The Unexpected Role Reversal in Lawn Care

Okay, confession time. When I think of lawnmowers, Honda has always been that "it just works" name in my mind. Gas-powered, dependable, the kind of machine my dad would've trusted.

So imagine my surprise when I started digging into a recent comparison between Honda's new battery-powered HRX-BE and Ego Power+'s LM2206, and discovered something pretty wild: Ego has actually been in the cordless mower game longer than Honda.

Talk about a plot twist!

Honda recently stopped selling gas mowers and is now jumping into the battery-powered pool for the first time. Meanwhile, Ego has been perfecting their electric mowers for years. It's like watching a veteran football player try to learn basketball from someone who grew up shooting hoops in their driveway.

The Price Tag: Same Numbers, Different Stories

Both of these mowers sit around the $1,300 mark, which honestly isn't chump change for most of us. But here's where it gets interesting—Ego tends to run deals that throw in a second battery, while Honda doesn't sweeten the pot quite as often.

For that kind of money, you're not just buying a mower. You're buying into an ecosystem. And that brings me to something I find genuinely useful about Ego...

One Battery to Rule Them All

This is the part that really sold me on Ego's approach. That 56-volt battery that powers the mower? It also works with Ego's entire line of cordless yard tools. String trimmer? Check. Leaf blower? Check. Hedge trimmer? You get the idea.

So instead of having a garage full of different batteries and chargers, you could theoretically run your whole yard operation on two or three batteries that swap between tools. There's something almost elegant about that.

Honda doesn't really have this going for them—yet. They're newcomers to the electric tool world, so their battery ecosystem is still taking shape.

Cut Quality: Where Honda Actually Shines

Here's the thing I didn't expect: when it comes to actually cutting grass, Honda held its own impressively well. Both mowers use dual-blade systems, and the HRX-BE delivered excellent cut quality even on overgrown lawns. The built-in mulch mode door (no lost plugs!) and rear-discharge option were actually thoughtful touches that beat Ego's side-discharge setup.

Because let's be real—nothing ruins a garden bed faster than grass clippings flying everywhere.

But Then There's the Design...

This is where things get a little embarrassing for Honda, and I say that with genuine sympathy. The design team seems to have taken the "bigger is better" approach a bit too literally.

The motor housing and dual-battery bay are enormous. The battery door doesn't stay open on its own, making insertion awkward. And here's the kicker: you can't stand this mower on end for storage.

I know that sounds minor, but if you've got a cramped garage like most of us, being able to stand a mower vertically can save serious space. Ego's mower folds down, locks into place, and can be stored standing up. It's a small quality-of-life thing that Honda apparently overlooked.

My Takeaway

Here's what I keep coming back to: Honda is trying. They're entering a new market and learning as they go. But Ego has had years to refine their approach, and it shows.

The HRX-BE isn't a bad mower by any stretch. The cut quality is genuinely excellent. But when you're asking people to spend $1,300, the little things matter. The awkward battery bay. The door that won't stay open. The lack of vertical storage options.

Meanwhile, Ego's Touch Drive system—which lets you engage self-propulsion just by resting your palms against the handle instead of squeezing a bar—was genuinely more comfortable to use.

At the end of the day, if you're shopping in this price range, I'd lean toward the Ego. Not because Honda is bad, but because Ego has had time to think through the entire user experience, from cutting to storage to battery compatibility with other tools.

Honda will probably catch up. They have the engineering chops. But right now? The newcomer is acting like the veteran, and the veteran is still finding their footing in this new electric world.

What do you think? Would you switch from gas to electric? Or are you holding onto that gas mower for as long as possible? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Source: Popular Mechanics - Cordless Lawn Mower Review: Honda vs. Ego Power+