--- title: "Is Ryobi’s New All-Wheel-Drive Lawn Mower Worth $850? I Tested It To Find Out" description: "As the first AWD walk-behind mower on the market, this Ryobi claims gas-level power with battery convenience. See how it did in our tests." date: "2026-08-28" modified: "2026-08-28" authors: - name: "Mark Wolfe" job_title: "Staff Writer" link: "https://www.bobvila.com/authors/mark-wolfe/" url: "https://www.bobvila.com/reviews/ryobi-all-wheel-drive-lawn-mower-review/" categories: - "Lawn & Garden" - "Lawn Care" - "Lawn, Garden & Pool" - "Mowers" - "Reviews" tags: - "SPR" --- # Is Ryobi’s New All-Wheel-Drive Lawn Mower Worth $850? I Tested It To Find Out ![The Ryobi 40V HP 21-Inch AWD Lawn Mower in a yard before testing]() *Photo: Mark Wolfe for BobVila.com* Wondering if the new [Ryobi 40V HP AWD Self-Propelled Lawn Mower]() is worth buying? I’m here to help. Ryobi claims it produces mowing power equivalent to a 196cc gas-powered lawn mower and that it's the only all-wheel-drive walk-behind lawn mower in the industry. I’ve tried out scores of battery-powered mowers from Ego Power+, Toro, Husqvarna, Stihl, Echo, and Greenworks, as well as Ryobi, so I was eager to see whether Ryobi’s latest entry was truly revolutionary. Ultimately, I think it’s an excellent option for certain [lawn]() types. Ahead, I’ll share my observations to help you make the best decision for your yard. ## - **Powerful performance for challenging lawns.** The Ryobi 40V HP AWD mower matches a 196cc gas mower, excelling on slopes and rough terrain. - **Innovative all-wheel-drive system.** Offers real-time speed adjustments and AWD for better traction and maneuverability. - **Convenience and control features.** Includes a user-friendly control panel, integrated mulch plug, and LED headlights. - **Mid-level price with high value.** At $849, it provides excellent cutting power and run time, ideal for routine maintenance. **Bottom line:** The Ryobi 40V HP AWD Lawn Mower is a robust choice for midsize yards with slopes, offering strong performance and convenience features at a fair price. ## Testing the Ryobi 40V HP AWD 21-Inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower ![Ryobi 40V lawn mower\_control]() *Photo: Mark Wolfe for BobVila.com* The Ryobi AWD lawn mower is equipped with a 21-inch composite deck and a “Cross Cut” multi-blade cutting system driven by a 40-volt brushless motor. For 3-in-1 grass-clipping management, the deck features an integrated switch-operated mulch plug, and the kit also comes with a rear bagger and discharge chute. It also features a single-point height adjustment system and a fold-flat handle. Also included in the kit are a pair of 40-volt 6-amp-hour batteries that power up to 75 minutes of mowing per charge, and a rapid charger capable of topping up both batteries in about 120 minutes. This model is recommended for yards up to .75 acre, including those with slopes. The drive system may be the most unique feature. It has a unique speed adjustment system that allows you to set a top end speed up to 4 miles per hour, and pressure-sensitive thumb paddles that adjust in real time as you mow. It also offers on-demand all-wheel-drive (AWD). To conserve battery, the default is rear-wheel drive. When conditions require added traction, you simply toggle a switch on the handle to shift into AWD. That high level of adjustability earned the mower a spot in BobVila.com’s guide to the [best battery-powered lawn mowers](). The testing period ran for a month, so I was able to mow four times. The yard was gently sloping to steep, with about a half acre of grass. I mowed the grass when it was wet, dry, and extra long for different perspectives. Although my notes covered battery performance, user interface, and the various convenience features, my priority focus areas were mowing power and maneuverability with the all-wheel-drive system. ### Maneuverability The four-wheel-drive functionality really made a difference on the slopes, especially when the grass was wet. The mower didn’t slip, and I didn’t struggle to keep it on track. Instead, it climbed up and down with ease. AWD also helped when I was working around ruts and exposed tree roots that sometimes act like a wheel chock. When I flipped the switch, the mower pulled out of those situations without hesitation. As for the adjustable pressure-sensitive self-propulsion system, it gave the mower a noticeably gentler start from a standstill than many of the other models I’ve tested, which was refreshing. It never felt as though it was pulling away, even on the higher speed settings. ### Mowing Power Ryobi claims that this mower packs mowing power equal to a 196cc gas lawn mower, and that seems accurate. Whether the grass was wet with dew or extra long from a couple of weeks without mowing, the cutting and drive systems performed well. It drove up steep slopes with ease, even while hauling a bag full of wet grass clippings. All the while, it left the grass with a nice, even cut. At one point, I used this [mower]() instead of a brush cutter to cut down the prior year’s growth in a large perennial garden. At the start, there was a mixture of 50 percent old brown stems and the remainder tender broadleaf foliage. It was about 12 inches high. I raised the deck to its highest setting and mulch-mowed at a slow pace. Not once did the mower struggle or get stuck. It left the bed neatly trimmed, with a layer of evenly mulched clippings to protect the ground while the perennials grew back. ### Controls The control center faces the operator at the top of the handle. It appears somewhat overcomplicated, but it worked well. At the top of the panel, an LCD screen prominently displays the remaining battery charge and approximate blade replacement status. Below the screen, a row of 3 buttons controls the mowing mode (turbo/normal), drive mode (AWD off/on), and headlights (off/on). The main power button and speed selector are located at the bottom of the panel, with the drive paddles below. I didn’t love having to choose a top-end speed *and* control how firmly I pressed the paddles just to control speed. Other mowers combine those functions into a single control method, so hopefully Ryobi will roll out something like that in the future. The on/off controllers for turbo, AWD, and lights were all easy to reach while mowing. ### Convenience Features The integrated mulch plug, single-point height-of-cut adjustment, pass-through bag removal, high-wheel design, and headlights were all super helpful. The mulch plug switch and height adjustment lever both worked smoothly and felt sturdy enough to withstand years of use. The position of the bagger made it easy to unload without spilling clippings and reattach easily. The high-wheel design helped smooth out bumpy terrain, and complemented the AWD system nicely. The LED headlights made it easy to move in and out of my dimly lit storage area, and could help with mowing in the evening. ![Ryobi 40V lawn mower folded]() *Photo: Mark Wolfe for BobVila.com* ## Product Comparisons | | [Ryobi 40V HP 21-inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower]() | [Ego Power+ LM2236SP ]()See our [review](). | [Greenworks Pro 60V 21-Inch Battery Lawn Mower]() See our [review](). | [Stihl RMA 448 V]() See our [review](). | [Toro 21-Inch 60V Super Recycler]() See our [review](). | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Runtime/recharge time | 75 minutes/120 minutes | 75 minutes/60 minutes | 60 minutes/80 minutes | 40 minutes/45 minutes | 50 minutes/180 minutes | | Deck size | 21 inches | 22 inches | 21 inches | 18 inches | 21 inches | | Mobility | AWD auto-adjustable pace self-propelled | Adjustable speed self-propelled | Adjustable speed self-propelled | Adjustable speed self-propelled | Auto-adjustable self-propelled | | Price | $849.00 | $999.00 | $619.98 | $599.00 | $769.00 | ## Why I Think the New Ryobi 40V HD All-Wheel-Drive Lawn Mower Is Worth Every Penny ![Ryobi 40V lawn mower with batteries]() *Photo: Mark Wolfe for BobVila.com* The [Ryobi 40V HD AWD Self-Propelled Lawn Mower]() currently sells for $859 at The Home Depot. In today’s market, that’s a mid-level price point among residential battery-powered lawn mowers, which is a fair starting point for the conversation. The mower itself is a workhorse that packs loads of cutting power and excellent run time per charge, and it delivers a really good cut quality to boost the value. All-wheel-drive mobility is icing on the cake. Given all the performance and convenience features, this mower is worth every penny. ## So, is the Ryobi 40V HP AWD 21-Inch Lawn Mower right for You? ![Ryobi 40V lawn mower under the deck]() *Photo: Mark Wolfe for BobVila.com* The new Ryobi AWD self-propelled lawn mower is a strong option for midsize yards with slopes and areas with rough terrain. It's easy to operate, handles rough ground easily, and cuts well regardless of the grass conditions. Expect to see faster battery drain when cutting overgrown grass. The best use case is for routine lawn maintenance, even if the lawn occasionally gets an extra week’s growth between cuttings. I do not recommend this machine for rough mowing on a regular basis, even though it can do the job occasionally if needed. ## Meet the Tester Mark Wolfe is a multimedia reporter and landscape and nursery industry veteran. After decades of mowing, edging, planting, pruning, irrigating, and renovating landscapes, he now tests and writes reviews about the latest hand tools, plant care products, outdoor power equipment, and other outdoor living goods. ## Author Mark Wolfe is a BobVila.com staff writer with an extensive background in the horticulture industry. Since 2020, he has contributed numerous gardening and home improvement articles, along with a variety of tool and product reviews.