Rugged enough to be mistaken for a compact tractor, the Simplicity Legacy XL--with an air-cooled hydro engine--is actually a subcompact garden tractor, packed with all the control and comfort you'd expect.

This unit features a V-twin, air-cooled Kohler Command engine, a 27-horsepower combination of cast-iron cylinders, hydraulic valve lifters, a 15-amp charging system, and a mechanical fuel pump. The unit's 1/2-inch-thick frame and cast-iron front axels are designed to handle heavy front attachments, and the joystick control makes it really easy to connect or disconnect attachments--such as the optional 500-pound-lift-capacity front-end loader--without ever leaving your high-back seat.

The price of the unit reflects a fairly basic model, with two-wheel drive and a 48-inch free-floating mower deck. But you can upgrade to a 54-inch deck for about $100 more, or a 60-inch deck for an extra $229. To move up to four-wheel drive, add $1,000.

Power steering and cruise control are standard features on the Simplicity Legacy XL, and little touches such as a soft-touch steering wheel, color-coded controls, and halogen headlights and taillights make the Legacy XL a breeze to operate.