The Husqvarna MZ61 might look like any other zero turn mower in the market, but they are as sturdy and functional as they come. This mower is an entry-level commercial unit with a quality build.
We were pleased with the mower's smooth steering and overall cut quality. He did a very good job, and most user reviews suggest the mower will hold up over time.
Do not let the pretty exterior fool you into thinking this was just made to be pleasant to the eyes. Under the hood, there is a lot more than meets the eye.
Here is a complete review of the Husqvarna MZ61 to help you make a better buying decision.
Comparison
Looking at this mower's color, detailing, and design, one cannot but liken it to the Ferris IS600. The interesting thing about both units is that they are both zero turn mowers and come with similar specs.
The advantage the Ferris IS600 may have over the Husqvarna MZ61 is the full suspension. However, the Husqvarna still gives a pretty good ride and is well-built.
Give or take a couple of differences in engine ability and horsepower; these units could as well work interchangeably.
The only major difference is that this MZ61 is only available with the 61-inch cutting deck, while the IS600 offers three options in all.
Features
Here are a handful of features that makes this unit what it is:
- Cutting deck – The mower is only offered in the largest cutting deck size. This will be best suited to those who are looking for this cut quality alone.
- Maneuverability – Being a zero-turn mower, this unit is expected to make a fantastic turn in tight spots. However, this one takes that further with more comfortable handling when tuning.
- Functionality – Comes with a 3-blade cutting system arrangement and pedal-assisted lifting for the cutting deck.
- Power – A stunning 27hp is available in the engine, which is sure to get you through a lot of operations with ease
- Chokeless start – Many complain about their mowers not starting, and that’s usually a fault of the choke/carburetor. To that effect, the choke has been removed from this unit.
- Commercial Transaxles – the hydro-gear ZT-3100 transaxles are commercial grade and sure to last long. They will allow the mower to go up to 8 mph.
- Deck construction – the 3-blade deck design will provide a high-quality cut. The deck is made of 11 gauge fabricated steel.
Power
Under the hood of the Husqvarna MZ61 can be found a Briggs & Stratton engine. We don’t need to tell you how great these engines are in operation, especially their V-twin options.
According to the engine specs, you have as much as 27hp at your operational disposal. That results in a forward drive of 8.5 mph and a reverse drive speed of 5mph. Combined, these will get you through a 3 – 4-acre piece of land in under an hour.
Cut Quality
With a 61-inch cutting deck, this mower is best suited to areas with taller grass. You will also enjoy its operation when working on stubborn glass, all thanks to the use of blades in the cutting chamber.
Coupled with an adjustable cutting deck (up to 4.5 inches), you can have varying degrees of cut quality as desired.
Durability
If there is one thing Husqvarna is known for, it is how much their units last. For one, the engine supplying power to this unit is surely not going bad anytime soon – with the right maintenance.
The body of the unit and the cutting deck is made from very strong steel. This gives you all the insurance you need when working in rocky areas, uneven terrain, or other unfriendly areas.
Comfort
The seat of this riding mower is positioned a bit high, and coming with it are armrests to reduce the fatigue on the operator’s arm. Putting the cutting deck lift controls in the pedals also makes for a better range of controls than placing them anywhere else.
Rounding off with the ease of ride, comfort is nothing to worry about here.
Aesthetics
It is no mistake that one of the first things we talked about in this review was how beautiful this unit is. Both from the rear and front, it is a beauty to behold.
That is made possible by the generous splash of orange on grey and black detailing elsewhere. It won’t be winning an award for the most stylish mower anytime soon, but it could as well be the best-looking mower in your neighborhood.
Does Husqvarna make a good zero turn mower?
The short answer is yes. They are known for their residential equipment, including mowers, weed eaters, blowers, chainsaws, and more. They have recently begun making commercial-grade mowers.
The MZ61 is an entry-level zero turn mower. At the same time, it isn't going to win many awards or be labeled as the best zero-turns on the market. Husqvarna comes in at a great price point. This creates a wonderful value for customers.
Overall, Husqvarna builds quality zero-turn mowers. They are normally more of a price point mower than a bunch of bells and whistles. Many people love their zero turns, though!
Our Rating
| Performance: |  (4.0 / 5) |
| Cut Quality: | (4.0 / 5) |
| Durability: | (4.0 / 5) |
| Comfort: |  (3.5 / 5) |
| Price: | (4.0 / 5) |
| Overall: |  (3.9 / 5) |
Wrap Up
Overall, Husqvarna MZ61 is a great machine at a great price. This is a very popular mower for good reason. It is perfect for that entry-level commercial guy or the homeowner with a fairly large yard.
What are your thoughts on this mower? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
This is my first ZT and mine has the Kawasaki engine. It is a beast, like a timex it takes a licking and keeps on ticking. After finally getting use to it, I’ll never go back to a tractor style and the quality of cut I have never had my yard look so good.
I too have the MZ61 with the 24HP Kawasaki engine, It is as previously mentioned a beast. Very heavy duty construction that should last a lifetime if cared for properly. It is however not without it’s faults, the most glaring of which is that it appears that there is not enough weight behind the rear wheels which would vastly improve traction, mine can get hung up or fail to turn on relatively flat ground all it takes is enough irregularity on the ground and suddenly one of the drive wheels is lifted enough to loose traction and if you are trying to turn at the moment the wheel looses traction the result is usually that you increase control input which results in that wheel spinning even more then when it finally grabs you usually end up with a nice smile in you lawn. Husqvarna engineers apparently never tried to mow in the real world with this mower! I temporarily hung a couple of tractor weights off the rear of my engine guard and my traction seemed to improve greatly! I asked my dealer about adding wheel weights and he advised me not to do it while my mower is under warranty, saying he was concerned that added weight may shorten transaxle life. My previous Zero Turn was 52 inch cut with a frame that was no where near as heavy and it would always lift a front caster wheel whenever it got on uneven ground but the traction wheels stayed planted. It’s all about balance!