Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 50 vs Cub Cadet CC 800 Wide-Area Mower

Buy the ZT1 50 if you mow an acre or more regularly and want to sit down and finish fast. Its 23 HP Kawasaki twin, 50-inch fabricated 11-gauge deck and dual hydrostatic drives at 7 MPH are a clear step up in capability from the CC 800. The CC 800 is a wide walk-behind: 33-inch cut, 10.5 HP single-cylinder engine, 4-speed rear-wheel drive and mulching included, suited to half an acre to an acre with tighter gates and slopes. Owners of the ZT1 praise the Kawasaki engine and even cut; the CC 800's following is smaller, and its 3.5-inch maximum cut height is the main complaint.

• Choose the Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 50 if you have an acre or more of open lawn, want to ride, and need a wide fabricated deck and 7 MPH speed to cut mowing time.
• Choose the Cub Cadet CC 800 if your lawn is half an acre to an acre, you have gates or beds a riding mower cannot reach, and you want mulching without buying a kit.