John Deere X585 Garden Tractor

Recently John Deere introduced a new line of lawn and garden tractors--called the X-Series--that are loaded with features, including 4-wheel drive on three of the models. Until now, Deere had reserved 4-wheel drive for its compact utility tractors and, of course, its full-size ag equipment. We thought this change was worth taking a look at, so we got one of these tractors (the X585) and put it to work for nine months in 2002.

The tractor features a 25-hp liquid-cooled Kawasaki V-twin engine, hydrostatic drive, power steering, 18-in. tires up front and 26-in. ones on the back. It's about 80 in. long, has a wheelbase of 55-1/2 in. and weighs, without attachments, nearly 1000 pounds. Deere may call this a lawn and garden tractor, but it's built and feels more like a small tank.

Creature comforts are everywhere. Forward and reverse pedals and the brake pedal form a neat cluster on the right footrest. On the right rear fender is a shift-on-the-go 4wd lever, a cupholder and even a 12-volt outlet. An easy-to-operate cruise control switch rests next to the power takeoff (PTO) switch on the right dash.

The tractor has headlights, taillights and bright backup lights. It also has a tilting steering wheel, forward-and-back and up-and-down seat adjustments, an easy-to-reach deck height control knob, and dual hydraulic control levers. The dash indicator lights cover all the engine systems and more. Especially noteworthy is a light that reminds you when service is required.

Our test focused on two operations: mowing and snowblowing. The mowing deck we tested was the model No. 62C. This is a 62-in.-wide, shaft-driven, 3-blade rotary unit that weighs 200 pounds. It cut everything we threw at it without stalling, including 9-in.-high dry grass cut to a 3-in. height in a single pass. This impressive performance was matched by how easy it was to install (and remove) the deck. The second time through, deck installation took only a couple of minutes, which is quite an accomplishment when you're dealing with a deck this big.

Installing the shaft-driven, hydraulic snowblower was more involved, largely because you must first install a mounting bracket on the front of the tractor and a weight bracket on the back.

The unit we tested was a 240-pound, 47-in., 2-stage model that had no trouble with 16-in.-deep powdery snow or with 4-in.-deep slush. The hydraulic controls that lift the blower and turn the chute worked very well. The chute deflector, however, does not have a dash-mounted control--an unexpected omission on such expensive equipment.

Sound tests yielded a quiet 78 dBA at idle, which became 92.5 dBA at full throttle--still reasonably quiet. But once the mowing deck was engaged, the reading jumped up to 102.3 dBA, a level that absolutely requires hearing protection.

There's no doubt that this is the best garden tractor we've ever tested. Particularly impressive was its 4wd capability. We drove the tractor into mud nearly up to the axles, turned off the machine, then started it and drove right out, no chains required. During snowblowing--again, with no chains in place--the machine never slipped, even on modest inclines. Between the 4wd and the superior tread pattern on the tires, we never needed the differential lock pedal located on the left footrest. Ease of service was also notable. The spark plugs, air filter, oil and fuel filters, drain plug, battery and radiator were all easy to access.

This machine and its attachments have serious capabilities and prices to match. The tractor is listed at $10,270, the mower at $1600 and the snowblower with the mounting bracket and weight package is $3035, at John Deere dealers. For more information, contact John Deere at 300 N. Vine St., Horicon, WI 53032; www.johndeere.com.