The 10 Best Lawn Mowers for Small Yards According to Consumer Reports

by Gabrielle DeSantis

While you might think a small yard doesn’t require as much upkeep as a larger one, that’s not necessarily true. Especially when it comes to lawn care. Fortunately, if you’re shopping for the best lawn mower for small yards, Consumer Reports has the inside scoop on which mowers are best suited for mowing up to a quarter-acre of land. 

What is the best type of lawn mower for a small yard?

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Before jumping in, let’s start with what the best type of lawn mower is for a small yard. According to Misha Kollontai, who oversees Consumer Reports’ lawn mower testing, push mowers are the best option for small yards. 

Kollontai added that if it’s a struggle for you to push a lawn mower for long periods or if your yard is hilly, you may want to choose a self-propelled lawn mower. For a self-propelled lawn mower that’s even easier to use, seek out a lightweight model, Kollontai suggests.

You might also consider an electric lawn mower for your small yard. Such mowers are often quieter than gas-powered lawn mowers. According to CNET, electric lawn mowers also require less maintenance and are often easier to use than gas-powered mowers.

The best battery push mowers for small lawns

Mowing lawn. | Jeff Gritchen/Digital First Media/Orange County Register via Getty Images

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Say you want to go the route of an electric or battery-powered push mower. If that’s the case, of all the battery push mowers you could buy, Consumer Reports says that the Ryobi RY401200 Battery Mower is the absolute best electric lawn mower for small yards. It retails for under $500 and earned high marks across the board.

“It’s superb at side-discharging and mulching. It’s also the only battery push mower we’ve tested so far that excels at cutting evenly,” Consumer Reports added.

A man mowing a small yard with a push mower
Man mowing lawn. | Universal Images Group via Getty Images

The Ryobi RY401200 Battery Mower isn’t the only battery push mower for small lawns worth considering either. Consumer Reports recommends the DR Power Equipment CE75021XEN0 ($600), the Ego LM2101 ($399), and the DeWalt DCMWP233U2 ($499) too.

For the best affordable push mower for small yards, Consumer Reports recommends the Hart HLPM011 ($248). It’s a great value for the price and, according to the organization, delivers “superb mulching and handling, and a nice run time of 70 minutes.” It also earned a Very Good rating for cutting evenness, which is pretty hard to beat.

The best gas push mowers for small yards

A lineup of red Toro push lawn mowers, a brand recommended by Consumer Reports for mowing small yards
Toro Co. lawn mowers. | Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg

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And if you’d prefer a gas push mower for your small yard? Consumer Reports tapped the Honda HRN216PKA ($400) as the best gas push mower for small yards. Not only did they give it an Excellent rating for evenness of cutting, but this small yard mower also earned high marks in every other category too: mulching, bagging, side-discharging, and handling. Perhaps the only drawback of this mower is the price, says Consumer Reports.

Consumer Reports recommends the Cub Cadet SC100 HW ($300) as well. This model is one of the best gas push mowers for small yards based on its Excellent rating for evenness, Very Good rating for mulching and handling, and its Good rating for bagging.

If you’re shopping for a gas push mower for your small yard, the Toro Recycler 21332 ($269), Toro Recycler SmartStow 21329 ($300), and the Troy-Bilt TB 115 ($230) are also recommended by Consumer Reports. Of the three push mowers, the organization tapped the Troy-Bilt TB 115 as a Best Buy. However, it lacks features like a washout port and a swing-up handlebar because of its low price.

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The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Just Won This Top Safety Award

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Sleek lines, powerful engines, and intuitive infotainment features are great, but consumers value safety, too. Bells and whistles won’t matter much if a vehicle is dangerous. But the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe midsize SUV recently racked up one of the most coveted safety awards. And the Santa Fe isn’t the only model in the automaker’s stable with this distinction.

Another Top Safety Pick award for Hyundai

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Hyundai didn’t hesitate to brag about the good news. The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe earned a Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

It’s not the only TSP win for the brand, either. The Elantra also earned the distinction. Both it and the Santa Fe make the eighth and ninth vehicles in the lineup to earn TSP and TSP+ awards.

Also impressive is that Hyundai is now tied for third place among automakers with the most TSP and TSP+ models.

Why the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe earned this distinction

The Hyundai Santa Fe performed well in various categories during its IIHS evaluation. It earned top-rated “Good” scores in crashworthiness simulations. Overlap front crash tests for the driver side, passenger side, and front also achieved “Good” ratings, as did roof strength.

The Hyundai Santa Fe also earned high marks for its roster of standard driver assists. Key features contributing to its IIHS endorsement include forward-collision warning and auto emergency braking. The SUV also has adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go technology. Lane-departure warning systems and lane-keeping assistance also come standard.

The difference between Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+

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The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe‘s Top Safety Pick is impressive. But what kept it from landing the highest award, Top Safety Pick+? According to IIHS guidelines, both require “Good” ratings in all crash tests. Both awards mean a vehicle also achieved an “Advanced” or “Superior” rating in frontal crash preventions.

The difference between the two titles involves headlights and illumination capability. “Acceptable” or “Good” headlights that come standard across all trims translate to a TSP+ award. If these headlights are options and not standard equipment, the vehicle will receive the TPS. It’s a marginal difference. Earning either of these titles matters.

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe at a glance

Car and Driver says the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe is nicely equipped with enough options to satisfy both budget-conscious and deep-pocketed buyers. Choose from three new powertrains: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder, and a hybrid variation with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder and an electric motor.

Also new for 2021 are a semiautonomous driving mode, more extensive touchscreen options, a push-button shifter, and more. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, too. And SUV buyers looking for a luxurious model can choose the plush Calligraphy trim. This Santa Fe model brings extras like leather seats, a head-up color display, all-wheel drive, and stylish exterior accents. 

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe’s latest recognition is another testament to the automaker’s mission to produce safe vehicles. It’s a win for Hyundai, but it’s also a win for consumers who drive them. And you’ll likely feel better owning one yourself, knowing it has earned an IIHS award. 

The post The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Just Won This Top Safety Award appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

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The 2021 Nissan Kicks Is Overflowing With Value

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Are you ready to kick things up a notch in a brand new whip that won’t break the bank? It may be time to consider the 2021 Nissan Kicks. You will get that new car smell, tons of tech, and more. Check out the value that’s bursting from the Nissan Kicks. 

Is the 2021 Nissan Kicks a good SUV? 

2021 Nissan Kicks | Nissan

Yes, the 2021 Nissan Kicks is a phenomenal SUV option. It’s an agile SUV that’s perfect for maneuvering through the city without emptying your wallet. Plus, it looks great. It’s a subcompact option to be proud of. 

You can get started in a new Nissan Kicks for about $19,500. It’s one of the limited options that begin under $20,000. Also, it gets a pretty good fuel economy with an EPA-estimated 31 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. 

How does the Nissan Kicks drive? 

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First of all, we need to cover one potential drawback that three critics agree about. The 2021 Nissan Kicks isn’t a sports car. According to Edmunds, the Nissan Kicks is a little sluggish with its 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that pumps out 122 hp and 114 lb-ft of torque. It takes about 10.2 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph, which is behind rivals like the Hyundai Kona. 

Car and Driver noted that the Nissan Kicks can feel slow as it climbs up to speed. Driving also mentioned that 122 hp might seem low. Despite this, it has adequate power for merging onto the highway and for errands around town. 

There are also beloved features that Edmunds and Car and Driver love. The handling and responsive steering are above average, and the braking is confident. It’s a fun little SUV to use as a daily driver. Plus, it’s comfortable. 

The interior of the Nissan Kicks is incredibly quiet, even at highway speeds. Wind noise and road noise aren’t an issue. It also has a smooth suspension that absorbs impacts for a soft and relaxing ride. 

What are the Nissan Kicks’ features like? 

2021 Nissan Kicks Interior
2021 Nissan Kicks Interior | Nissan

The 2021 Nissan Kicks has a swanky exterior design that is also found in the cabin. The Kicks may have a low starting price, but the interior manages to provide an upscale feeling with a practical layout and pops of trendy colors. 

Adults will notice that the seats in the front and rear are pretty spacious with adequate lumber support. Two adults can comfortably fit in the back row without feeling cramped.

There is a massive glove box, center console, and large door pockets for storage. Behind the rear seats, you can access up to 25.3 cubic feet of cargo space with 32.3 cubic feet of cargo space total. 

The base model, which is the Nissan Kicks S, includes a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. You can upgrade to an 8-inch display. The SR and SV trims add extra USB-C and USB ports in the rear. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard. 

The Nissan Kicks’ key standard safety features include automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection and lane departure warning. You can opt for the available adaptive cruise control. 

The 2021 Kicks provides a comfortable and stylish ride that won’t bust your budget. If you’re looking for a brand new SUV that offers updated tech and a smooth ride to make your daily commute more enjoyable, this may be an ideal option.

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The Country With the Most Expensive Gas Prices Is Not the U.S.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

As fuel costs rise across the nation, it’s easy to think that Americans probably pay the most for gasoline globally. After all, when gas is well above $4 per gallon in certain parts of the country – mainly California – it feels like we all pay the price just to fill up our tanks to live day-to-day. Believe it or not, the U.S. doesn’t have the highest fuel prices in the world. In fact, that country might surprise you.

The country with the most expensive fuel prices

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Budget Direct, an Australian insurance company, recently put together a study of the “Global Fuel Index,” or the fuel prices that countries are paying worldwide. Since the price of gas fluctuated greatly during the pandemic, it’s interesting to see where pricing stands globally now that they seem to be a little more stable.

And while you might think that the country with the highest fuel prices would probably be somewhere in Europe – if it isn’t the U.S. – you would, unfortunately, be wrong. In fact, the country that takes that top honor is the Central African Republic, aptly named for being right in the center of Africa. If you’re planning to visit any time soon, then you can look forward to paying $2.02 per liter of gas, or around $7.64 per gallon.

What about the U.S. fuel prices?

A gasoline station pumps fuel | Illustration by Sean Gallup/Getty Images

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If you’re still wondering how the U.S. fared, then you’ll be happy to know that we came in at 72 cents per liter or around $2.72 per gallon on average. Taking a closer look at the fuel pricing around the U.S., Budget Direct listed San Francisco as having the highest fuel prices in the country, followed by San Jose, LA, Sacramento, and San Diego.

Apparently, if you live anywhere other than California, consider yourself lucky. Especially if you currently reside in Texas or Oklahoma, as many cities in those two states are found at the bottom of the list. If you think that you might catch a break because you drive a diesel-powered car in California, think again.

The study showed that the most expensive diesel prices can be found in San Francisco, followed by San Jose, LA, and then Sacramento. We shouldn’t be too surprised, though, as diesel pricing isn’t typically too far off from the price of gas. Also, if you want the most affordable diesel fuel in the country, then you’ll have to go to Texas or Oklahoma.

A customer inserts a credit card into the gas pump. | Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Customer Betty Fox prepares to scan her credit card while getting fuel at a Road Ranger gas station. | Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images

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Is Europe’s fuel pricing expensive?

Since you might have thought that a country in Europe would have the highest fuel prices worldwide, here is how those countries stacked up in the study. Budget Direct reports that the highest fuel prices in Europe can be found in Amsterdam, followed by Helsinki, and then Paris.

Gasoline in Amsterdam will set you back around $1.97 per liter, or $7.44 per gallon. While Helsinki and Paris pricing falls at around $1.83 per liter or $6.87 per gallon. After discovering the different pricing around the world, it’s easy to see that the gas prices in the U.S. aren’t so bad after all. Maybe it’s a good thing we’re heading toward EVs and hybrid cars.

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