If you’re in the market for a reliable riding lawn mower, chances are you’ve got a John Deere mower somewhere on your list. The good news is that Consumer Reports has the inside scoop on the most reliable John Deere riding lawn mowers. Let’s find out what they are.

The John Deere X350-42 is a reliable riding lawn mower

The John Deere X350-42 is a riding lawn mower that, according to Consumer Reports, delivers on cutting performance. That’s not all either. Consumer Reports gave it an 88 overall score, along with an Excellent predicted reliability rating. It also earned an Excellent predicted owner satisfaction rating, which shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.

In fact, based on Consumer Reports’ data, this John Deere riding lawn mower will leave you thoroughly satisfied. Beyond an Excellent predicted reliability and owner satisfaction rating, the John Deere X350-42 also earned Excellent ratings in side discharging, mulching, evenness, and handling. Unfortunately, it did earn a slightly lower rating for bagging.

As for how much the John Deere X350-42 costs? According to Consumer Reports, you can expect to spend approximately $3,200 on this John Deere riding lawn mower.

Pick the John Deere S240-48 for a reliable riding lawn mower

The John Deere X350-42 riding lawn mower wasn’t the only mower to earn an Excellent predicted reliability rating. Consumer Reports also gave the John Deere S240-48 an Excellent predicted reliability rating. It earned an Excellent predicted owner satisfaction rating too.

“Talk about an ace performer. This 48-inch John Deere lawn tractor—though expensive—has Excellent side-discharging, mulching, and bagging performance ratings,” Consumer Reports explained. 

The organization added that this John Deere riding mower and tractor benefits from a slew of features, including a “comfortable high-back seat that gives you a clear view of the fuel level and a washout port that lets you easily clear clippings beneath the mower deck.”

Much like the John Deere X350-42, this reliable riding lawn mower is pricey. In fact, you can expect to spend approximately $2,899 on this reliable John Deere riding lawn mower.

The John Deere S170 is a $2,500 reliable riding lawn mower 

For a slightly less expensive riding lawn mower, consider the John Deere S170. This mower rings in at approximately $2,499 and, much like other John Deere riding lawn mowers, has earned some pretty high marks from Consumer Reports.

Not only did the John Deere S170 earn an Excellent predicted reliability rating, but Consumer Reports also gave it an Excellent predicted owner satisfaction rating. The John Deere S170 also earned Excellent ratings in side discharging, mulching, and evenness. It did, however, earn slightly lower ratings in bagging and handling.

The John Deere S120 isn’t just reliable; it’s also a Best Buy

Say you really want to save a few bucks when shopping for a John Deere riding lawn mower but don’t want to compromise when it comes to reliability. If that’s the case, the John Deere S120 might just fit the bill. Unlike other riding lawn mowers, the S120 will only have you spending $2,100. Because of its low price, Consumer Reports tapped it as a Best Buy.

While its affordable price tag is certainly good news, the bad news is that the John Deere S120 didn’t earn quite as high ratings as other John Deere riding lawn mowers. Sure, Consumer Reports gave it an Excellent predicted reliability rating.

But when it came to tasks like bagging, handling, and evenness? The John Deere S120 struggled to earn an Excellent rating. In fact, the John Deere S120 only earned Excellent ratings in tasks like side discharging and mulching.