Our verdict
The bottom line
A specialist tool for buyers who never bag clippings. If you mulch religiously and accept that mulching needs short, dry grass, this is dramatically faster than a collect-and-empty rotary. For most British lawns, the bag is more useful than the mulch-only convenience.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Mulching-only design = no bag emptying ever
- Self-propelled at sub-£400
- Stiga engine reliability
- 48cm cut covers ground efficiently
Cons
- No collection — useless for first cut of spring
- No rear roller
- Mulch-only specialist won't suit everyone
Full specs
| Type | Petrol |
|---|---|
| Cut width | 48 cm |
| Engine / Power | Stiga ST120 OHV 123cc |
| Weight | 29 kg |
| Deck | Steel |
| Self-propelled | Yes |
| Rear roller | No |
| Mulching | Yes |
| Cutting heights | 6 positions |
| Bag capacity | — |
| Suited to lawn | Medium |
| Noise level | 95 dB |
Buying second-hand
Used-market tip
£120–240 used. Specialist mowers have a smaller pool of buyers — bargains appear. Stiga engine same checks. Mulch deck design means more grass build-up — flip and clean before judging. Anyone bagging on it has bypassed the mulch design and may have damaged the underdeck.
Where to look: Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree are usually 20–30% cheaper than eBay UK for petrol mowers because most sellers want local pickup. eBay tends to win on cordless and electric (lighter, easier to ship). Always insist on a starting demonstration before paying.