Are Mantis Tillers Worth the Money? – Top 4 Models reviewed

One of the most popular powered tiller brands on the market is the Mantis Tillers. They’ve been the go-to tiller for devoted gardeners for over 40 years. The brand’s popularity is bolstered by the variety of options available oil, gas, 2-stroke, and 4-stroke.

Mantis is worth the money. They are a leading manufacturer of garden tillers and they offer a good range of both tiller size and power types, including electric.

In particular, I will compare the pros and cons of four models: the Mantis 2-Cycle Tiller/Cultivator 7920, the Mantis 2-Cycle Plus Tiller/Cultivator 7924, the Mantis 4-Cycle Plus Tiller/Cultivator 7940, and the Mantis XP 4-Cycle Tiller/Cultivator 7566-12-02. 

Let’s Take a Glance at the Specs/Features

Specs/Features	Mantis 2 Cycle Tiller/ Cultivator 7920	Mantis 2 Cycle Plus Tiller/ Cultivator 7924	Mantis 4-Cycle Plus Tiller/ Cultivator 7940	Mantis XP 4-Cycle Tiller/ Cultivator 7566-12-02
Reliability	Highly rated by consumers.	Highly rated by consumers.	Highly rated by consumers.	Highly rated by consumers.
Features	Gas/Oil Mix 10″ Digging Depth 9″ Width Weight 20 lbs Easy Storage  Recoil Start  2-Cycle Engine 21.2 CCs Engine Capacity 240 Tine RPM	Gas/Oil Mix 10″ Digging Depth 9″ Width Weight 20 lbs Easy Storage Includes Kickstand 2 Cycle Engine  21.2 CCs Engine Capacity 240 Tine RPM	No mixing of gas 10″ Digging Depth 9″ Width Weight 24 lbs Easy Storage Kickstand Recoil Start 4-Cycle Engine 25 CCs Engine 240 Tine RPM	No mixing of gas 10″ Digging Depth 16″ Width Weight 34 lbs Easy Storage Kickstand Recoil Start 4-Cycle Engine 35 CCs Engine 240 Tine RPM
Cost to Buy	$309.95	$359.95	$409.95	$619.95
Availability	Easily Available.	Easily Available.	Easily Available.	Easily Available.
Performance	Powerful, High-performing tiller.	Innovative transmission design which helps deliver maximum performance.	High-performing tiller 25 CC powerful Honda engine.	High-performing 35cc Honda engine.
Ease of Use	Comfortable to use due to ergonomic design.	Comfortable to use.	Extremely lightweight and comfortable to use.	Lightweight tiller that is easy to use with comfortable handles that can be adjusted as per height
Warranty Period	2 Years	2 Years	2 Years	2 Years

Mantis 7920

The super-powerful Mantis 7920 (Amazon.com link) gets its excellent performance from a two-cycle commercial engine placed over the tines. While weighing in at a comparatively small 20 pounds, the product can be used for various activities, including tilling, weeding, and digging. Amazon reviewers and gardening forum users are universally enthusiastic about the performance of this tiny beast of a machine. 

The most notable feature of the Mantis 7920 is the Throttle-Activated Centrifugal clutch, which means less work for the operator. There are no drive controls to engage. Just apply the throttle, and you are tilling.

The tiller also gets top marks for ease of use, with soft-grip handles that prevent user fatigue. It is also one of the fastest tillers, with a rotational capacity of 240 RPM. 

Now for my list of the pros and cons. 

Best Parts

The product is highly durable and versatile and gets especially high points for being lightweight and compact. It is easy to use with foldable handles and powerful despite the small size.

Not So Good

The recoil start might be a little hard to get used to. The use of fuel also makes it less than environmentally friendly. Don’t forget that this is a two-stroke engine, so oil needs to be mixed with the gas manually before adding it to the gas tank.

Forgetting to do this or getting the ratio wrong may cause serious engine damage.

Mantis 7924

The 7924 Mini Mantis Tiller (Amazon.com link) weighs in at a light 20 pounds but gets top points for high performance with a maximum 10-inch tilling capacity. The 7924 Mini Mantis is powered by a 21.2 CC 2-cycle fuel engine, making it less ideal.

The product is advertised with Fast Start Technology, which requires 75% less energy to start.

Reviews on that score show that not all consumers are convinced, and many claim that the product took a while to start. However, the product generally gets high points for performance and ease of use with Soft Sure-Grip. 

Now for my list of the pros and cons.

Best Parts

The product is easy to use and transport due to its lightweight and foldable handles and is tailor-made for beginners. 

Not So Good

The product is not environmentally friendly. Reviewers find that while high-performing, it works best on turned-over ground. It also only comes with a single-speed operation. Again, this model is a two-cycle and will require oil in the gas and mixing to the correct ratio.

Like the previous model, if you forget to mix the oil with the gas, your engine will be toast.

Mantis 7940

Mantis 7940 (Amazon link) is one of the most highly rated models on my list and also one of the best-reviewed on online shopping sites and gardening forums. The tiller comes with a powerful 25 CC engine that scores highly on the performance meter.

Also, top marks for its easy to start and being relatively quiet.

The tiller comes with easy-to-hold soft sure-grip handles and with a 240 RMP rotational functionality. The tines are designed to reduce bouncing even when digging through hard soil.

Although it is expensive compared to other models, the Mantis 7940 is one of the best for maximum performance and the one I’d buy. 

Now for my list of the pros and cons

Best Parts

Mantis 7940 is a powerful and durable model that digs through tough soil fast. It’s a 4-cycle, and it doesn’t require mixing oil and fuel.

Not so Good

The biggest con of the Mantis 7940 is the high price.

Mantis 7566-12-02

The Mantis 7566 4-cycle tiller weighs in at a light 35 pounds making it easy to maneuver and transport. The powerful 35cc Honda engine is especially powerful, and the 16-inch tilling width makes the Mantis 7566 perfect for cultivating larger open areas.

Another great part is that the wider tilling width allows for use in narrower spaces by removing the outer tines and using just the inner ones. The comfortable handles can be adjusted to suit the height, making the product easy to use. 

Now for my list of the pros and cons.

Best Parts

The high-power engine is also super quiet, and as it’s a 4-cycle, it doesn’t require mixing oil and fuel. The product also ranks highly for being easy to start and lightweight.

Not so Good

Pricier than other models on this list.

Takeaway

The four models listed above have emerged as the top-rated Mantis tillers on the market. Customer reviews in online stores, gardening forums, and review sites are largely positive, with the pros vastly overriding the cons.

While the price may deter consumers from some models, all four tillers rank highly in reliability and performance.

The best choice for occasional use on a medium-sized plot is the Mantis 7940. It’s the ideal size, in my opinion, and a durable, cleaner-running 4-cycle engine powers it. You can check her out here on Amazon.com.

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