My yard is a beast to mow – half an acre with lots of trees, slopes, and some sections with thicker and taller grass. I’m always looking for the best mowers to make the lawn mowing process less of a hassle, which was why I was excited to test the Husqvarna Lawn Xpert LE-322 with battery and charger.
Although I have used gas-powered lawn mowers in the past and understand the appeal of them, I truly believe that battery-powered mowers, like the Husqvarna Lawn Xpert LE-322, are the future. Not only are they eco-friendlier, but with each new year, they become more powerful and efficient.
According to Husqvarna, the Lawn Xpert can cut grass 30% easier and has a 30% longer run time than the competition. Over the course of a month, I put this lawn mower through the ropes in my large and complicated yard, getting a good idea on how it works and how long the battery lasts. Read about my experiences below to see if this is the right battery-powered lawn mower for you.
Product specifications
Unboxing the Husqvarna Lawn Xpert LE-322
The lawn mower arrived in a large cardboard box on my front porch, so I used a dolly to move it to the garage. I was able to recycle the box, but the Styrofoam was not recyclable, which was disappointing. Upon removing the Styrofoam, I saw that the orange and black lawn mower had been packaged in a way that the handle was folded over. To lift the handle, I pushed the large orange button on the bottom of the handle and then lifted it to my desired position.
I put one battery on the charger while I examined the lawn mower. Unfortunately, you can only charge one battery at a time. Combined, they take about 1.5 hours to charge. However, set up was really easy. The lawn mower itself didn’t require any further set-up besides using the lever on the wheels to change the cutting height (up to 4.5 inches).
My first impression of the electric mower was that it was larger than I expected it to be with a 21-inch cutting deck. It was also pretty heavy to move around too.
What's it like to use?
Once the batteries were charged, I placed them inside the machine until they clicked, and then pushed the On/Off button followed by the Start button while holding the brake handle down at the same time. The lawn mower powered up immediately. The motor did not emit as much noise as gas mowers do. If I wanted to use the self-propel system, I had to hold the drive control buttons on the handlebars. The speed can be adjusted with a lever up to four mph.
The control panel is one of the most high-tech that I’ve seen. There is a cut mode button that looks like two oscillating arrows. This allows the user to move through three different modes. Mode 1 is the Sensing mode which senses the height and thickness of the grass and adjusts the power used to cut it. This mode will automatically turn on when your battery is near the end of its charge so you can mow your yard for a little longer. I typically used Mode 2 which is the Mulching/High Quality mode, though I did try Mode 3 which is called Max Power. As the name implies, it gives you the most power, but at the cost of your battery life.
I tested the Husqvarna Lawn Xpert LE-322 three times on my half an acre yard. The first time I used the lawn mower, the grass was thick in some parts and high (no more than four inches) in others. On one part of my yard, the grass was slightly moist. There were only a few areas where I had to adjust the cutting height one notch higher than initially set as it was too difficult to push the mower through.
I opted to mulch my grass the first time and so left the mulch plug in the lawn mower. At 102 lbs., the lawn mower is too heavy for me to push without utilizing the self-propel system, though I did try on a few occasions just to see what it was like. It was not pleasant. Even reversing the lawn mower in a few sections of my yard was no easy feat.
Because the mower is so heavy, I used the self-propel system the entire time. Most self-propel systems have speeds between 4-6 mph, so while 4 mph is on the small side, it didn’t necessarily feel that way while using the Lawn Xpert LE322. My yard has a lot of slopes and without the self-propel system, I would have struggled to push the lawn mower up the inclines. When turning, I had to decrease the speed or else the mower would buck out of my control.
My wrists and forearms got tired and achy from holding the motor brake handle and the drive control buttons at the same time within just 10 minutes of mowing. I wish there was a better method that didn’t cause so much wrist strain.
In the past, I’ve used lawn mowers that had side discharge chutes, which can get in the way of mowing and subsequently get knocked off. I loved that the lawn mower mulched the grass without needing a side chute. While a rear discharge chute was provided, I do not relish the experience of having grass clippings covering my shoes as I walked.
On the first trial run, the batteries lasted about 50 minutes on Mode 2 (mulching/high quality) before automatically changing to Mode 1 (sensing) for 10 more minutes. I did not get the full 75 minutes of run time as advertised. This could have been for a number of reasons – like the thickness and height of the grass. I was only able to mow about 2/3rds of the yard before the lawn mower shut down. I recharged one battery up to three bars within an hour and cut the rest of the lawn in 20 minutes.
The second and third test runs were about the same in terms of the battery life and coverage. The only thing I did differently was use the grass catcher the second time. It did a phenomenal job catching the grass clippings. I had to empty it after mowing 1/4th of my yard and so on. I did not notice any real difference in terms of the battery life when using the grass catcher versus mulching.
While I never cut my yard when the sun was setting, I did notice that the LED lights automatically came on when I pushed the lawn mower into the garage. This is a nice touch for those who might need to mow their yard in the summer evenings.
Cleaning the Husqvarna Lawn Xpert LE-322
The one thing this lawn mower lacks is a deck wash port to connect a gardening hose. That would have made cleaning the deck or the underside of the lawn mower a lot easier. This is likely due to the fact that this lawn mower is electric, and Husqvarna warns buyers against cleaning this product with water. Using a hose or a pressure washer to clean the underside of the deck can result in water entering the motor or the battery and cause a short circuit. To prevent grass build-up, turn the lawn mower on its side after every use and use a leaf blower to clean the underside of the deck.
In terms of the rest of the lawn mower, it hasn’t gotten dirty in a way that warrants cleaning. If need be, I can always wash out the grass catcher, but otherwise, a nice wipe down with a dry or lightly wet rag on the exterior of the lawn mower (away from the motor and the battery) does the trick.
Storage and maintenance
When not in use, the Husqvarna Lawn Xpert LE-322 can be folded down and stored in a standing position which takes up little room in a garage, shed, or closet.
Since this is a battery-operated lawn mower, there is very little maintenance required. You’ll need to replace the filter every season which is a good time to examine whether or not the blade needs to be sharpened or replaced. The only other thing that you’ll need to check is the battery charger and port for damage on occasion.
If you ever need to get the lawn mower worked on, you can find a network of service dealers on the Husqvarna website. The three-year limited warranty will cover the repair or replacement of any parts that are defective because of normal wear or workmanship.
How does it rate online?
The Husqvarna Lawn Xpert LE-322 launched in the spring of 2023, so there are few reviews of the product on the Husqvarna website. I was able to find a few reviews on the Lowe’s website. Of the four reviews, two were five stars, one was three stars, and the last was one star. The three and one-star reviewers liked the product and how it cut but explained that the battery life did not last 75 minutes. One of the reviewers said it only lasted 35 minutes, while the other reviewer did not mention the exact length of time their battery lasted but noted, “In conditions that are normal, the battery does not come close to the stated runtime per charge.”
How does it compare to similar models and its predecessors
Husqvarna released another battery-powered lawn mower almost two years ago – the Husqvarna W520i. With only a 20-inch cutting deck and a 3 mph maximum speed, the W520i is no match to the Xpert LE-322. The Xpert LE-322 may not have the W520i’s aluminum rims and rubber tires, but the Xpert LE-322’s design is more ergonomic, the control panel has more indicator lights, and it’s way more affordable.
Another good comparison is the Greenworks 21-inch 60V MO60L410. The Greenworks lawn mower is cheaper and did better in terms of battery life – it could mow my entire yard, plus my neighbor’s front yard in just one charge. I also liked that the charger had two slots so I could charge both batteries at the same time. Having said all that, I thought the Husqvarna Xpert LE-322 was a heavier-duty lawn mower that could handle thicker and taller grass.
Should you buy the Husqvarna Lawn Xpert LE-322?
Those with small to medium yards will love the Husqvarna Lawn Xpert LE-322. This heavy-duty lawn mower cuts thick and tall grass with ease and lightens the load a bit with a self-propel system that can go up to 4 mph. It does well on inclines and around trees, and with the control panel, you can start and stop or adjust the cutting modes quickly. The battery may not last as long as advertised but this can be for a number of reasons. If you have a small or medium yard, the battery should last long enough to cut it one go.
When not in use, this electric mower folds and can be stored in a standing position without taking up much space. As a battery-powered lawn mower, it needs far less maintenance than gas-powered ones.
While it may be a little pricey, especially considering that each battery is only 36V, this lawn mower is made incredibly well by a brand you can trust.
