When spring arrives, lawn tractors are put on display in front of big-box stores across the land. For many homeowners who have lawns of one or more acres, lawn tractors are the logical choice for a mower up to the task. Fortunately, there are many good models from which to choose, ranging from $1,000 to more than $4,000. It's a matter of matching your needs with what's available and selecting the model that's the best value for you. Let's take a look at some exceptional models.


Craftsman LT1000 and DLS 3500 Lawn Tractors

At two ends of the Craftsman lawn tractor spectrum are the LT1000, which we named a Budget Buy, and the DLS 3500, which has more features and a higher price tag. Both are good values. The LT1000 -- specifically the 27639 -- has a well-chosen engine and manual transmission that sets the price hovering at around $1000, depending on sale discounts. It stacks up very well against some cheaper brands and models. The Craftsman DLS 3500 Lawn Tractor 28713 has a slightly larger engine, a wider cut, and it's a made of heavy-duty materials. It is powered by a 20-hp Briggs & Stratton Intek Plus OHV engine that utilizes a better oil filtration system than the popular Intek line of engines found in many lawn tractors.

Craftsman LT1000 Lawn Tractor
Craftsman LT1000 Lawn Tractor

Husqvarna YTH2146XP Lawn Tractor

Husqvarna makes some good lawn mowers and the new YTH2146XP is no exception. With a better-grade Kawasaki engine with hydrostatic (automatic) transmission, it is a good choice for lawns up to about 2-1/2 acres in size. We give it a very good rating and would make it higher except that the suggested retail price is nearly $2400 -- higher than most homeowners want to pay for a lawn tractor. If you have a large lawn and you expect to be cutting it for many years, seriously consider this model -- it will last.


John Deere LA110 Lawn Tractor

John Deere has revamped their entire line of lawn tractors, retiring the venerable 125 and other models. The new line includes the LA110, which sports a 19.5-hp Deere engine made by Briggs & Stratton to Deere's specifications. With a hydrostatic (automatic) transmission and a 42-inch wide cut, it has the right size and power for mowing lawns up to about 1-1/2 acres. Other 100 series mowers in the John Deere line offer engines that have 18.5 to 26 horsepower and cuts from 42 to 54 inches in width.


Simplicity Broadmoor 20/50 Lawn Tractor

The Simplicity Broadmoor 20/50 lawn tractor is expensive. But that's because it has a top-of-the-line engine and heavy-duty automatic transmission, and it's made of sturdier metal and has more features than just about any other lawn tractor sold today. It's a high-end machine that costs about three times the price of a basic lawn tractor, but -- of course -- this model is far from basic. It has a commercial-quality engine that you can depend on for many years. A lawn tractor such as this one is worth it if you take mowing your large lawn seriously -- and you can afford it.


Toro LX425 Lawn Tractor

It was a close race, but we gave the Best Buy rating to the Toro LX425 -- a new model that shows promise. The LX425 has a strong 20-hp Kohler Courage engine and a CVT (continuously variable) automatic transmission with a 42-inch cut. It also has some nice features that are usually found on more expensive models. This is a lightweight machine that is priced lower than most of the competition, but it still offers the durability and dependability that you find in high-end models.