures include John Deere, Kubota, Cub Cadet, Toro and Husqvarna. 

Of course, there are other brands, but it's important to stick to trusted brands when investing in serious machinery in the same way you wouldn’t buy a combine from just anywhere.

Why Do I Need a Zero Turn Mower?

Space. It really is that simple. If you’ve got large areas to mow, you can be walking up and down for hours for a push mower, and you’ll end up leaving a couple of square metres at every corner with conventional ride on mowers.

Zero turn mowers save time on boundary management too, making like work of scrub land and overgrowth. There are a few models that direct mulch, but with all ride on mowers, it’s best to stick to the models with clipping baskets.

Ride on zero turn mowers are not for regular cutting of small gardens, and are usually seen managing civic spaces or public land, usually every 3-6 weeks depending on the landscape management plan, and occasionally just three times per year when managing wildflower meadows, cutting grass meadows, or maintaining prairie schemes.

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How to Use a Zero Turn Mower

You’ll be used to seeing zero turn mowers storming across golf courses and playing fields as they drive much faster than conventional ride on mowers, with more manoeuvrability and usually faster cutting speeds.

Every mower has slightly unique operations to that brand, but for all zero turn mowers, the controls are placed behind the cutting blades, so you’ll need a little bit of practice if moving from a conventional lawn tractor to a zero turn mower. Here is more on how to operate a zero turn mower. 

The two steering levers give instinctive turning when you get used to them. To steer, think of it like steering a trolley rather than a car. 

To move forward, push the levers forward, and to steer to the right, push forward with your left hand, or right hand forward for left turning. To break, pull back on the steering levers.

There’s not much more to it, but it takes a little getting used to and the steering can be pretty sensitive.

1. Baumr-AG 300RX Electric Ride On Lawn Mower

Most zero turn mowers have steering bars, meaning you’ll need a bit of practice to get used to the steering. The Baumr-AG 300RX looks at life a little differently though.

The steering wheel makes it really easy to just jump in the saddle and go. Anyone who can drive a car can drive this lawnmower safely and confidently.

There are drawbacks for wheel steering, rather than bar steering, including accuracy, and speed, but this nifty little zero-turn mower makes up for that with its sleek, lightweight design, that would fit well in the corner of a garage thanks to its narrower cutting width.

The Baumr-AG 300RX is perfect for medium-sized gardens that want the convenience of zero-turn mowers, without the bulk.

2. Husqvarna Zero Turn Mower Z572X

Husqvarna makes exceptional tools, but don’t have the domestic brand recognition they should. They’ve got some great domestic mowers available, but this definitely isn’t one of them!

This is a serious machine, designed and built for commercial lawn management, with the most powerful engine of everything we’re reviewing, and the biggest cutting width too.

What’s great about Husqvarna zero turn mowers is that they actually deliver a really neat cut for such a big machine.

Obviously $20,000 is a lot to pay for a mower, so this isn’t really an option for domestic use, but for serious lawn management on a regular basis, the Z572X really can’t be beaten.

3. Husqvarna Zero Turn Mower Z146

Consider everything I’ve just said, and then scale it back a little bit. This compact Husqvarna Z146 is pretty much the perfect lawn mower for large domestic lawns.

It doesn’t come with the substantial safety features of the Z572X, but it's steering is better than Husqvarna models, and it’s small enough to keep in the garage.

4. Husqvarna Zero Turn Mower MZ48

I think maybe Husqvarna should have stopped at the Z range. The M models just sit in the middle and are too big for domestic use, and too small for commercial use. They’re incredible mowers, don’t get me wrong, but they just don’t seem to have a purpose. 

On the up side, they cut very well, have decent fuel efficiency, and a pretty good cutting width too, so they would make light work of a domestic garden. 

For me, I’d rather save the $4000 and spend an extra ten minutes cutting the lawn.

While I’m a big fan of the steering bars that are installed on most zero-turn mowers these days, I remember the first time I jumped in the driving seat, confronted with the baffling steering system. It’s not easy for newcomers to just drive off without a bit of practice, so I love that Baumr-AG has created this simple model with a standard steering wheel.

If you’re new to zero-turn mowers, this is the perfect introduction, and great value too. Like everything from Baumr-AG, it’s well built, it performs well, and it doesn’t break the bank. For any domestic gardeners with a large lawn to manage, the Baumr-AG 300RX is the best value zero turn mower you can buy.

Professional landscapers need professional tools, and the Husqvarna Zero Turn Mower Z572X is just about as high end as zero turn mowers come.

These are the sort of mowers I grew up with, and for enthusiasts or professionals, there’s a definite thrill to sitting on something so powerful, knowing that there’s no job too big.

Zero Turn Mower FAQS

What is a zero turn mower?

Zero turn mowers are ride on lawn mowers with their cutting disc in front of the rider. Their cutting position means they can mow right into corners and all the way up to boundaries with ease.

Thanks to their central driving position they can also turn with almost zero degrees of rotation.

How do you steer a zero turn mower?

Think of a zero turn mower like riding a motorcycle. Push forward of the left and it turns right. Pull back and it stops. Push forward and it goes. Zero turn mowers take a little practice and some have very sensitive steering, but once you get the hang of it, it’s easier than riding a bike.

What’s the difference between professional and domestic zero turn mowers?

The biggest difference between professional zero turn mowers and domestic zero turn mowers is price. You can find some really great domestic zero turn mowers with enough power to do commercial work, but to get the right combination of power and cutting width for maximum efficiency, professional mowers have both.

For more mower options, check out our reviews below:

• Electric lawn mowers
• Electric riding mowers