Garden tractors provide more brawn than a riding mower, and you need to do more than just cut the lawn, don't you? Garden tractors have larger engines, taller tires and rear connections for ground-engaging attachments, such as tillers and cultivators. There are dozens of garden tractors on the market today, which can be great for comparison shopping but also confusing -- especially if you dislike to shop. So we are here to help: Prices for garden tractors range from just over $2,000 to nearly $10,000, and the quality and options available on these residential workhorses are just as varied. Four of the six garden tractors reviewed here are priced around or less than $3,500. Among them you should be able to find a garden tractor that fits both your needs and your budget. Here's a summary of what's reviewed.


Husqvarna GTH26K54T garden tractor

A 26-hp Kohler Courage 726cc two-cycle engine powers the Husqvarna GTH26K54T garden tractor. And the engine is matched well with a hydrostatic (automatic) transmission. This model should provide many years of service and has the ability to handle jobs bigger than just cutting the grass. It can easily manage residential cultivators and other ground-engaging attachments as well as pull a utility cart with typical yard loads. With its 54-inch mower deck, this garden tractor can service lawns up to 3 acres. Anti-scalping wheels and rollers to keep the blades from digging in to the grass over uneven ground, and an electric PTO switch engages/disengages the mower blades. A nice surprise on the Husqvarna GTH26K54T not found on other garden tractors is the red taillights. This is a solid, well-built machine.

Husqvarna GTH26K54T garden tractor

Troy-Bilt Big Red Horse GT Garden Tractor

Our Bargain Buy in garden tractors is the new Troy-Bilt GT that their marketing folks named the Big Red Horse. The features are standard, the engine is adequate, and the quality is sufficient for most applications. It will do the job on both your big lawn and in your large garden. What's appealing is the price. The price tag is around $2099 -- the lowest among popular-brand garden tractors. It's not a Kubota, nor a Simplicity or Husqvarna; actually it's made by the same folks that build Cub Cadets. But it is a good value. If you plan to push the limits of your garden tractor, consider the Husqvarna GTH26K54T for about a grand more. It's worth a grand more. Otherwise, bargain shoppers will like the Troy-Bilt GT just fine.

Simplicity Prestige 27/50 and Simplicity Conquest 23/54 garden tractors

Simplicity, owned by Briggs & Stratton, makes some nice garden tractors and enough models to find one that will fit your needs. However, Simplicity tractors are more expensive than many others. But they're also built a little better. And some of them offer features you won't find on most garden tractors, such as four-wheel drive on the Prestige 27/50 and top-of-the-line engines as on the Conquest 23/54. But expect to pay nearly $8,000 for FWD and well over $5,000 for one with the best engine. There are some other quality features that may sway you too. If you have the budget, take a look at these two Simplicity models.

Simplicity Conquest 23/54 garden tractor

Craftsman 28750 and Craftsman 28745 garden tractors

Among all the Craftsman garden tractors, we found two that are good buys within a couple hundred dollars of $3000. (Remember: Sales can lower these prices!) They are models 28750 and 28745. Both are powered by 26-hp two-cylinder two-cycle engines, the 28750 has a Briggs & Stratton engine and the 28745 has a comparable Kohler engine. The biggest difference is that the 28750 has an automatic transmission (and a higher price tag) while the 28745 has a six-speed manual transmission. There are other differences too. Take a look, especially if you're a Sears Craftsman fan.