New Upgrades Take Ryobi’s 40V HP Brushless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower to New Heights
Ryobi introduced their first-generation CrossCut lawn mower back in early 2021, and it was definitely a big hit. It was a huge improvement over its previous mowers but there were a few things we felt could be improved. Fast forward a few years, and we have the latest generation of the Ryobi 40V HP Brushless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower in-house and we’re diving in to see what’s changed.
Pros
- Cross-Cut stacked blade system
- Turbo mode
- Outstanding side discharging
- Variable speed thumb controls
- Separate max speed control
- Integrated mulch plug
- Blade life indicator
- Handle folds for vertical storage
Cons
- Thumb drive could be more robust
- Out of reach for some budgets
Ryobi 40V HP Brushless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Performance
- Gas Equivalent: 170cc
- Torque: 9.7 ft-lbs
- Bag Capacity: 2 bushels
- Cutting Height: 1 – 4 in.
- Deck Positions: 10
- Runtime: 75 min. (with two 6Ah batteries)
Cutting Power
The Ryobi 40V RY40HPLM02 features a brushless motor that churns out an impressive 9.7 ft-lbs of torque, almost matching Milwaukee’s commercial mower! In terms of power level, Ryobi tells us this mower is equivalent to a 170cc gas-powered model. 160cc tends to be the starting point for high-performance mowers, so the extra boost should be noticeable.
To put this to the test, we headed out to an overgrown area of the lawn and got to work. We set the deck height to about 3 inches and kept the drive speed at about 75%, which I found most comfortable.
Overall, this mower performed well and left a clean cut in our wake, with few stick-ups remaining. We did have to manually engage the Turbo mode in the thickest areas, but that’s exactly why Ryobi put some extra muscle in it .
What’s really cool is that Ryobi’s intelligent electronics will automatically activate the Turbo mode when it senses an increased load on the blade and then slow back to normal speed once you’re through that area. This helps conserve battery power and maintains an effective blade speed to ensure the best quality cut.
Cut Quality
Ryobi equipped this mower with their dual-stacked Cross-Cut blade system. This accomplishes two main objectives: it provides better results while mulching grass and delivers more airflow for bagging clippings and side discharge grass throw.
As for cut quality, Ryobi produced some great results during our testing. This mower bagged and mulched very effectively, and the side discharge spread further than many of the battery-powered mowers we’ve tested.
Granted, it’s not perfect and may still clog when mowing taller, wet grass, but I found that engaging the Turbo mode helped to expel grass clippings when the going got rough.
Runtime
It’s a little tricky to nail down an exact runtime estimate because there are a number of contributing factors. These include mowing mode, temperature, ambient humidity, grass height, and species. Here are some good estimates as a starting point:
| Battery Selection (x2) | Estimated Runtime |
|---|---|
| 6Ah | 75 min. |
| 8Ah | 100 min. |
| 12Ah | 150 min. |
As I already mentioned, actual mowing times will vary based on conditions, but Ryobi recommends this mower for yards up to 3/4 acres with the kitted 6.0Ah batteries.
Personally, I believe the realistic lawn size is more like 1/2 acre. I’ve conducted runtime tests on more self-propelled lawn mowers than I’d care to count. With additional variables in play, especially during peak mowing season, you’re not going to get those ideal runtimes we see in the estimates. Of course, you can always use additional batteries to keep going if you like.
On another note, walking back and forth behind a 21-inch mower until the batteries die is exhausting, especially in the Central Florida heat! 1/2 acre is a good max coverage for a mower this size, regardless of the runtime. But hey, if you really like walking or the summer temps in your area are more agreeable, you can certainly mow more.
If you need to cover more than 1/2 an acre regularly, I recommend upgrading to Ryobi’s 30-inch self-propelled model or one of its 80V Lawn Tractor models.
Ryobi 40V HP Brushless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Design Notes
- Model: Ryobi RY40HPLM02
- Power Source: Ryobi 40V battery
- Weight: 79.2 lbs
- Deck Size: 21 in.
- Deck Material: Poly
- Wheel Size: 8 in. (front), 11 in. (rear)
Drive Controls
Looking down at the control center, Ryobi took a detour from their normal design. Rather than a simple speed control dial, they opted for a more advanced control panel that allows you to adjust speed and activate turbo mode and the headlights. You’ll also find a battery-life meter as well as a blade replacement indicator light.
The drive levers are adjustable up and down to fit your favored grip position, and the presence bar folds down into a recessed groove for improved comfort.
One cool feature is that the drive speed is also variable. You use the arrows to set the max speed, but you can feather the drive levers if you need to slow down as you approach obstacles.
Deck Design
As expected, Ryobi went with a molded poly deck rather than steel or aluminum. There is some debate in the mower community concerning the durability and longevity of a plastic deck, but in our experience, there are some major benefits.
First, plastic decks are typically lighter, and since they’re molded, designers can engineer the mold to create optimal airflow and structural integrity. Second, they won’t rust out over time like a traditional steel deck can when repeatedly exposed to wet mowing conditions. One more thing—with more than a decade of mower testing under our belts, we have yet to break a poly deck.
Height Adjustment
Another feature that carried over is the single-point height adjustment lever. We like to see this because it makes the whole process much faster and easier than adjusting each wheel individually.
This mower has 10 adjustment points ranging from 1 to 4 inches, which is suitable for the majority of grass species you’re likely to encounter.
Integrated Mulch Plug
Looking back at the Ryobi 40V AWD self-propelled lawn mower, Ryobi utilized a large lever that manipulates the integrated mulch plug.
On this mower, however, they simplified it down to a small dial that opens and closes the mulch plug door. This system is easy to operate and allows for a seamless transition between mulching and bagging.
Additional Features
- LED Headlights
- Two-position handle
- Vertical storage
Ryobi 40V HP Brushless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Price
This mower retails for $649 as a kit that includes two 6.0Ah batteries, a charger, a collection bag, and a side discharge chute. Ryobi backs this mower with a 5-year tool warranty and a 3-year warranty on the batteries.
The Bottom Line
The Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 21-inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower is another example of why we love this brand. They took a successful mower and elevated the overall performance and design to make life a little easier. The confident cutting power, long runtime, thoughtful design, and advanced control suite come together to make this an attractive option for folks who want to ditch their gas habit this year!
Related Content
