Honda HRX217 Premium Residential Lawn Mower Bridge the Gap Between Entry-Level and Commercial Needs
Looking for a lawn mower that offers more than entry-level without going all the way up to a commercial build and price? The Honda HRX217 lawn mower series positions itself in the gap to offer homeowners a better option.
Honda HRX217 Series Lawn Mower Lineup
The line consists of 5 models: the HRX217VKA, HRX217VLA, HRX217VYA, HRX217HYA, and HRX217HZA. Each of the 21″ mowers offers a variety of features to make maintaining your lawn a breeze.
What They Have in Common
The HRX217 series uses Honda’s GCV200 engine, which is a nice upgrade from the GCV170 engine on Honda’s HRN216 series.
They also all feature the brand’s 4-in-1 Versamow System with Clip Director. The Versamow System can mulch, bag, and side-discharge your clippings, as well as shred leaves. The system can even provide a combination of mulching and bagging. The great thing is that you don’t have to keep track of a plug or other accessories—it’s all built right into the mower.
Each mower has a 21-Inch NeXite rust-free, no-dent cutting deck. Honda has so much faith in their durability that they back them with a lifetime warranty.
As we expect from Honda’s higher-end mower, you get MicroCut stacked blades. These mower blades provide four cutting surfaces that create finer clippings that make for better mulching and easier bagging.
Common Features
Here’s the full list of what every mower in the lineup has:
- GCV200 Engine
- Automatic Choke
- 50-State Certified
- 21-Inch NeXite Deck
- MicroCut Twin Blades
- 10-Position Versamow Clip Deflector
- 9-Inch Ball Bearing Wheels
- 3 Handle Positions
- Easy Fold Quick Release Handle
- Fuel Shut Off Valve
- 3/4 – 4-inch Cutting Height
- 0 – 4 MPH Drive Speed
- 2.5 Bushel Bag
How They’re Different
Here’s a breakdown of the features you can expect on each of the five Honda HRX217 models:
Honda HRX217VKA
- Infinitely Variable Select Drive
- Recoil Starting
- 89-Pound Dry Weight
Honda HRX217VLA
- Infinitely Variable Select Drive
- Electric Starting With Recoil Backup
- 95-Pound Dry Weight
Honda HRX217VYA
- Infinitely Variable Select Drive
- Recoil Starting
- Roto-Stop (stops the blade without shutting down the engine)
- 95-Pound Dry Weight
Honda HRX217HYA
- Hydrostatic Cruise Control Drive
- Recoil Starting
- Roto-Stop
- 97-Pound Dry Weight
Honda HRX217HZA
- Hydrostatic Cruise Control Drive
- Electric Starting With Recoil Backup
- Roto-Stop
- 106-Pound Dry Weight
From there, you can select the model that sports the features that you need for your lawn. Some of these include:
- Roto Stop: This feature stops the blades spinning without shutting down the engine (available on VYA, HYA, and HZA models)
- Cruise Control Variable Speed Control: This variable hydrostatic speed control provides precise, easy speed control that you can set and forget (available on HYA and HZA models)
- Honda Select Drive Variable Speed Control: Easily adjust the mower’s speed to your stride by rotating the speed adjust dial (available on VLA, VKA, and VYA models)
- Quick Release Handle: Easy to adjust to 3 positions for comfortable mowing or compact storage
- 5-Year Warranty
Honda HRX217 Vs HRN216
What’s the difference between Honda’s HRX217 premium residential mowers and their HRN216 entry-level series? We’re so glad you asked!
| Series | HRX217 | HRN216 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine Model | Honda GCV200 OHC Residential Engine | Honda GCV170 OHC Residential Engine |
| Starting | Recoil/Electric (depending on model) | Recoil/Electric (depending on model) |
| Choke System | Automatic | Automatic |
| Emissions | 50 state certified | 50 state certified |
| Throttle Control | Fixed or manual | N/A |
| Versamow System | Mulch, bag, discharge, leaf shred | Mulch, bag, discharge |
| Clip Director | 10 positions | 2 positions |
| Bag Capacity | 2.5 bushels | 1.9 bushels |
| Cut Height | 0.75 – 4 inches | 1 -4 inches |
| Number of Cutting Positions | 7 | 7 |
| Self-Propel | Infinitely Variable Select Drive or Hydrostatic Cruise Control | N/A or Variable Position Smart Drive |
| Blades | Twin Blade MicroCut System | Twin Blade MicroCut System |
| Roto-Stop | VYA, HYA, and HZA models | N/A |
| Cutting Deck | 21-inch NeXite | 21-inch 16-gauge steel |
| Wheels | 9-inch with ball bearings on all wheels | 8-inch with sintered metal bushing on the rear wheels |
| Handle | 1-inch steel tube with 3 height positions and Easy Fold quick release and ErgoActive design | 1-inch steel tube with 2 height positions and Easy Fold quick release |
| Dry Weight | 89 lb – 106 lbs | 73 – 87 lbs |
| Residential Warranty | 5 years | 3 years |
| Deck Warranty | Lifetime | 3 years |
| Price Range | $769 – $1079 | $509 – $629 |
Honda HRX217 Lawn Mower Price
Honda’s premium residential mowers range from $769 – $1079 and all have a 5-year residential warranty. Here’s the breakdown:
- HRX217VKA: $769
- HRX217VLA: $879
- HRX217VYA: $879
- HRX217HYA: $969
- HRX217HZA: $1079
