The Honda HRX217 Premium Residential Lawn Mower Bridges the Gap Between Entry-Level and Commercial Needs
Looking for a lawn mower that offers entry-level service without reaching the commercial build and price point? The Honda HRX217 lawn mower series is positioned in the blank, providing owners with better choices.
Honda HRX217 Series Lawn Mower Lineup
The series includes 5 models: HRX217VKA, HRX217VLA, HRX217VYA, HRX217HYA and HRX217HZA. Every 21" mower offers a variety of features that make maintaining your lawn a breeze.
what they have in common

The HRX217 series uses Honda's GCV200 engine, which is an upgraded version of the GCV170 engine of the Honda HRN216 series.
They also all come with the brand's 4-in-1 Versamow system and Clip Director. The Versamow system can mulch, bag and side discharge your clippings, as well as chop leaves. The system can even offer a combination of covering and bagging. Best of all, you don't have to keep track of plugs or other accessories—it's all built into the mower.
Each mower has a 21-inch NeXite rust-resistant, dent-free cutting deck. Honda is so confident in their durability that they back them with a lifetime warranty.
As we've come to expect from a high-end Honda mower, you get MicroCut stacked blades. These mower blades offer four cutting surfaces that produce a finer cut for better mulch and easier bagging.
Common feature
Here's a full list of every mower in the lineup:
- GCV200 engine
- automatic choke
- 50 State Certification
- 21" NeXite Deck
- MicroCut Dual Blade
- 10 Position Versamow Clip Deflector
- 9" ball bearing wheels
- 3 handle positions
- Easy-fold quick-release handle
- fuel shutoff valve
- 3/4 – 4 inch cutting height
- 0 – 4 MPH drive speed
- 2.5 bushel bag
how are they different
Here is a feature breakdown of the five Honda HRX217 models:
Honda HRX217VKA
- Continuously variable speed selection drive
- recoil start
- 89 lb dry weight
Honda HRX217VLA
- Continuously variable speed selection drive
- Electric start with recoil backup
- 95 lb dry weight
Honda HRX217VYA
- Continuously variable speed selection drive
- recoil start
- Roto-Stop (stops the blade without shutting down the engine)
- 95 lb dry weight
Honda HRX217HYA
- Hydrostatic Cruise Control Actuator
- recoil start
- spin stop
- 97 lb dry weight
Honda HRX217HZA
- Hydrostatic Cruise Control Actuator
- Electric start with recoil backup
- spin stop
- 106 lb dry weight
From there, you can choose a model with the features you need for your lawn. Some of these include:
- Roto Stop: This function stops the rotation of the blades without shutting down the engine (for 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 speed of the mower to suit your stride by turning the speed control dial (available on VLA, VKA and VYA models)
- Quick Release Handle: Easily adjusts to 3 positions for comfortable mowing or compact storage
- 5 year warranty
Honda HRX217 and HRN216
How does Honda's HRX217 premium home lawn mower differ from its HRN216 entry-level series? We're glad you asked!
series | HRX217 | HRN216 |
---|---|---|
engine model | Honda GCV200 OHC Domestic Engine | Honda GCV170 OHC Domestic Engine |
start | Recoil/electric (depending on model) | Recoil/electric (depending on model) |
Choke system | automatic | automatic |
emissions | Certified in 50 countries | Certified in 50 countries |
throttle control | fixed or manual | not applicable |
Versamow system | Mulches, Bags, Emissions, Leaf Chips | Covers, Bags, Emissions |
Editing Director | 10 positions | 2 jobs |
bag capacity | 2.5 bushels | 1.9 bushels |
cutting height | 0.75 – 4 inches | 1 -4 inches |
Number of cutting positions | 7 | 7 |
self-propelled | Infinitely variable choice of drive or hydrostatic cruise control | N/A or variable position smart drive |
blade | Double blade micro cutting system | Double blade micro cutting system |
spin stop | VYA, HYA and HZA models | not applicable |
cutting table | 21" NeXite | 21" 16 gauge steel |
wheel | 9 inches with ball bearings on all wheels | 8 inches with sintered metal bushings on rear wheels |
deal with | 1" steel tubing with 3 height positions and Easy Fold quick release and ErgoActive design | 1" steel tubing with 2 height positions and Easy Fold quick release |
net weight | 89 lbs – 106 lbs | 73 – 87 lbs |
Home Warranty | 5 years | 3 years |
Deck Warranty | life | 3 years |
price range | $769 – $1079 | $509 – $629 |
Honda HRX217 Lawn Mower Prices
Honda's premium residential mowers range in price from $769 to $1079, and they all come with a 5-year residential warranty. Here's the breakdown:
- HRX217VKA: $769
- HRX217VLA: $879
- HRX217VYA: $879
- HRX217HYA: $969
- HRX217HZA: $1079