The Ferris 400S is an entry-level commercial zero turn that is packed with many features. It is the perfect more for the homeowner with 2-5 acres or that weekend warrior cutting a few yards per week.
It is a commercially inspired mower that has the potential to hold up well. The specs are not quite up to the true commercial mowers so using it every day or for long hours will result in this mower breaking down often.
When we compare it with other products in its category, we find Ferris 400S is very competitive with others in the industry.
Overview
The 400S is an efficient and quick lawn mower with some distinctive features. In the engineering of lawn mowers, combining speed and strength is a difficult thing to achieve. But that’s what makes the Ferris 400S zero turn special. It is one of those lawn mowers which is compact, powerful, and fast. As the name suggests, it’s a zero turn lawn mower that’s easy to navigate.
This mower comes with the option of a 44″ or 48″ width cutting deck. Since I hate the design of the 44″ deck I am mainly going to ignore it for this review. If for some reason you need a 44″ deck, by all means check it out, but I personally don't like the deck design at all.
The 48″ deck is a different story. This is a quality built deck that makes sense. The rest of the mower is also well built and a solid choice for a zero turn coming in just under $5000.
Power
The 400S mower is equipped with a 25 Briggs and Stratton Commercial series or 21.5 Kawasaki FR651V engine. Both of these engine options is well built entry-level commercial engines. They are very well known and used across the industry on mowers of this rank.
| Engine | Briggs & Stratton Commercial Series | Kawasaki FR651V |
|---|---|---|
| Engine Power Rating | 25 HP | 21.5 HP |
| Displacement (cc) | 724 | 651 |
| Cylinders | 2 | 2 |
The engines both have a 3-year limited warranty. This is standard across the industry for most small engine manufacturers.
The 400S has ZT-2800 Hydro-gear transaxles that deliver 8 mph forward speed. These are not considered commercial transaxles based on Hydro-Gear's recommendation. However, they are definitely a step up from the Hydro-Gear EZT that many $2,500-$4,000 mowers have.
Features
Ferris 400S brings an immaculate grass cutting mechanism to your lawn. The height of the cut it offers is from 1.5 to 4.5 inches. The cutting width is 48 inches and it can be configured into side and rear discharge as well as with a mulching option.
With this mower you can mow difficult and bumpy terrains without distressing the engine.
It’s equipped with a fuel gauge for its 5.5-gallon tank. Similarly, it has a fabricated bumper for the protection of the mower’s engine. The bumper allows attachment of towing systems and baggers.
Pros
- Ferris 400S have hefty wheels that make for better traction on both dry and wet surfaces
- Easy attachment of accessory, thanks to fabricated bumper
- Easy to use, convenient, and user-friendly, semi-commercial attributes
- Hydro-Gear function makes any trimming job a quick breeze
Cons
- At higher speeds, mower seats vibrate strongly
- It does not work with the same efficiency on slopes
Durability
It’s not a fully commercial mower. But it has many commercial grade components that make it strong and sturdy. This mower is capable of mowing mid-sized lawns and fields with greater efficiency and speed. It’s good for homeowner use while you can also use it for some light professional work.
Overall this is a very well built mower that will last a long time. Just because it isn't a full commercial mower shouldn't turn you away. For the right customer, this is a great mower.
Comfort
The 400S prioritizes user comfort. It has a comfy cushioned mid-back seat with arm rest. It comes with a range of attachments to make your mowing experience more comfortable.
You can load additional accessories without much problem. Overall, it’s a mower that demands much less maintenance because it’s very well designed, it’s compact and strong, and it’s powerful.
It’s quite powerful and makes the job of grass cutting easy. It has a compact design with large tires. That makes it more stable and capable of working on both dry and wet surfaces. It’s easy to work with and offers full comfort with comfy seating.
Suspension
Its confident ride on bumpy surfaces is powered by a patented suspension system that features front and rear adjustable coils over shocks. The front of this mower has a pivoting front axle. This helps with keeping the caster wheels on the ground and with suspending the mower.
This does create a more comfortable ride (like the Ferris IS600 and IS700), however you should not expect to have the ride of the ISX800, ISX2200, or ISX3300. These are completely different suspension systems and give very different rides.
You may be wondering… how does it compare to the competitors… like Toro's MyRide system?
400S Suspension VS Toro MyRide
Toro's MyRide system is going to have more of a “suspension” feel. This can be good to cusion rough terrain. The downside is, if it is very bumpy it can feel a bit like a water bed.
The 400S suspension is going to feel a bit more consistent in the feel of the ride. It won't suspend bumps as well as a true full suspension or the MyRide but it doesn't have too much movement either.
Overall, this mainly comes down to a personal preference. If you don't mind the rocking back and forth of the MyRide then you will like it more than the 400S suspension. If you want a consistently comfortable ride (like a 6.5/10) then you will like the 400S better.
We highly recommend demoing each of the mowers if you have the chance. Even if you just ride them over a couple bumps in a parking lot you will get a good feel for what I'm talking about.
Aesthetics
The Ferris 400S, in my opinion, is not the best looking zero turn mower. It is average. This doesn't take away from it's ability to cut grass but it may matter to some.
In general, I think the mower is a bit of an outdated design. Comparing to others like Toro, Scag, Hustler, and even Spartan the design is no where near as good.
With that being said, I would take a durable mower over a good looking mower any day. This may be one of those situations.
I will say, the upgrade for 2020 was definitely a step in the right direction in terms of aesthetics. The upgrade seat and larger front casters drastically improved the appearance of this mower.
Build quality
It has a superior build quality with a strong engine and many of its components are commercial grade. All this gives this mower a superior build quality. It has a fabricated steel bumper that protects its engine. It also has slots for different attachments.
Safety
The Ferris 400S is a well-balanced and safe mower. It has been designed keeping safety a top priority. Since it doesn't meet the required weight it doesn't have a ROPS (rollover protection system). This should isn't a huge deal from a safety perspective.
The mower still has all of the normal safety switches and it is easy to jump off if need be. This mower definitely meets the normal standard for safety in a mower.
Price
The price for the 44″ model starts at $4,649. The 48″ model starts at $4,849. These are the MSRP pricing and subject to change based on dealership and location.
Overall, this is a competitive price compared to other similar mowers. It has a solid set of features and great specs for just under $5000.
Our Rating
| Performance: |  (4.2 / 5) |
| Cut Quality: | (4.2 / 5) |
| Durability: | (4.2 / 5) |
| Comfort: | (4.2 / 5) |
| Price: | (4.2 / 5) |
| Overall: | (4.2 / 5) |
Ferris 400S VS IS600
A question I am frequently asked is what is the difference between the Ferris 400S and IS600? The are similar mowers however, the IS600 is considered an entry level commercial mower. This is mainly because of the upgraded Hydro-Gear transaxles the mower has.
Other than the transaxles, the IS600 mower is built a little more durable than the 400S. This is easily shown in the mowers weight differences.
So which should you get?
If you are a homeowner with 2-5 acres, you should be fine with the Ferris 400S. The only reasons to move up to the IS600 is if you lawn is larger than this, you want to mow a little faster, or you want to mow some lawns on the side. The IS600 can be the perfect entry level zero turn for the part time lawn care owner.
Check out the images and comparison table below for some more details.
| Spec | Ferris 400S | Ferris IS600 |
|---|---|---|
| Deck Width | 48″ deck | 48″ deck |
| Engine | Briggs & Stratton Commercial Series | Briggs & Stratton Commercial Series |
| Engine Power | 25 HP | 25 HP |
| Transmission | Hydro-Gear ZT-2800 | Hydro-Gear ZT-3200 |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 5.5 Gallons | 5.5 Gallons |
| Speed | 8 mph | 10 mph |
| Suspension | Rear suspension with pivoting front axle with coil-over shocks | Rear suspension with pivoting front axle with coil-over shocks |
| Weight | 743 lbs | 942 lbs |
| Warranty | 4 year / 500 hours | 4 year / 500 hours or 2 year / unlimited hours |
| Price | $5,049 | $6,299 |
Final thoughts
Ferris 400S zero turn lawn mower is a quality entry-level commercial machine with a lot of features and benefits. It has a comfortable ride and a high quality of cut. This is a good option for the homeowner with more than 2 acres but not using it everyday.
What do you think?
Do you want to get this mower? Let us know in the comments below what you think about the Ferris 400s.
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For more information on this mower check out Ferris‘ official site. To find a dealer near you check out their dealer locator.
Images are from Ferris.
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i,m fixing to retire at 72 i have huster raptor that is 13 years old and had alot issues with it. my dealer i’m talking to has bobcat and ferris mowers.i need a mower that will hold up and last with proper care i like both but i only what to spend 5-6 thousand but it,s hard to make the right desicon,i’m praying and thinking about it. i’m need a a54inch deck and pray i will make the right decison ,i’m not rich so any info will help thanks.
You should be able to find a Ferris 500S around the $6,000 range. They are reliable.