Cub Cadet or Toro – The one I’d choose

Cub Cadet and Toro are popular, premium-quality mower manufacturers in the US with a global presence. Both companies are renowned for producing reliable machines that withstand the test of time. Since both companies produce world-class machines, choosing one over the other can be a pretty challenging task for most mower buyers. 

In this post, we’ll look at both company’s mowers in a little more detail. We’ll cover popular mowers, such as Zero-turn mowers, tractor mowers, and walk-behind mowers, and highlight what makes one different or better than the other.

Cub Cadet vs Toro – Comparisons Begin Here!

Zero Turn Mowers

Both Cub Cadet and Toro offer many feature-rich zero-turn mowers. For comparison, I took the top models of Cub Cadet and Toro to find which is the best. 

Toro 54″ (137 cm) TimeCutter Zero Turn Mower vs. Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 54

Specification	Toro Zero Turn Mower Timecutter	Cub Cadet Ultima ZT154 Zero Turn Mower
Engine	24.5 hp Toro Commercial V-Twin 708cc.	24 HP 725cc KOHLER 7000 series V-twin automatic OHV engine.
Cut Width	54 inch	54 inch
Fuel Capacity	3 gallons /11.4 L	3.5 gal. US (13.25 L)
Deck Design	54″ IronForged® Fabricated Deck	11-gauge steel
Transmission	Dual Hydrostatic HG-ZT2200	Hydro-Gear EZT 2200
Tires	11″ x 5.5″ Front, 20″ x 10″  Rear	11″x 6″-5″ Front, 20”x 10”- 8” Rear
Warranty	3 Years	3 Years
Price	$4,399	$3,399

The choice seems tough here. The design of both these machines is almost similar. While Toro uses an IronForged deck, Cub Cadet’s deck is made with 11-gauge steel. Consumers using both have found Toro’s decks more durable than Cub Cadets’. In terms of the engine, although Cub Cadet’s engine displacement is higher, the 24.5 hp power makes Toro’s zero turn mower stand out. But, the price of Toro’s zero turn mower is much higher than Cub Cadets. 

Toro’s 42″ (107 cm) TimeCutter® Zero Turn Mower vs Cub Cadet RZT SX 42 

Specification	Toro Zero Turn Mower	Cub Cadet Zero Turn Mower
Engine	22.5 hp Toro Commercial V-Twin 708cc w/Self-Cleaning Air Filter Housing	679cc Cub Cadet EFI Engine
Cut Width	42 inch	42 inch
Fuel Capacity	3 gal / 11.4 L	2.8 gal. US (10.6 L)
Transmission	Dual Hydrostatic HG-ZT2100	Hydro-Gear EZT 2200
Tires	11″ x 4″ Front, 18″ x 7.5″ Rear	13″x 5″-6″ Front, 18″x 8.5″ -8″ Rear
Warranty	3-Year, Unlimited Hour Residential Limited Warranty	3-year limited
Price	$3,099	$3,799

In the 42″ range, Toro is a clear winner. Its engine offers more power than the Cub Cadet mower and its fuel tank is larger than its competitor. The best part is the price, the Toro is quite a bit cheaper than the Cub.

Walk-Behind Electric Mower

Toro 21″ (53cm) 60V MAX Electric Battery SMARTSTOW® Self-Propel High Wheel Mower vs Cub Cadet 60 Volt Max 21″ Signature Cut™ Push Walk-Behind Mower

Specification	Toro 21″ 60v Max Battery Walk-Behind Mower	Cub Cadet 21″ 60v Walk-Behind Mower
Battery Voltage	Brushless DC 60V Battery L324 (6.0ah, 324 wh)	60V MAX
Charge Time	2.5 hours	2.5 hours
Run Time	45 minutes	50 minutes
Cut Width	21 inch	21 inch
Wheel Height	7″ Front, 8″ Rear	8″ Front, 11″ Rear
Warranty	2-year full Warranty	3-year limited
Price	$419	$459

Both Toro and Cub Cadet Walk-Behind mowers are classy and durable. Toro’s mower comes with the SmartStow®, enabling you to fold and store it virtually anywhere. The Cub Cadet mower offers you a dual battery bay, meaning you can store another fully charged battery within the power bay. 

While the battery of both machines is nearly similar, what makes the Cub Cadet mower stand out is the extra-high rear wheels. While Toro offers stability with the 8″ rear wheel, Cub Cadet offers better grip with the 11″ rear wheel. The tire size somewhat justifies the extra $40 you pay for the Cub Cadet mower. Hence, Cub Cadet 60 Volt Max 21″ Signature Cut™ Push Walk-Behind Mower emerges as the clear winner in this segment. 

Tractor Mower

Toro does not offer tractor mowers, and so the best we can do here is attempt to compare Cub Cadet’s 54-inch tractor mower with Toro’s 54-inch Zero-turn mower. While both mowers will cut grass a Zero turn is associated as you know with larger law areas. These two machines are different and have a different range of skill sets.

Zero turns are excellent at maneuvering and at cutting laws efficiently. A tractor mower on the other hand has the ability to collect grass, not a feature traditionally associated with a Zero turn. The tractor will be easier to master as it uses traditional pedal and steering wheel controls.

The Zero may seem a little alien with large levers for left and right turn controls.

Toro 54″ (137 cm) TITAN® Zero Turn Mower vs. Cub Cadet XT2 GX54 D

Specification	Toro Zero Turn Mower TiTan	Cub Cadet Tractor Mower GX54D
Engine	26 hp Kohler 747cc with Pro Air Cleaner	24 HP Kawasaki 726cc
Cut Width	54 inch	54 inch
Fuel Capacity	5 gal / 18.9 L	3.0 gal. US (11.36 L)
Deck Material	54″ IronForged Fabricated 10 ga. High Strength with Bull Nose	11-gauge steel
Tires	13” x 6.5” – 6” Front, 22” x 11” – 10” Rear	16″x 6.5″-8″ Front, 22″x9.5″-12″ Rear
Warranty	3-Year, Unlimited Hour Residential Limited Warranty	3-year Unlimited Hours (Includes Powertrain)
Price	$5,499	$4,299

The Toro mower includes many pro elements like a canister-style air filter, a commercial drop pin, and a rubber chute. Since the blades spin at over 18,000 fpm, you can cut grass without the dreaded clumping. 

The Cub Cadet tractor mower sports a heavy-duty AeroForce™ deck and rear diff lock to ensure optimal performance in hostile conditions.

While the Cub won’t be as nimble around the lawns as the Toro, it does offer other benefits. There are a ton of accessories available for tractor mowers easily converting them from mower to workhorse. The common range of accessories include – trailers, sweepers, snowblowers, aerators, scarifiers, rollers, feeders, sprayers and the list goes on.

Adding a range of accessories allows the gardener to put the tractor to multiple tasks around the yard, a tractor doesn’t just cut and collect grass.

You may find the following posts helpful:

Should I buy a Toro Timemaster?

Should I buy a new mower?

Should I buy a riding mower?

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