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I have to keep reminding myself that gas-equivalent battery-powered mowers are still pretty new. In the past decade or so, we’ve gone from just a handful of decent cordless walk-behind mower options to entire divisions of very capable battery-powered electric mowers from all the biggest brands. Through this evolution, battery life and mowing performance have improved tremendously, even as pricing has moderated. That trajectory continues with the new John Deere Z370R Electric ZTrak Mower, which I recently tested.
John Deere is no stranger to the lawn care world and zero-turn mowers. The ZTrak commercial series dates back to the late 1990s and is a perennial favorite among professionals. The brand has developed an outstanding reputation for overall mowing performance and reliability. So, when it launched its first all-electric residential zero-turn mower (the Z370R) in 2023, I had high expectations. A year later, I finally got a chance to test one, and I can say it was worth the wait.
John Deere Z370R Electric ZTrak Mower: At a Glance
Rating: 4.69/5
SPECS
- Power source: 58-volt lithium-ion battery, 3.56 kilowatt hour max
- Deck size: 42 inches
- Mowing height range: 1.25 to 4.5 inches
- Max forward speed: 7 miles per hour (mph)
- Weight: 490 pounds
WHAT WE LIKED
- Mows up to 2 acres per charge, depending on conditions and settings
- Onboard smart charger plugs into any 120-volt outlet with a grounded extension cord
- Safe to wash with a water hose, sealed battery meets IP66 rating
- Standard features include a rubber floor mat and LED light kit
- Optional equipment available, including a mulch kit and a material collection system
WHAT WE DIDN’T LIKE
- 42-inch deck is slightly wider than the wheels, so it’s difficult to cut along curved edges
- Significantly more expensive than an equivalent gas-powered zero-turn mower
Get the John Deere Z370R at:
What is the John Deere Z370R Electric ZTrak Mower?
The full collection of John Deere ZTrak zero-turn mowers includes dozens of models, ranging from medium-duty residential equipment to heavy-duty commercial mowers. Designed and built in Greeneville, Tennessee, the Z370R is a residential battery-powered zero-turn mower built for outstanding mowing performance and operator comfort. It boasts zero operating emissions and engine noise; improved rider comfort; and a tough, durable frame.
The Z370R is powered by a 58-volt lithium-ion battery that stores enough power to mow up to 2 acres per charge. It features a 42-inch Accel Deep mowing deck with a mowing height range of 1.25 to 4.5 inches. An electric blade engagement switch, preset height adjustment dial, and foot-assisted deck lift simplify operation.
This mower is suitable for flat and undulating landscapes with a maximum slope of 13 degrees. Like gas-powered 300-series ZTrak mowers, it has a maximum forward speed of 7 mph. Two lap bars control travel speed and direction. To smooth the ride, it has a contoured 20-inch high-back seat with spring suspension and armrests.
Some of the other convenience features that make this mower stand out include the LCD status screen, storage compartment with USB port, deck washout port, and automatic parking brake that engages when the lap bars are spread to the neutral position.
I tested this John Deere electric zero-turn mower in a large residential lot, with an acre of open grass and a half acre where the grass was broken up with structures and landscape beds. The experience was excellent. The ride was comfortable, the cut was crisp, and charging could not have been easier. I was especially pleased with the smooth operation of the lap bars, even when starting from a standstill. In the sections ahead, I’ll share the details.
Charging Time
Everything about charging this mower seemed better than many battery-powered lawn mowers I’ve tested. First, to avoid becoming stranded, the blades automatically shut off when the battery gets low. At that point, there is still enough charge in reserve to return to an outlet for charging. For added convenience, the built-in smart charger eliminates a specialized charging cord. Just attach the mower to any 120-volt outlet using a grounded (three-prong) extension cord. I used a 50-foot-long 12-gauge extension cord and had no problems. Based on the times I charged this mower, it should take an average of about 6 hours to recharge from 0 to 100 percent.
Running Time
Given average mowing conditions, the John Deere Z370R 42-inch zero-turn mower can realistically mow at least 2 acres per charge. That is the company’s claim, and my experience indicates that it is accurate. On three different occasions, I had no trouble mowing the 1.5-acre test plot. Each time, I started with a full charge, and the battery level indicator showed about 20 percent remaining afterward. It’s reasonable to expect less running time if the grass is higher than normal.
If equipped with a larger 48-inch deck, this mower will have less running time because of the increased energy needed to turn longer blades. The manufacturer claims that the 48-inch electric ZTrak can mow 1.8 acres per charge. I’ll discuss the potential benefits of the larger deck in the next section.
Mowing Performance
I have had the opportunity to test several of the best battery-powered residential riding mowers, including a few zero-turn ones. The cut quality from the John Deere Z370R leads the class. Under normal conditions, I could confidently mow at the top travel speed without worrying if the grass would be cut evenly. The finish was perfect, even in thick, weedy, or lightly overgrown areas. The deep mowing deck had plenty of airflow to uplift the grass blades and broadcast the fine clippings over a broad area without windrows or clumps.
For rough-cutting tall grass (up to 18 inches high in some spots), I raised the deck to its highest position, increased the blade speed, and crept over the area at the pace of a slow walk. The blade motors had no trouble with the heavy load, and, in the end, very few clumps of clippings were left behind. This type of work depleted the battery about three times faster than regular maintenance mowing, but it’s good to know that this mower can handle it when necessary.
The only challenge I had was with edging. The 42-inch deck barely reaches past the width of the tires, so it had difficulty tracking along curved edge lines, leading to additional time on the string trimmer. This is where the 48-inch deck would be an improvement, as it is offset to the left, where it can reach all the way to the edge without risking driving over landscape bed lines.
Operator Comfort
Several aspects of a mower influence operator comfort, including the placement of the controls, available accessories, noise, and smoothness of the ride. The John Deere Z370R electric zero-turn mower scores highly in all of these categories.
The controls were easy to use and intuitively designed. When I first sat in the driver’s seat, I immediately located the display panel on the right console, surrounded by the power switch, mowing height dial, mode, blade engage, and light switches. Since the mower is equipped with an automatic parking brake that is activated by placing the lap bars in the open position, the only other operational assist was the deck-lift pedal located beside the right footrest.
A few conveniences that buyers will appreciate include the covered storage bin at the rear end of the right console and the cup holder on the left. A USB port inside the storage bin lets users charge a device as they mow. It was also nice to monitor the illuminated battery life indicator at the front of the floor instead of squinting over at the LCD console panel.
The ride was quiet and comfortable, too. It was almost silent to travel with the blades off, thanks to the quiet wheel motors and rattle-free deck mounts. With the blades on, there was considerably more noise, mostly from the airflow, but it was tolerable. The high-back seat contours and deep padding softened the ride quite well, and I really appreciated that armrests come as standard equipment. They certainly help reduce operator fatigue on zero-turn mowers.
Is the John Deere Z370R ZTrak mower worth the money?
The Z370R is a premium mower that utilizes expensive battery technology. It sells for $6,399, which is roughly $3,000 more than an equivalent gas-powered John Deere 42-inch ZTrak. This is not an apples-to-apples price comparison since the gas mower requires gasoline, oil and filter changes, and other preventive maintenance. The cost of electricity is not zero, but it works out to less than $1 per charge in many locations, compared with $12 per fill-up of the 3-gallon gas tank. If hauling and storing gas and trailering a mower to a repair shop for occasional services are things you would rather avoid, then the added up-front cost might sound like a bargain.
Compared with other battery-powered zero-turn mowers, the John Deere Z370R appears to be a good value. It costs about $1,000 more than the battery-powered Ego Power+ 56-volt Z6 zero- turn mower that I tested a couple of years ago and is priced about $1,500 less than the Toro 60-volt TimeCutter MyRIDE that I tested this spring. The John Deere electric zero-turn model cuts cleaner, rides smoother, and has more articulate steering than the Ego Power+ model, so the price difference is justifiable. The performance margin is much tighter with the Toro model, so the higher pricing makes sense. In any of these cases, if you choose John Deere, you won’t regret it.
Is the John Deere Z370R ZTrak mower right for you?
A zero-turn mower’s greatest advantage is speed. The ability to mow twice as fast as a lawn tractor, barely slowing to navigate around obstacles, is hard to ignore. If you care for a lawn that is a half acre or larger, investing in a zero-turn mower could reduce your lawn-mowing time by 25 percent or more. But is battery power or gas the better option? For a significantly lower up-front cost, gas-powered models do the job well, even if it means dealing with gasoline and time-consuming preventive maintenance. But if you’re interested in the quiet convenience of battery power, it’s hard to beat the John Deere Z370R Electric ZTrak.
John Deere infused decades of mowing expertise into the Z370R, and it shows. It hits on all the expectations that a buyer would have for a zero-turn mower built by John Deere. First and foremost, it mows extremely well. The mowing speed and cut quality are on par with comparable gas-riding mowers. It is also easy to operate, with intuitively designed controls and a comfortable ride. Finally, the battery system is better than most of the other options, considering that it powers 2 acres of mowing per charge and does not require a special charging cable. If you want the power and mobility of a zero-turn mower without the noise, exhaust, and maintenance of gas, then the John Deere Z370R would be a smart choice.
Where to Buy the John Deere Z370R Electric ZTrak Mower
Get the John Deere Z370R at:
Meet the Tester
Mark Wolfe is a writer and product tester with an extensive background in the nursery and landscaping industry. For more than 20 years he mowed, edged, planted, pruned, cultivated, irrigated, and renovated beautiful landscapes. Now he tests and writes reviews about the latest outdoor power equipment, hand tools, lawn care products, and other outdoor-living goods.
