Compare Mowers

1. 500S Zero Turn Mower (48 in / 5902101) uses a Briggs & Stratton® CXi engine; Spartan Defender uses a Kawasaki engine. The engine maker builds the engine; the mower maker chooses the model, rating and fit, so the badge alone does not settle output or longevity.
2. 500S Zero Turn Mower (48 in / 5902101) holds 3 gal (11.4 L) of fuel; Spartan Defender holds 5 gal (18.9 L) of fuel, a 2 gal difference. Tank size bounds how long a machine runs between stops. Consumption varies with engine, load and speed, so hours per tank are not fixed.
3. 500S Zero Turn Mower (48 in / 5902101) cuts from 1.5 in (38 mm) to 4.5 in (114 mm); Spartan Defender cuts from 1 in (25 mm) to 5 in (127 mm). The cut-height range is the shortest and tallest cut the deck offers. Most lawns are kept well inside it.
4. 500S Zero Turn Mower (48 in / 5902101) lists at $7,478; Spartan Defender lists at $6,799, a $679 difference. List price is the maker's own figure before tax, freight and dealer setup. Dealers set the final price.
5. 500S Zero Turn Mower (48 in / 5902101) has a 25 hp engine; Spartan Defender has a 23 hp engine, a 2 hp difference. Published horsepower is the maker's rating at a stated engine speed. It is a different measure from displacement, and two engines of equal rating can pull differently.

Verified means each manufacturer publishes the figure. A bigger number is only a bigger number; nothing here says which machine is better. The full specification table is below.