Which is the best zero-turn mower: Simplicity or Ariens?

There has been a very hot debate regarding Simplicity vs. Ariens zero turn mowers when it comes to zero-turn mowers. Both of them have a lot going on for them. They both have their pros and cons.

These mowers are reliable and efficient, so which one should you pick between them?

History of the Brands: Simplicity & Ariens

Simplicity is a company born in The United States of America. It started out as a three-wheel-based rideable mower company that came from manufacturing lawnmowers and gardening equipment.

They had to stop production due to world war I and had to switch to making electric fence inspectors and surface grinders to cater to the needs of WWI.

Ariens has a similar origin, based in The United States as an electric equipment company; they quickly became famous for its product lineup. These include lawnmowers, snow blowers, and zero-turn lawnmowers. Their main focus has always been lawnmowers for residential use.

Simplicity Vs. Ariens: What Is the Difference?

While both lawnmowers have similarities and can be grouped together, it would be unfair to say that their effectiveness or use case is synonymous. They have integral differences which add to their appeal to the general public.

Chassis Size

A lawnmower’s chassis size, otherwise called deck size, is often an overlooked aspect of lawnmowers. It is crucial for maintaining the evenness of the grass being cut. Generally, a zero-turn lawnmower’s deck-cutting width can vary anywhere from 42” to 72”.

If you’re looking for a chassis between 48” – 61”, then the Simplicity zero-turn lawnmower is the perfect fit for you. This size of the chassis is not only very reliable but also works extremely well and efficiently.

On the other hand, Ariens has a wider range, between 52” – 62”. If you do not want to make any compromises when it comes to your deck size, then this is the pick for you.

Engine Specification

Mowing your lawn is no easy task. You will fall short unless you are using the king of your own backyard. If your mower is not a beast at its job, then you are missing out.

The Simplicity has an efficient engine with 18 – 23 horsepower. Enough to trim down your grass in one fell swoop. Your mowing days will almost always be productive with Simplicity.

The Ariens is a different breed on its own, though. It uses an engine manufactured by Kawasaki themselves. The horsepower on this beast is 23 – 27. This is for the people who like to feel like professionals and always want a fine grind when it comes to their grass.

Purchase Cost

It is important to invest your money well if you are looking for an automated lawnmower, a zero-turn one, no less. Cheap lawnmowers can give up on you rather quickly and might cost you more money long term.

Simplicity is priced at around $4500. For that price, you’re set for quite a while until you will need maintenance. And if you really take care of it as if it were your daily driver, then it might serve you a good few years before you need to change it.

Ariens are much more expensive compared to Simplicity. They cost about $6000 at the very least. But for that price, you are getting greater reliability, better performance, and superior results.

Warranty

Knowing that when push comes to shove and the worst possible outcome is written on your fortune that you can rely on warranty is a safety net like no other. A warranty basically means that if the reliability claims that the manufacturer makes are not met, then you can legally come to a solution, possibly at no cost at all.

Simplicity offers you a 2-4 years warranty. This means if you get e faulty product, you can simply just get a refund and be on your merry way. Alternatively, you can get a fresh mint new product, again, at no external cost.

Ariens also has a similar warranty, 2-5 years. If an extra year of warranty gives your conscience greater peace, then get ready to dish out a few extra thousand bucks for it too. Masterpieces are rather expensive these days!

Showroom Availability

Customer relationship development and dealership availability can sometimes be a make-or-break factor for Americans. Simplicity has a rather unsatisfactory dealership facility especially compared to other brands in its price range.

Ariens offers excellent dealership options and much better customer relationships. Their flexibility is the no. 1 reason why Americans are so comfortable with the purchase of Ariens even though they are paying a much higher premium.

Resale Market

Regardless of the warranty period, most people resell their zero-turn lawnmowers before their warranty runs out. This allows them to retain the few bucks they invested in their equipment initially. Most beginners actually go for the purchase of second-hand options rather than brand-new ones. So, it is a win-win for everyone.

Since Simplicity is almost every beginner’s go-to, it offers a very attractive resale price. One can easily just resell their zero-turn Simplicity if they find the performance to not be satisfactory.

On the other hand, even though Ariens is superior in performance, its resale value is otherwise grim compared to the results it produces. So, if you are thinking about a decent amount of use from your Ariens zero-turn lawnmower and reselling, then you might just make more money by getting something cheaper to begin with.

Conclusion

So, which zero-turn mower should you choose? If you are a veteran of this type of work and want to upgrade your tool to an experience, then Ariens is the way to go.

But that is only applicable as long as you are prepared to cough up the cash. But if you want similar reliability that does not put such a big dent in your bank account and still get satisfactory results, then Simplicity is your best friend.