Echo 58V Lawn Mower CLM-58V4AH Review

After 4 years, the Echo 58V lawn mower is replaced by a newer option

We recently tested 24 different lawn mower models, surveying both standard domestic gas lawn mowers and commercial models. We've researched many of the best battery-operated options available, both push and self-propelled. The 58V Echo mower showed up in our head-to-head battery-powered walk-behind lawn mower test, and while there are several new contenders, the Echo hasn't made any since we tested this mower back in 2015. Change.

advantage

• excellent cutting force
• excellent warranty
• Largest range of cutting heights in its class
• True 21" Cutting Tape

shortcoming

• Designed with a lot of flexibility
• great price for what you get
• Excluding side discharge chute
• 4-point height adjustment

Performance

Want to learn more about how we test? Check out our cordless lawn mower shootout!

cutting force

The Echo Cordless Lawn Mower showed us a lot of power when we tested blade tip speed. With no load on, the Echo produced a middling 2776 RPM, but had a blade tip speed of a class-leading 173.3 MPH. That's the benefit of using a 21" baseplate, while most competitors use 18" and 19" baseplates.

We then hooked up all the mowers to a lighter load designed to simulate the stress put on the motors during weekly maintenance cuts. Typically, brushless motors sense more resistance on the blade and crank up power to compensate. This is an advantage of electronics, and even some brushed motors are employed this way.

That's the case with the Echo Cordless Lawn Mower. Under maintenance load, we saw the RPM soar to 2832 and the tip speed fine tuned to 176.8 MPH. That's still significantly higher than every other walk-behind mower. Steele came closest at 167.8 MPH.

Performance continued to improve when we strapped heavy loads to the mower blades. It climbed to 3005 RPM and a tip speed of 187.6 MPH, second only to Stihl's 191.7 MPH.

We'd like to see blade speeds of at least 160 MPH to cut effectively. The Echo's ability to start at that mark and go up as the load increases tells us that it's one of the more capable battery-powered mowers in a variety of cutting conditions.

cutting area

Manufacturers must balance the power and runtime of battery-operated lawn mowers. Today's batteries and brushless motors are comparable to some gas engines, but if it only runs for 3 minutes, that's fine.

It all comes down to efficiency. Let's be honest, the Echo isn't very battery efficient. It comes with a 58V 4.0Ah battery, which means we're talking 204 watt-hours.

The maintenance load runtime was 33 minutes, 7 minutes less than what we expected to see in the suite. This equates to 62 square feet per watt-hour – the lowest in its class.

Its larger blade makes up for some of that, though. Walking at a constant speed of 2.5 MPH, it can mow up to 12,705 square feet (just under a third of an acre) on a single charge. That's not terrible for a battery, but several of the Echo's main competitors add a second battery to their kit and move on.

If you don't mind spending money on a second battery, that's a moot point. The lawn mower also comes with a storage rack for extra batteries that are not in use, so if you have a few batteries, you can at least swap them out quickly.

noise

The Echo Cordless Lawn Mower is in the middle of the pack when it comes to noise. At the ear, we measured it at 82 dB(A) with no load. Considering the cordless mower ranges between 74dB(A) and 88dB(A), we accept it.

feature set

Self-propelled drives are something we all love to own, but push mowers also have their place in the OPE lexicon. The 58V Echo Mower doesn't include a self-propelled drive, but at 57 pounds, it's light enough to push around the yard without too much effort.

Plastic Composite Deck

Aaaand, the main reason it's so light is that the Echo uses a plastic composite panel. There are plenty of other brands that use plastic poly instead of steel, it's really a weight vs durability comparison.

However, the deck thickness of this model seems to be a bit lower than some other models, making us wonder how it holds up over time. As long as you're not slinging around rocks, it's fine. Echo also backs the panel with a lifetime warranty.

On the other hand, this model has more flexibility than most other models.

Height Adjustment and Range

The Echo Cordless Mower was the only model in the push mower test with 4-point height adjustment for the deck. Everyone else prefers the more convenient one-point height adjustment.

There are several things involved here. The levers are plastic and there are no metal plates to reinforce the brakes. This, combined with deck thickness and/or material, is a pretty easy target for the Echo to tune into in their next mower.

The silver lining is that it has the best range of any cordless cutting height in its class. Its 7 height levels range from 0.75" – 4".

handle position

The Echo Cordless Lawn Mower offers 3 handle positions. So whether you're short or tall or somewhere in between, you should be able to find a comfortable handle position.

discharge option

Out of the box, you can cover or bag clippings, which should cover most of us. If you prefer side discharge, this accessory will need to be purchased separately.

vertical storage

We love the cordless lawn mower's vertical standing and storage capabilities. The Echo joins the ranks of lawn mowers that have this feature, reducing its footprint in your garage.

value

I think the Echo Cordless Lawn Mower's Value The biggest issue for me is price versus build quality. The cutting power is there and the cutting area meets my basic expectations.

However, this composite lawn mower, made mostly of plastic, will run you $519 for the kit on just one battery (we saw it at Acme Tools for slightly less). It's the second most expensive mower in this category, behind the Makita's (2 packs of batteries included), but it feels like you can throw the Makita through a brick wall and it'll come out the other side just fine.

However, it does come with a 2-year commercial warranty and a 5-year residential warranty. Echo also backs the deck with a lifetime warranty.

The Echo 58V lineup isn't very deep, but the basics are covered. Most homeowners can use a couple of string trimmers, a blower, a chainsaw, and a hedge trimmer to get their lawn chores done on this battery deck.

the bottom line

That's not to say the Echo 58V Cordless Lawn Mower is a bad tool, it's just that most of the cordless world has improved over the past 4 years. The Echo has an excellent brushless powerplant, and we were impressed with its cutting ability. Upgrading to a 6.0Ah battery or adding a second 4.0Ah battery to the kit will increase the area that can be reduced while charging.

As long as I made a wish list, the change to the steel deck really changed the overall feel of using this mower. If the Echo is going to stay priced on the high side, it only needs to make these two improvements and it will jump up the ranks quickly.

It has the ability to handle maintenance cuts all the way through a week or more of overgrowth if you like what you see. Stick to the 1/3 acre lot or purchase additional batteries to extend your run time.

Echo Cordless Lawn Mower Specs

• Model: Echo CLM-58V4RH
• Voltage: 58V
• Battery: 4.0 Ah Li-ion battery
• Charging time: 1 hour
• Run time: up to 40 minutes
• Motor: Brushless
• Cutting Width: 21″
• Height adjustment: 4 points
• Cutting range: 3/4″ to 4″
• Weight: 57 lbs
• Warranty: 2 years commercial; 5 years residential
• Price: $519

For more information on the 58V Echo Cordless Lawn Mower, click here.