John Deere or Husqvarna lawn tractor?

At three acres the two brands sell different things. John Deere is the only brand in this guide that publishes transaxle models across its range (K46, K58 and K72), with a warranty ladder from 2 years or 120 hours to 4 years or 500 hours, S180 cover that transfers to a second owner, and second place in a 12,200-mower reliability survey. Its dealer and parts network is also deeper than Husqvarna's in much of the US.

Husqvarna's TS 348XD sells traction: a rear locking differential, a Kawasaki FR engine, a fabricated 48-inch ClearCut deck, a cast iron front axle and three years bumper-to-bumper for $4,899. The trade-offs are a 48-inch deck at a 54-inch price, a transaxle listed only as Tuff Torq hydrostatic (one owner reports a K66, which Husqvarna has not confirmed), and owner reports of rough-looking deck welds that have held up and a poor mulch kit.

On price, the TS 348XD sits $900 below the X380 and $3,600 below the X570, the John Deere in this guide that comes with a differential lock as standard. Choose Deere when a published drivetrain and warranty hours are what you are paying for; choose Husqvarna when damp slopes are the problem, and get the dealer to name the transaxle in writing before you buy.