Powerful, well-designed and practically effortless to use best describe one of Toro's best mowers, the Super Recycler 20056 self-propelled gas mower. The power behind this extremely easy-to-use machine is a Briggs & Stratton 190cc GTS engine that easily starts on the first pull. Toro backs that up with its Guaranteed to Start promise: If the engine doesn't start on the first or second pull for five years, then Toro will fix it for free. The engine doesn't run quite as smooth as an overhead valve engine, but it has plenty of power and a proven design that when combined with Toro's patented Super Recycler cutting system produces effortless mulching with finely chopped clippings that are evenly dispersed, even in tall grass. The patented cutting system is one of the best we've seen, with a highly efficient, convex-shaped blade, an accelerator and two kickers. The blade does a first-rate job at cutting the grass, after which the accelerator lifts up the grass under the 21-inch cast-aluminum deck and two kickers force clippings back into the blade where they are chopped and re-chopped into a super fine mulch that will help keep your lawn healthy and green. Of course, this 3-in-1 mower offers more options than just mulching alone. You can also choose to bag your clippings -- the bag is very easy to remove and reattach -- or let them disperse through the side discharge chute.

Superior mulching, easy bagging and a great quality cut aren't the only features that impressed us. How about a mower that runs without any speed settings to regulate or hand levers to squeeze. We found Toro's Personal Pace Self-Propel System to be one of the best in the industry for a residential walk-behind mower. The self-propel system uses a sliding handle connected through a cable that leads to a variable-speed rear wheel drive system. Just put your hands on the handle and start walking -- it's that easy. The mower matches your speed, anywhere from 0 to 4 mph. That can reduce mowing time considerably, especially on a large flat lawn where you can walk at maximum speed. (Most self-propelled mowers are rated between 2 to 3.5 mph.) Another feature that comes standard with this model is the blade override system (BOS). Whenever you release the handle, the mower blade will stop but the engine keeps running. That added convenience really comes in handy when you need to make a quick stop to empty the bag or remove rocks, toys or other debris from the mowing path. We found that once you use this feature you'll never want to be without it.

Grass clippings that get caught on the underside of the deck can reduce cutting performance when you mow, especially when clippings build up into a caked-on layer. But Toro found an easy solution by adding on a wash-out port. Simply connect a hose to the integrated port and turn on the hose. The action of the water pressure combined with the whirling blade helps keep the underside of the deck grass-free and improves cutting performance each time you mow.

For a nicely featured, high-end 3-in-1 mower that delivers when it comes to superior mulching and a nice quality cut in an easy-to-use machine, the Toro Super Recycler 20056 is hard to beat.


Pros: 3-in-1 mower, Toro's Super Recycler cutting system, premium power, Personal Pace Self-Propel System, rear wheel drive, aluminum deck, blade override system, wash out port, 5-year warranty
Cons: Overhead valve engine would be nice

Warranty
5 years