RYOBI 80 Volt 42' Zero Turn Mower Review

This 31 HP ZTR has a cutting height 1-½” - 4-½”, a Joystick Control, Four 21” cross-cut blades, comfortable seat, and a Touch Screen Control Panel
The Control panel, located on the left side of the mower, is easy to navigate. It has a bright LED screen and 5 intuitive buttons to operate. The buttons include:
1. Driving Speed
2. LED Lights
3. Battery Life
4. Bluetooth Connectivity
5. Blade Speed
The RYOBI has three-speed settings. Low, Medium, and High. It has a max speed of 8 mph.
The touch of a button switches the speed and can be done while in motion. This Shift-on-the-go transmission is a simple and convenient way to adjust the speed and power of the mower.
It’s recommended to start at low speed and work your way up to higher speeds as you become more comfortable.
The Max speed is 8 mph, Medium is 6 mph, and low at 4 mph. On all of our run-time tests, we cut at low speed.
The zero-turn mower is also equipped with 2 bright LED headlights we found them effective for cutting during dusk hours.
The battery life indicator shows the total battery life left on all batteries installed on the mower.
The middle bars show the life of the 80V batteries and the sides will indicate the percentage left on the additional 40V batteries if you have them installed.
If you hit the battery life button twice it will show you the number of hours left before you should conduct a check of your blade sharpness and condition. Ryobi sets the hours at 25 hours of cutting.
Bluetooth connectivity requires the Ryobi Riding Mower app. With the App, you can monitor the run-time, battery level, and charge status, and adjust blade and drive speeds.
The blade speed is similar to the drive speed and has low, medium, and high. All our testing was done at high blade speed.
Right Side Settings
On the right side of the mower just behind the operating joystick, there are 4 features on this control panel.
1. Clear Chute Bagger
2. Blade Engage Knob
3. On/Off key
4. Covered USB Port
The clear bagger chute is a cool feature. When the bagger boost button is depressed a 700 CFM gust facilitates the removal of grass clumps and blockages.
Without this feature, you would have to stop the mower, shut it down, and manually clean the chute if it becomes clogged.
The blade engage knob is located on the right side of the mower, directly behind the joystick.
You pull the knob up to engage, and down to disengage the blades. Once turned on the blades have a small ramp-up stage but almost immediately shut off when you push the knob in.
All the RYOBI 80v Electric Zero Turn mowers come with keys to turn the mower on and off and are required to operate the mower. The ZT mower came with three sets of keys.
There is a waterproof covered 5-volt, 2 Amp, USB-A port for easy charging of your mobile devices while operating the mower.
The mower key needs to be in the ON position for the USB port to work. There is an additional covered USB-A port in the right rear battery compartment.
There are 3 additional storage compartments on the Ryobi, 1 is under the driver's seat and has 2 slotted cellphone compartments, and the other in the rear battery compartment.
The compartment under the seat is shallow and does not offer much storage. We store our USB cord and the manuals in this compartment.
The rear compartment is larger and can fit larger items such as a pair of pruning snips. The second USB-A port is in this compartment, making phone storage an option.
iDrive Joystick Control

The Ryobi operates only on 80v suitcase-style battery packs and requires one battery to operate. The zero-turn mower will not operate on 40v batteries, even if you have four of them on board.
The mower comes with two 80v suit-case-style batteries but can hold three in total. Additionally, there are spots to add four 40v batteries to boost run time.
The mower draws power from the larger 80v batteries, automatically balancing the load between them. The 40v batteries extend runtime by adding additional energy as the 80v batteries get low.
Battery Charging
There are a few options for charging the 80v batteries on the Z42Li with the provided wall mounting charger. You can charge the 80v batteries one of two ways.
• Charging Port
• Individual Battery Charging
Charging Port
At the rear of the mower is a charging port that can be attached to the charger plug and will charge the batteries sequentially while inside the mower.
Individual Charging for 8oV Batteries
If you do not have a dedicated 20-amp circuit to use the charging plug you can charge one battery at a time, by inserting the charging port directly into each battery.
In order to charge the additional 40V batteries, you must remove them and charge them individually with a 40V charger.
Bagger Accessory | Sold Separately
The bagger for this mower is sold separately, as an accessory, at Home Depot for $599.00.

This machine costs $6,999.00.

[mikemendes]

I've had one of these for about 8 months. I got 2 acres cut going on the slowest speed for the blades AND the speed control. My property is very bumpy, so I can't go fast. The blades use most of the power. I also use mine as a snow plow and without using the blades at all, I can plow for many hours without re-charging. With just the two 80V batteries, an hour of plowing only draws the battery down to about 85%. I have the Brinly Hardy plow and it works well. It was a pain in the butt to install, and was missing parts, but once I got it sorted out, it has proven to be sturdy and effective.

I have never owned a riding mower, and I picked up the joystick pretty fast. There ARE times I wish I had a steering wheel, like when trying to mow along garden metal edging. It's hard to keep the mower really straight. The seat is comfy for long spells, the features are amazing, and it's pretty fast on high speed. Overall, I'd give it a a solid A. I spent $4000 in the summer of '24 and got the tow cart for free.

The delivery guy did almost drop it off his truck lift as the mower didn't quite fit properly, and it started to fall off as he was letting it down. Fortunately, I was standing there was able to hold it enough to keep it from tipping over. One other minor complaint was that there's a sacrificial blade adapter bracket that breaks if the blades hit something. I managed to hit something my 2nd time out, and had to wait almost two months for replacements. They should just include a couple of them at $8 apiece! And one of my 80V batteries has died. Ryobi is sending me a new one under warranty.

[j-dog]

I just bought the 30" version of this, $2999 now online deal...and get a dump cart or bagger for free! Super stoked... I will never go back to gas...

[chipped]

Thanks for the review.
I mow 1 1/2 acres weekly cuts, 10 months per year in Ga .
Ethanol free gas costs is about $180 per year, yearly oil change/service is about $30 since I selfperform.
48 inch Arens zero turn.
$3100 new cost in 2021, but shopped for a good deal at an independent shop.

For chainsaws, weedeaters, and other OPE..i dont even look at gas power any longer.

Pressure washer (which could be AC electrical), vehicles and mower will remain gas powered for a long while yet...for multiple reasons.
However the technology is getting there very quickly.
I can see myself in 2030 with propane stove/grill, and my vehicles being the only gas powered thing i own.

[universeisundernoobligatio]

Just got mine last week, working my way up the learning curve. Only issues so far is on wet grass slopes it can slide sideways, have to do that part by hand. Charge it up with my roof top solar just like my Tesla Model Y, will never have anything that runs on gas again.

[cheeselouise]

I love this mower, even though I bought it last August 2023 at $6999 (54 inch) and it is now $4999 at Home Depot. Home Depot leaves them out unprotected in all weather, which over time seems to fade them out and cause electronic issue, although they keep the batteries inside the store.. Ryobi repair guy came out to fix charging problems after I took delivery of assembled mower. I just finished mowing 2 1/2 acres. I like the speed, power, minimal grass clippings, low noise, and I've gotten pretty good with the joystick. No gas, no oil, no belts, no hydraulics, no spark plugs, no carburetor. It is fun to drive, and I can back it up into the garage now without playing bumper cars. At $4999 for 54" it is worth the price, IMO.

[dougspencer]

Really enjoyed your review. I’ve been researching ev mowers a lot. I now have an empty nester house so I no longer need my John Deer tractor with its 54” deck. 42” would be the max I need now. Odd but there is not much choice in a 30, or 38” deck riding mower. I I find one the horse power is only around 10-11hp. Not strong enough to handle the small hills in my yard. Most of the battery powered mowers give you more power. Also I want the lithium ion batteries. The lead acid ones don’t last because of the down time in the cold winters.thanks for this review . Ryobi has a couple of units I’m considering.

[CharlesHam]

Just picked up the 42 inch drive for$800 from home depot. They were clearance'ing them out. A great steal. I guess something new is coming out.

[AppleFanX]

I really enjoyed your review.Yours is the only review to mention it comes with a mulch cover. Well done!
Thanks again, Lindsay 🔋

[dans]

I have been running a X500 for about 12 years. No issues yet. I would love to switch to electric, and have on nearly all of my hand tools (string trimmer, hedge trimmer, edger, etc. However, all of the failures and electronic issues and lack of dealer knowledge (if there is even a local dealer) makes it feel like an ongoing experiment. So for me, I will keep running gas and doing a little service as needed. I especially like the single joystick design as I like to wave back at folks when I'm out mowing.

[rogerjoyner]

Very good review, thanks. I'm looking to get the 54-inch model which is now $4999 at Home Depot. I now have a Husqvarna 54-inch which I do not like. I wanted the Ryobi when I got the Husqvarna but couldn't afford it.

[therrienmichael]

High has a maximum speed of 80 mph. I had to listen to it again.
I helped my boss change a broken belt on a 60 inch Gravely. I'll take the Ryobi now that I'm on my own.

[brennen]

Just got mine at Home Depot for 799. Can’t wait to use it although it didn’t come with the batteries because Home Depot said they can’t find them so I need to reach out to Ryobi to get some free batteries replaced.

[austindehaven]

I just picked mine up on sale at Home Depot 42” for 4th of July sale for $899 originally $6000

[danmar]

It's amazing the number of YouTubers who don't look like their pictures! 😅

[josephpuchel]

Hey Let’s work on charging, battery life and power before one stick control and a computer screen. I see potential problems and long downtime due to warranty repair issues.

[davidfisher]

I javelin the 54 inch and mine will charge the 40v batteries in the mower. I have had one issue where mine would not work ryobi came to my house had to swap computer and now I need to have them come out and fix the seat. I got wheels stuck in hole and tried to rock it pretty hard and seat came out of its roller track.

[gooberminthertik]

Did I hear "80MPH". Gud gawd I have danger enough at 3mph. I'm a converted Enthusiast of Electric ZTR Mower. Got a 80V elect Leaf Blower as well. Thank gawd with the ZTR LI I can pull a wagon. Yes, my learning curve just started testing.
Intelligent steering turned fun chore, ZTR mowing, back into intense chore.
I Love the mechanics et al except that joi stick steering. Shirely there are sensitivity adjusters? And where is that "Data Plate" with the serial number?

[Wweber]

So if i understand correctly the 2 40v batteries that come with it. Can't be charge while in the mower slots with the included charger? So I would have to purchase an additional charger or does one come with it for the 40v batteries. thanks

[matthewwilliams]

Mine won’t go to neutral and because I can’t get it into neutral, it won’t move. Thoughts?

[ajfam]

Right now in California they are 40% off. Plus you get the free gift (bagger or tow kits)