Mountfield Electress 38 Li Kit (38cm, 2 x 20V 4Ah)

How long does the battery last on a single charge?

The two included 20V 4Ah batteries give a combined runtime of up to 25 minutes. That might sound short but most reviewers found it enough for a small to medium lawn. One buyer cut their lawn in about 10 minutes and only used one of the four battery bars. Another mowed for 30 minutes on thick damp grass and only lost one bar out of four. Charging is quick too. A full recharge of a single bar took around 15 minutes according to one customer. With two batteries swapping in you rarely need to stop mowing to wait for power.

Is this mower heavy to lift and push?

No. It weighs just 12.24kg which is light compared to petrol equivalents. Several buyers mentioned they could lift it with one hand. One customer switched from a petrol Mountfield because it had got too heavy to carry up garden steps. They found this model light enough to carry up and down steps without strain. Pushing it across the lawn also takes minimal effort. One reviewer said there was "absolutely no effort to moving it across the lawn."

What size garden is this mower suitable for?

Mountfield recommends it for gardens up to 350 square metres. The 38 cm cutting width makes it best suited to small or medium plots rather than large lawns. One reviewer with a lawn that takes 10 minutes to cut said it did a good job and should last for years. If your garden is much larger than 350 sqm you may need to recharge the batteries partway through the job.

How do you adjust the cutting height and what are the options?

There are 6 cutting height positions ranging from 25mm to 75mm (1.0 to 3.0 inches). This lets you tailor the cut depending on season and grass length. One reviewer with overgrown winter grass started on the highest setting then dropped down gradually once the lawn was under control. Another used setting 3 for a first cut of the season then moved to 2 for regular maintenance. The adjustment mechanism was described by one user as "robust and useful."

How big is the grass collection box and is it easy to empty?

The hybrid grass collector holds 40 litres. This means fewer trips to the compost heap during mowing. One reviewer cutting thick damp grass for half an hour only had to empty the box twice. There's no digital warning when it's full but reviewers noted a change in motor sound when the box fills up. Emptying is simple too. One user said the collector is flexible which makes it handy to empty.

Does it cope well with wet or long grass?

Results are mixed on this point. Several reviewers reported good performance even on damp or slightly long grass, with one describing how it "handled thick slightly damp grass with ease." Others noted the plastic deck is quite shallow which can lead to wet grass clumping if cut too low. If you're mowing after rain it helps to choose a higher cutting setting to avoid clogging the rear chute, which one reviewer also described as fairly small.

What's included in the box and what warranty do you get?

The kit includes the mower itself, 2 x 20V 4Ah batteries and a dual battery charger. You don't need to buy batteries separately like with some cordless mowers. Mountfield backs it with a standard 2 year manufacturer warranty. Spare parts are also available across the EU for up to 5 years, which is useful if something needs replacing down the line. One Amazon customer also mentioned taking out an additional 3 year protection plan through Amazon for an extra £26, though this is optional and separate from the manufacturer's cover.

Is the build quality reliable and are there any common issues?

Build quality opinions vary. Most reviewers describe the chassis as robust and praise the rust-proof polypropylene construction, which should hold up well over time outdoors. However a handful of users found certain parts, like the power pull handle, a bit flimsy. One customer reported a faulty battery charger that stopped working after the second use, though the mower itself worked fine. If you do have an issue, customer service response times were described as slow in that particular case, so it's worth registering your purchase and warranty details early in case you need support.