When Husqvarna released the Lawn Xpert LE-322, it was equipped with a new Max Battery Products battery line meant to last longer than previous versions. The lawn mower also had other great features, like diverse cutting modes and foldable storage solutions.
With a half-acre yard, our tester used the Lawn Xpert LE-322 three times to get a feel for how it works on slopes, around trees, and with different grass heights. As with most Husqvarna branded products, the lawn mower was proficient in several ways, which was good because it’s not an affordable lawn mower by any means.
The best cordless lawn mowers are increasing in popularity, so should you ditch the cord and be free of gas fumes with one of the newest battery-powered lawn mowers on the market.
They’re not as noisy and don’t require as much maintenance or care as gas-powered lawnmowers. Their only drawback? Electric lawnmowers run on batteries, and if the battery life doesn’t last long enough to cut your yard, you have to wait for them to charge. We tested the Husqvarna Xpert LE-322 with battery and charger to see if you should ditch the cord and be free of gas fumes with one of the newest battery-powered lawnmowers on the market.
Husqvarna Lawn Xpert LE-322: Key specs
- Type: push mower
- Battery life: 75 min
- Dimensions: 43.5” L x 24”W x 18”H (folded for storage)
- Weight: 102 lbs.
- Deck size: 21 inches
- Cutting width: 21 inches
- Cutting height: 1.5-4.5 inches
- Grass collection capacity: 2.3 cubic feet
- Max lawn size: Not provided
- Warranty: 3-year limited warranty
Husqvarna Lawn Xpert LE-322: Price & availability
The Husqvarna Lawn Xpert LE-322 is sold at Husqvarna and Lowe’s and sits on the high end of battery-powered lawnmowers. Most are generally priced in the $300-$600 range so $849.99 is a considerably high price tag (Husqvarna’s other electric lawn mower is even more expensive). The Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 21-inch Whisper Series Cordless Walk-Behind Dual Blade Push Mower is one of the few battery-powered lawn mowers that cost the same.
For this price, you’d expect the Lawn Xpert LE-322 to have batteries with higher voltages – say 60V rather than 40V. It would have been nice if the charger had a two-port setup so that you could charge both batteries at the same time. We were also surprised that the self-propel system has a maximum speed of 4 mph, as we’ve seen other self-propel systems go up to 6 mph. You could find a battery-powered lawn mower with some of these other features, though unlikely all—for instance, the Toro Recycler 22 in. Smart Stow has 60V batteries, yet the battery run time is much lower than that of Husqvarna, and it takes longer to charge.
The price of the Lawn Xpert LE-322 is likely due to its quality of construction, rear-wheel drive, and trusted brand name. If you spend the money on this lawn mower, we’re sure that you’ll be pleased with how well it cuts your grass.
Husqvarna Lawn Xpert LE-322: Setup
This lawn mower arrived in a large box with handles. Our tester used a dolly to move it from the front porch to the garage. The cardboard box was recyclable, although the Styrofoam, which held everything in place and offered cushioning, was not.
Husqvarna provided an instructional manual and quick set-up guide. Only one person is needed to set up the lawn mower, which involves lifting the handle and charging the batteries one at a time with the provided charger.
When the batteries were charged, we placed them on the top of the lawn mower and pushed them in until they clicked. From there, we adjusted the cutting height with the wheel lever. If we wanted to use the grass catcher, we removed the mulch plug before attaching it.
Husqvarna Lawn Xpert LE-322: Design
This lawn mower is an orange and black machine made with plastic and metal. The handle can be adjusted to your preferred angle, dependent on your height. Two batteries are provided, although the charging port only has space to charge one battery at a time. Charging both batteries can take up to an hour and a half. Once charged, they fit into the top of the lawn mower.
The Xpert LE-322 feels larger than you’d expect for the size of the cutting deck and is considerably heavier to move around without using the self-propel system. We were impressed by the control panel on the handle, as we haven’t seen many other lawnmowers with a panel that has so many indicator lights and buttons.
You’ll find an On/Off button and Start button on the panel, indicator lights for battery life, errors, high-temperature notifications, and a locked blade. More importantly, there is a cut mode button that controls whether you want to use Mode 1 (Sensing), Mode 2 (Mulching/High Quality), or Mode 3 (Max Power). Mode 2 and 3 are self-explanatory; Mode 1 senses the thickness and height of the grass and adjusts the power needed to cut that grass area to save battery power.
The Husqvarna Lawn Xpert LE-322 has a single blade and rear-wheel drive, which is probably why it’s so expensive. Rear-wheel drive makes it easier to mow in a straight line and around trees and provides better traction on slopes because it focuses the weight on the rear wheel (hence the name).
At the bottom of the Lawn Xpert LE-322 handle, there is a drive speed lever that lets you choose how fast you want the self-propel system to go. The maximum speed is four mph, which is not the fastest on the market but pretty average.
Exchanging the grass catcher, rear discharge chute, and mulch plug takes seconds to do with no trouble. The grass catcher can hold a decent size of 2.3 cubic feet of grass. While you could use the rear discharge chute, it will shoot some grass clippings on your feet. Instead, it’s better to use the mulch plug and let the mulched grass clippings fall where it cuts.
If you like to mow your yard in the early morning or late at night, you’ll be happy to know that the lawn mower has LED headlights.
Husqvarna Lawn Xpert LE-322: Performance
Our tester used the lawn mower three different times in her half-acre yard to get a feel for how long the battery would last and how well it cut. Because the yard was so large, the self-propel system really helped to lighten the mowing load. However, our tester’s forearms and wrists did grow tired quickly, holding the brake handle and the drive control buttons.
As an electric lawn mower, the Lawn Xpert LE-322 is not noisy. Overall, it did a great job cutting the grass each time, even when the grass was thick with weeds or required expert maneuvering around trees. In fact, without a side discharge chute, mowing around trees or along concrete was easier because there was nothing for the chute to bump into. Without the self-propel system, our tester would not have been able to mow the slopes that line two sides of her yard. A speed boost was necessary to go up and down the incline, especially in a small area of the yard that turns into a ditch.
The batteries did not last long enough to cut the entire half acre. After cutting two-thirds of the yard, the Mulching mode (Mode 2) automatically changed to the Sensing mode to save as much battery life as possible. The battery lasted about ten more minutes. So rather than 75 minutes of battery life as advertised, our reviewer only got an hour’s worth of charge. This is not necessarily surprising as battery life can be affected by the thickness or height of grass, choosing to mulch, or using a grass catcher, among other things. We charged one battery for about an hour and cut the remaining bit of the yard (which took 20 minutes).
While our tester prefers to mulch grass, she used the grass catcher once. It filled up after mowing 1/4th of the yard (remember, our tester’s yard is half an acre).
After each mowing session, the lawn looked pristine. There was seemingly no difference between sloped parts of the yard and flat areas – all were cut evenly.
Husqvarna Lawn Xpert LE-322: Care & maintenance
Maintenance will be minimal because the Husqvarna Lawn Xpert LE-322 is a battery-powered lawn mower. It only involves replacing the filter and checking the blade for sharpening or replacement every season. If an issue arises, Husqvarna has a network of service dealers you can visit.
Cleaning this lawn mower is a little tricky. Husqvarna warns buyers not to use water, which can seep into the battery port or engine and cause problems. To clean the deck, turn the lawn mower on its side after each use and use a blower to remove clippings so they don’t build up over time. Once you’ve done that, fold the handle and place the lawn mower in a standing position for storing.
Husqvarna offers a three-year limited warranty that covers defects in material and workmanship caused by normal use and maintenance. If the issue is covered under the warranty, your lawn mower will be repaired or replaced at no cost.
Husqvarna Lawn Xpert LE-322: User reviews
Husqvarna released the Lawn Xpert LE-322 at the beginning of 2023, so there are only four reviews of the product on Lowe’s website. The combined star rating is 3.5. Four reviews are not enough to thoroughly understand how the lawn mower works or doesn’t work. Two of the four reviewers were disappointed that the battery life did not last 75 minutes as advertised.
“Unfortunately, on a full charge, the battery only lasts about 35 minutes (compared to the 75 minutes it claims.). This is based on average speed and medium cut power. I tried mulching and bagging on separate occasions, which doesn’t seem to make a big difference,” wrote one reviewer. They added that it’s a better lawn mower for those with small yards.
Another reviewer did not experience this, saying, “I recently purchased this mower. After fully charging both batteries, I mowed my front and back lawn (about 30 min. runtime) and still have ¾ capacity showing on each battery.”
Another reviewer wrote, “It’s such a beautiful, heavy-duty lawnmower. It’s not the least expensive, but it’s very good quality. Also, the motor is super strong and cuts the grass evenly!”
How does the Husqvarna Lawn Xpert LE-322 compare?
The Husqvarna Lawn Xpert LE-322 is pricier than most electric lawn mowers, such as the EGO Power+21-inch LM2102. These two lawnmowers have a lot in common, from the LED headlights to a space-saving design and 3-in-1 bagging, mulching, and discharging capabilities. However, the Lawn Xpert LE-322 is superior in that it has a self-propel system, while the EGO does not.
Some lawn mowers offer more than three cutting modes, like the Greenworks 48V 20-inch lawn mower. It has four modes, including an additional turbo mode that helps when you have to mow over leaves. While it may be more affordable than the Husqvarna lawn mower, it has a smaller cutting deck and a shorter battery life than the Lawn Xpert LE-322.
The Snapper XD 82V Max StepSense has many of the same features as the Husqvarna Lawn Xpert LE-322 – a self-propel system, 3-in-1 design, and a vertical storage design. However, it’s likely cheaper because the Snapper’s battery life is only 60 minutes, less than the Husqvarna Lawn Xpert LE-322. The control panel of the Husqvarna is also more high-tech than the Snapper’s.
Husqvarna Lawn Xpert LE-322: What the experts say
Dan Vessell has been with Husqvarna for the past 18 months. In his role as product manager, his product responsibilities include residential consumer petrol handheld and battery walk-behind products. With his 15+ years of experience in the product management role, his skill set focuses on product development and commercialization, competitive market analysis, sales development and training, and cross-functional teamwork.
Dan Vessell is a product manager at Husqvarna who specializes in residential consumer petrol handheld and battery walk-behind products. This makes him the perfect person to provide insight on the Husqvarna Lawn Xpert LE-322.
Vessell states, “The Lawn Xpert™ LE-322 is best suited for residential users with yards .25 acres or smaller.”
Vessell says your maintenance routine will be simple if you want to keep the lawn mower in the best running condition.
“We recommend keeping the batteries and battery compartment clean from debris. You should also keep the mower dry and remove excess built-up grass. Also, clean the filter every season and maintain a sharp blade,” he says.
For the most part, your maintenance cost will be next to nothing – minus the cost of a filter every season. The main cost associated with this lawn mower is the battery. “The cost to run [this lawn mower] only includes the cost to charge batteries, and this depends on local electricity prices,” says Vessell.
Should you buy the Husqvarna Lawn Xpert LE-322?
| Attribute | Notes | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Life and Runtime | lasted about an hour per battery | 9/10 |
| Power and Performance | self-propelled system with rear-wheel drive; different cutting modes, including the sensing mode | 9/10 |
| Cutting Deck Size | well-suited for the reviewer's small yard; adjustable handle and control panel | 9/10 |
| Ease of Use | self-propelled system, adjustable handle, and intuitive control panel; straightforward changing the grass catcher, rear discharge chute, and mulch plugs | 9/10 |
| Battery Charging Time | charging time for the batteries was lengthy | 7/10 |
The Husqvarna Lawn Xpert LE-322 with battery and charger is a durable, high-quality lawn mower that perfectly cuts your lawn. It is a bit expensive, but that’s likely because it’s a rear-wheel-drive lawn mower that does a better job on slopes, around trees, and cutting in a straight line—all of which we experienced firsthand.
The control panel is easily understood and very convenient when changing between cutting modes. With a self-propel system up to four mph, you can mow your lawn faster and with less effort or strain. We like that this lawn mower can be folded and stored vertically and has LED lights.
Our only hang-up (besides the price) concerns the batteries. They may not last 75 minutes, which is not surprising or uncommon for any lawn mower battery. Different factors can affect battery life. The batteries will likely last if you have a small to medium yard – anything less than half an acre. If anything is larger, you’ll have to recharge the batteries before you can finish mowing. This can be a bit of a hassle because there is only one charging port, not two, on the charger.
All in all, this is a solid lawn mower that makes the Husqvarna name proud.
