The John Deere LA115 lawn tractor puts the quality aspects of a John Deere tractor into a residential machine that won't break the bank. It is a quality machine that has a few extra features that make it a good value for light- to medium-duty yard work.

With the LA115, you get everything you're likely to need from a lawn tractor. The construction is of excellent quality, which is reflected by the sturdy frame and well-balanced ride. The 42-inch cutting deck is adjustable in height from 1 to 4 inches and offers 13 different settings in .25-inch increments; we find this deck to be stable at all heights and on most lawn conditions. It's easy to clean the deck, thanks to the built-in wash port. Switching out the deck can be a bit tricky at first, but you'll likely get the hang of it relatively quickly. The 19.5-hp Briggs & Stratton engine is good for normal-duty work, though it feels a bit strained when performing medium-duty tasks and on moderate hills. Likewise, it's not ideal to tackle heavy snow and harsh winter conditions with this tractor. Even when it feels a little underpowered, however, energy transfer is smooth and responsive.

Using the LA115 under more rugged conditions exposes some of its limitations. You'll likely need a couple of passes to fully cut down patches of weeds and light growth, and even then, the cut can be uneven. The cutting deck is stable but the blades seem to miss patches of rough terrain. The transmission is prone to small hitches on bumpy terrain, although you'll learn to deal with the power transfer after using the LA115 for a while. All this said, though, the tractor does an adequate job in rugged conditions. The chassis and suspension are very well made and gives a comfortable ride no matter where you take it.

For those who want professional-quality results, John Deere offers a very wide variety of optional bagging and mulching systems; if you don't want to spend the extra money, however, the side-discharge system is very powerful. The company's snow blower and snow blade attachments work very well in tough conditions. Bumpers, spreaders and several other attachments make this tractor very versatile and handy.

For almost everything except heavy-duty yard maintenance, the John Deere LA115 is a champ, thanks to its ultra-smooth handling and good suspension.


Pros: High-quality craftsmanship, great attachment variety, excellent bagging options, stable 42-inch cutting deck
Cons: Patchy performance in rugged terrain