Husqvarna Automower 420 iQ

Should you buy the Husqvarna Automower 420 iQ?

The Husqvarna Automower 420 iQ is for someone with around an acre who values a brand with decades of robot mower history and the best warranty in the category over the latest sensor tech. At $3,499.99 it ranks #7 of 10 robot lawn mowers and is the most expensive unit we list. Quality and Reliability both score in the 90s. If you want the same acre coverage for $1,000 less, the Segway Navimow X430 has better slope ability and LiDAR-grade obstacle detection. If you want Husqvarna's reliability on a smaller budget, this is not the line for that.

Where it earns its score

• Best warranty in the category. Four years on the unit and 3 years on the battery scores 82.
• Quality and Reliability lead. Quality scores 94 and Reliability 92, the highest here, on Husqvarna's long track record.
• Wire-free EPOS positioning. Satellite RTK with virtual boundaries, plus cellular, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth via Automower Connect.
• Fast cycle. About 84 minutes of mowing per charge and a 54-minute recharge.

What to know first

• Value is the lowest factor. At 58, it is the weakest Value score in the category, and by a distance.
• Reference station sold separately. EPOS needs a base station with a power outlet, which adds cost and setup.
• Radar, not LiDAR. Obstacle avoidance uses radar, which trails the LiDAR and vision systems on ECOVACS and Mammotion.
• Rear-wheel drive. Rated for 45 percent slopes in the work area and only 15 percent at the boundary.

Questions buyers ask