Honda HRX217VKA mower review

The Honda HRX217VKA packs a powerful performance with a 200cc engine, but is it worth the high price tag?

Honda HRX217VKA review
(Image: © Honda)

Top Ten Reviews Verdict

The Honda HRX217VKA is a powerful walk-behind mower with a sturdy 200cc engine and a range of cutting heights. It's definitely on the pricier side, but its made by a reputable brand, is easy to use and suits a range of yards.

Pros

  • +

    Powerful Honda engine

  • +

    Range of cutting heights

  • +

    Self-propelled for easy use

Cons

  • -

    Expensive

  • -

    Large

  • -

    Heavy

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The Honda HRX217VKA 21-inch mower is packed with many of the features you would expect from a high-end lawn mower, and then some. Powered by an impressive 200cc motor, this self-propelled mower also comes with a generous 5-year residential warranty, giving you extra peace of mind if any problems arise. 

Honda HRX217VKA: Key specs

Dimensions: D 63.4" x H 42.2" x W 23.1"

Weight: 89 lbs

Blade length: 21 inches 

Engine displacement: 200cc 

Max cutting height: 4 inches 

Min cutting height: 0.75 inches 

Mower type: Self-propelled 

Start type: Pull-cord 

Warranty: 5 years residential/3 month commercial/lifetime deck

The Honda HRX217VKA makes lawn care effortless. With a pull-cord starter mechanism, you can set the pace of your mower using the ‘SelectDrive’ function, adjust the cutting length to one of 7 options, and dispose of your lawn waste as you wish, choosing from mulching, bagging, discharging and leaf shredding.

Our review takes a deeper dive into these functions and features, and gives you an idea of what to expect. Plus, we take a look at how users rate the Honda HRX217VKA and whether there are more affordable options that do a similar job.

If the Honda HRX217VKA isn’t the right mower for you, then check out our buyer’s guide to the best gas lawn mowers. If you’re after an electric mower, our guide to the best electric lawn mowers has more options.

Honda HRX217VKA: Design

If you're looking for a mower that comes with a few ingenious design features, look this way. The Honda HRX217VKA has four large 9-inch ball-bearing wheels, which are specifically designed to help you maneuver the mower very easily. 

Rust can be a particular worry when it comes to outdoor gardening tools. But you won’t have to worry about rust occurring on the Honda HRX217VKA. Its deck is made from the extremely durable material, NeXite. 

Honda is so confident in the durability of this material on the deck, that it comes with a lifetime warranty. Not only does this specially designed material stop it from rusting, but Honda says it should also help keep this mower dent-free. 

Honda HRX217VKA Mower review

(Image credit: Honda)

Honda HRX217VKA: Features

  • 4 in 1 cutting options
  • 7 cutting height positions
  • 4 waste options
  • Powerful GCV200 Engine
  • Large waste bags
  • ‘Flywheel’ brake system 
  • Adjustable speed 

The Honda HRX217VKA 21-inch self-propelled gas mower isn’t short of features. It comes with 7 different cutting height positions that range from 0.75 inches to 4 inches. This means you can cut your lawn to perfection whether you like it super short or long but tidy. 

The piece of outdoor gardening equipment also comes equipped with Honda’s MicroCut Twin Blades. This gives you extra fine clippings which, once cut, can be stored in the mower’s large 2.5-bushel capacity bag. 

The Honda HRX217VKA then allows you to rid of your waste in four different ways thanks to its revolutionary Versamow System. At the flick of a switch, you can swap between mulching, bagging, discharging and leaf shredding. The latter is particularly ideal in spring and autumn. 

Honda HRX217VKA Mower review

(Image credit: Honda)

Another impressive feature of the Honda HRX217VKA is its ‘Flywheel’ brake system. This is a brilliant safety feature for any self-propelled mower. This system quickly stops the engine as soon as you let go of this brake lever. Meaning you have safety in every cut. 

But perhaps the best feature about this mower? As we touched on before, it's got to be its powerful 200cc engine. This gives the mower more power and torque than Honda's previous motors in the same range. The result? A faster mow time – which is always a positive. 

Honda HRX217VKA: Performance

  • Powerful engine 
  • Variable speed 
  • Big debris bag 

When it comes to performance, the Honda HRX217VKA 21-inch self-propelled gas mower doesn’t disappoint. It comes with a powerful 200cc engine and more torque than the previous GCV190 engine it replaces. It gives you more cutting power and efficiency. Plus, it’s Select Drive System enables you to change the speed at which it propels forward – it goes up to 4mph. 

To start the motor, Honda has made it simple. Thanks to its 'Auto Choke' system there is no tricky engine choke device. You just use its pull-cord to start. And once you are up and running, you can mow 30% more of your lawn before having to empty the bag. 

That’s because of this gadget’s twin blade MicroCut System which uses four cutting surfaces that result in ultra-fine clippings. This allows you to store more cuttings in one mow. 

(Image credit: Image source: Home Depot)

Honda HRX217VKA: Support and user reviews

One of the best things about the Honda HRX217VKA is the fact it comes with a five-year warranty. While its deck comes with a lifetime warranty. But should you run into any problems with the machine, emailing is the best way to contact the Honda team. 

By the looks of the customer reviews left on Home Depot, the Honda HRX217VKA 21-inch self-propelled gas mower has gone down really well. It’s received 4.7 stars from just under 1,500 reviews and 86% of people said they would recommend this product. 

One happy customer said it was ‘hands down the best self-propelled mower’ and another user said that this gas mower is a ‘game changer’ because it helped to shave 40 minutes off their usual mow time. Another user also praised the machine for working without any issues and another said the different bagging options were 'brilliant'. 

However, some users criticized the Honda HRX217VKA because you ‘can’t’ shut off the blade without shutting off the engine. Another user marked the mower down because of its heaviness and a third reviewer claimed that the garden tool leaked oil in a couple of locations. 

Should you buy the Honda HRX217VKA?

It may be at the pricier end of the scale, but you get what you pay for with the Honda HRX217VKA. 

The peace of mind that comes with a well-known brand, a 5-year warranty, and a host of bonus features that make cutting lawns a breeze, well outweigh the initial outlay. Plus, with more power and torque than other mowers because of its 200cc motor, you’ll be saving time to boot. 

This impressive performance, combined with a range of adjustable features and functionality, makes the Honda HRX217VKA a lawn mower worth investing in. 

If this product isn't for you

If you want even more control over your mower, then why not try the Honda HRX217HZA? It features additional Roto Stop technology, which means that you can stop the blades without cutting the engine. Plus, Hydrostatic Cruise control gives you precise control of your mower’s speed.

For gardeners who want a lighter model to maneuver around their lawn, the Craftsman M105 Gas Mower may be just the ticket. Around 30 lbs lighter than the Honda HRX217VKA, this lawn mower makes easy work of even the hilliest lawns.

For those on a budget, a more affordable option is the Troy-Bilt TB160. With a 160cc Honda motor and 6 different grass-cutting height options, you get a lot of features at a lower price than many gas-powered lawn mowers.  

Becks is a freelance lifestyle writer who has worked extensively for Top Ten Reviews during the past year. She started her career in print journalism at a local newspaper and has since then worked across digital and social media for food titles and home interior magazines. When she’s not writing, she’s reading and when she’s not reading, she’s writing. 


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