EGO Select Cut XP self-propelled lawn mower raises the bar again
We were so impressed with the original EGO Select Cut mower, it's hard to imagine it getting better. Then again, the Peak Power mower has more horsepower. So EGO has given this mower even more power and expanded your choice of blades. Does that make the EGO Select Cut XP with Tough Drive worth the upgrade?
advantage
- excellent cutting force
- excellent coverage
- efficient bagging
- Mows over 1/2 acre of grass on a single charge with the included 10Ah battery
- Three blade options in the box: coverage, high-lift and high-efficiency
- Includes everything needed to cover, bag or discharge clippings
shortcoming
- Rear discharge doesn't spread clippings well
- premium
EGO 56V Select Cut XP Performance
cutting force
EGO claims the Select Cut XP is their most powerful mower yet, with a brushless motor that produces 8.3 foot-pounds more torque than the peak power mower. We tested this by finding the thickest, tallest grass we had and dropping the deck all the way down to level 1 (1.5 inches). I set the drive to a comfortable walking pace and wade into the 8-inch St. Augustine. The mower never misses a beat. It didn't slow down and the blade didn't stall. The EGO Select Cut XP easily cuts the grass that is giving me trouble with my gas lawn mower, which is shaking the Honda GC 190 engine.
run
The runtime is a curious little muse with many variables. First, EGO offers three blade options in the Select Cut XP. You now have a mulching blade, a high-lift blade and a high-efficiency blade. All three pairs come with top blades.
In our first test, we did heavy cutting with the mulching blade installed. From a fully charged 10Ah battery, we cut a little over 43 minutes.
The second test is a little more scientific. We first cut the entire lawn to 4 1/2 inches the day before using our Toro Timecutter 60 inch zero turn, then used the EGO Select Cut XP with a high efficiency blade to cut it down to 2 1/2 inches once the lawn was dry. This time, we shaved off a little over 1 hour and 15 minutes—a little more than the 75 minutes EGO claimed.
Without adding another battery, you can mow over 1/2 acre of actual lawn and 3/4 acre or more when you have a house on the property.
Here's another cool tidbit for you. After running a second runtime test with temp in the mid 80's, the battery was very hot. Even so, we put it on the charger and it didn't take a second to cool down before it started charging. After about an hour, round 2 is ready. This is so impressive!
cutting quality
Tested with a high lift blade, the Select Cut XP leaves a very good even cut. There are still some stragglers in the higher sections, but overall we're very happy.
When it comes to mulching, the mulching blade does an excellent job of cutting cuttings into finer pieces that dig deep around the grass roots. Running my hands through the freshly cut area, I could only pick out a few clippings that weren't quite cut.
Bagging is also impressive. Switch to the high-lift blades and you can tell how much air is passing through the chute. We looked inside the bag when the bag was about half full and you can see how well the air is pushing the grass through the opening and onto the back of the bag.
For those who are unloading, EGO does include a rear chute for this model. However, it's not one of the model's strong points. It was able to push the grass around corners aside, but it lost a lot of power and only dropped a lawnmower's width or two. Moving to true side discharge might help.
EGO 56V Select Cut XP Design Notes
drive control
EGO has brought back the original Select Cut's touch actuation system, which is a combination of forward/reverse rotation speed dials and large buttons on either side of the handle. Personally, I like the speed selection. Its positive stops make it easy to make small adjustments on the fly and find the right speed.
However, I would actually prefer a lever to engage the driver rather than a button. They just get tired if you try to hold the buttons down with your thumb. That said, it works a lot better if you keep the status bar mentality and wrap your hands around the handle so the pad pushes the buttons in.
vertical storage
It's no surprise to find that EGO continues to offer vertical storage for this mower, and it's a pretty easy process. Just press the green lever on the left side against the handle and swing it side to side. That's it. You can drop the telescoping handle if you like, but it's not required.
You can choose between two handle heights with the same lever. I'm 6'2" and I prefer a lower height.
led
At this point most battery powered lawn mowers have LED lights. EGO added an on/off switch to them. They're not the first to have that option, but it's best not to run them when you don't need to.
Additional features
- One-handed height adjustment (7 positions, 1.5 – 4 inches)
- 0.9 – 3.1 MPH speed selection
- button start
- weather resistant structure
- Compatible with all EGO 556V batteries
This is the best walk-behind lawn mower EGO has right now, so it's no surprise to find it at the higher end of the price range. Including the 10Ah battery, fast charger, all three blade choices, and everything you need to cover, bag or discharge, the kit costs $749. If you don't need the battery and charger, it's $529. EGO backs the mower and battery for 5 years – one of the best warranties in the business.
the bottom line
The EGO competition is starting to make some real headway on the original Select Cut, and it's getting tougher. Yet again, the EGO Select Cut XP raises the benchmark of what you can expect from a battery powered lawn mower and sets a new standard for everyone else. The side/rear discharge still has some room for improvement, but it's a small compromise for the performance of this mower.
EGO 56V Select Cut XP Specifications
- Model: Yigao LM2156SP
- Voltage: 56V
- Motor: Brushless
- Blades: 2 offset
- Cutting width: 21 inches
- Drive Yourself: Touch Drive
- Travel speed: 0.9 mph-3.1 mph
- Cutting Torque: 8.3 ft-lbs.
- Cutting Height Positions: 7
- Cutting height range: 1.5" – 4"
- Discharge options: covered, bagged, side discharge
- Warranty: 5 years on mower and battery after registration
- Price: $749