A little off the top CR testers look for an even, carpetlike cut in several mowing modes.
Models lose points for uneven mowing.
Uncut grass, unvacuumed clippings, and clumps also lower a mower's score. Practically any lawn mower will cut your grass well enough to keep the neighbors from complaining. What separates many high-priced mowers from the midpriced models are added features and smoother controls. However, three mowers in this test that cost roughly half as much as the top-rated premium machines performed nearly as well overall and come with nearly as many conveniences. They also outperformed several pricier mowers.