Greenworks 42in Electric Riding Mowers: Zero Turn vs Lawn Tractor Compared

Introduction

Greenworks now offers two battery-powered riding mowers, a zero turn and a lawn tractor, and at first glance they look very different. In practice, they share a surprising amount of hardware, so the real decision comes down to steering style, seating space, and runtime. This comparison walks through both so you can pick the right one for your lawn.

What Both Mowers Share

The power source is identical on both. Under the seat there is room for up to six batteries, and the kit includes six 8Ah batteries, so you have everything you need out of the box. The mower can technically run on as few as one, but that is not recommended: the full six-battery setup gives the best performance and runtime. If you only have a little cutting left, popping a couple of batteries back in to finish is fine, but plan on running the full set.

The seat is also the same on both models. It is fairly comfortable, with armrests that pivot up and an adjustment lever similar to a car seat. There is no electronic adjustment or ride-tension control, but it held up well over long mowing sessions.

The 42-inch deck is another shared component. Both mowers use two overlapping blades, and a single height adjustment lever makes it easy to set cutting height from 1.5 inches up to 4.5 inches, even on the fly. Starting is very gas-like too: turn the key to on, then use a spring-loaded ignition just like a car. The LCD screen lights up showing battery percentage, and one position back turns on the headlights. Blade engagement is a simple switch as well, pull up to start the blades, push down to stop them.

Both mowers also include a large cup holder, storage for keys or a phone, and two 2.1-amp USB charging ports. Because the batteries sit under the seat, there is open storage space that can carry up to 200 lb of gear on either model, useful for hauling mulch or soil. Both can tow as well, through a universal hitch, with different weight ratings covered below.

Greenworks 42in Electric Lawn Tractor

The lawn tractor uses a traditional steering wheel layout with a forward and reverse switch and a single accelerator pedal. One of its nicest touches is cruise control: find a speed you like, press the button, and it holds that pace, which is great for a full acre or more, or for teaching a kid to mow. There is also a reverse-plus-blades feature, so when you shift into reverse the blades stop automatically unless you press the button first, and you need to do that each time.

The turning radius is tight for a lawn tractor, roughly 2 feet, and the steering wheel stays comfortable for an hour or more of mowing. The main caveat is space: taller drivers around 6’2” will find the knees sitting close to the steering wheel, which is typical of most lawn tractors. If you are a larger person, that alone might make the zero turn the better choice.

Greenworks 42in Electric Zero Turn

The zero turn swaps the steering wheel for lap bars, with plenty of grip and enough gap between the bars that they never collide while mowing. Greenworks tuned the brushless motors to accelerate in a gradual, gas-like manner rather than snapping to full power instantly, which makes the transition from a gas mower much easier.

Compared to the tractor, the ZT adds a blade high/low control and a drive speed control. The blades can mostly stay in high; drop to low if you want to maximize runtime on a light cut, though grass distribution out the side discharge is better in high. Drive speed is usually best left in high even if you are not pushing top speed, because low is very controlled, which is helpful for learning a zero turn, teaching a beginner, or navigating lots of landscaping and hardscape.

Performance and Cut Quality

Both mowers are built on the same foundation and deliver about the equivalent of 24 horsepower compared to a gas model. Rear tires are the same on both, 20-inch all-terrain tires; the lawn tractor gets 15-inch all-terrain fronts while the zero turn gets caster wheels.

Runtime differs in an interesting way. With the six 8Ah batteries from the kit, the zero turn ran a little over 52 minutes and cut about an acre and a half on a medium cut. Greenworks says up to an hour and up to 2 acres, which seems reasonable on a light cut in dry conditions. The lawn tractor actually ran longer, a little over an hour, and Greenworks claims up to 2.5 acres of cutting. If acreage is your priority, the tractor is the more efficient option.

Cut quality was good on both. The zero turn runs its blades at 3,000 RPM in high, dropping to 2,400 RPM in low, where cut quality dips slightly but runtime improves. The lawn tractor has a single blade speed that matches the zero turn’s 3,000 RPM. The twin-blade 42-inch deck produced solid results on both machines.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

The lawn tractor sells for $39.99 at Tractor Supply Company retail pricing, with the zero turn at $49.99. Both include the identical battery set: six 8Ah batteries and three dual-port rapid chargers, so the choice really comes down to the machine itself.

If you want the fastest, most maneuverable cut and you are comfortable with lap-bar steering, the zero turn is the stronger pick, especially for larger riders who will appreciate the extra cabin space. If you prefer a familiar steering wheel, cruise control, longer runtime, and up to 2.5 acres of cutting, the lawn tractor makes more sense and costs less.

Conclusion

These two Greenworks mowers share their batteries, deck, seat, and startup experience, so you cannot go wrong on the fundamentals. Choose the lawn tractor for efficiency and a lower price, or the zero turn for agility and a roomier seating position.