The Husqvarna 5521CHV is a versatile mower that is ideal for big yards with varied terrain. Its AutoWalk front-wheel-drive system is designed to take the sweat out of pushing a mower around a lawn by allowing users to set their own pace with the use of a simple lever instead of being dragged along by the transmission. Likewise, this machine offers a good amount of cutting height variety -- it offers six positions, from 1.1 to 3 inches, which can be changed with four levers. Furthermore, the 3-in-1 bagging system provides a range of options for the disposal of your yard waste.

It is extremely easy to start this mower; there is no wrestling over the machine and the choke turns off on its own. We also enjoy the AutoWalk system; it is intuitive to use -- simply pull back on the drive control lever to alter your speed -- and runs very smoothly. Thanks to the available cutting height adjustments, you can adapt to quite a wide range of grass types, inclines and rough spots; since these are manual adjustments, however, you will have to stop and take the time to make the changes. If you just try to push the mower through rough sections without taking the time to stop and adjust things, you run the risk of stalling out.

We find the bagging system to be simple, yet effective. The mulching option works well -- using the mulching blade, it spews grass back into the lawn in a subtle, natural manner. When the grass gets too high, the bagging system ensures you can remove the heavy clippings, although we wish that the grass catching bag and attachment system were sturdier. This seems to be an area in which many push mowers need improvement, however, and this model performs no better or worse than most other brands.

This mower is a pleasure to push on a mellow lawn. The big back wheels make it easy to maneuver around shrubs and tree wells, and it also runs up and down small hills quite effectively. That said, however, we would not recommend using this mower on a rough, hilly yard. Additionally, the engine can get overwhelmed when this machine is used to tackle truly wild patches and thick vegetation. Ultimately, the Husqvarna 5521CHV is best suited for large, sprawling yards and users who do not like expending a lot of energy manhandling their machines.


Pros: Easy to push, dependable if you don't try to bully it past its limits, versatile, AutoWalk system
Cons: Not powerful enough for tough lawns, wet grass clumps up in the side discharge fairly easily

Warranty
2 years