Hyundai 80V Self Propelled Lawnmower Review: The Unvarnished Truth About This Cordless Powerhouse

There’s a certain ritual to mowing the lawn that many of us know all too well. It involves wrestling a heavy, petrol-guzzling machine from the shed, priming the engine, pulling the cord repeatedly until it sputters to life, and then enduring the noise and fumes for the next hour. For years, this was the accepted trade-off for having enough power to tackle a medium or large-sized garden. The alternative, a corded electric mower, meant constantly managing a tangled cable, always looking over your shoulder, and having your range frustratingly limited. We knew there had to be a better way. The dream has always been the power of petrol with the convenience of electric, all without a restrictive cord. This is the very promise that powerful cordless mowers like the Hyundai 80V Self Propelled Lawnmower aim to fulfill. But does it deliver on that promise, or is it a compromise that falls short?

What to Consider Before Buying a Rotary Mower

A Rotary Mower is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for maintaining a healthy, beautiful lawn, which in turn enhances your entire outdoor living space. The right mower transforms a weekend chore from a back-breaking task into a satisfying, almost therapeutic activity. Its main benefit lies in its versatility and power. Unlike cylinder mowers that shear grass like scissors, rotary mowers use a high-speed rotating blade to chop the grass, making them incredibly effective on longer, tougher, and even slightly damp lawns. They are the workhorses of the garden world, capable of handling imperfect terrain and delivering a clean, uniform cut that promotes healthy turf growth. They handle the heavy lifting so you can enjoy the results.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone with a medium to large lawn who values their time and physical well-being. If you’re currently struggling with a push mower on a sloping garden or find yourself exhausted after mowing, a self-propelled rotary model is a game-changer. It’s for the homeowner who wants to ditch the maintenance, fuel storage, and emissions of a petrol mower without sacrificing cutting power. However, it might not be suitable for those with very small, postage-stamp-sized gardens, where a lighter, more nimble push mower or even a hover mower would be more practical and cost-effective. Likewise, if your garden is exceptionally intricate with many tight turns and obstacles, the larger size and turning circle of a self-propelled rotary mower could become a slight hindrance.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: Consider the cutting width. A wider deck, like the 45cm on the Hyundai, means fewer passes to cover your lawn, saving significant time. However, this also means the machine is larger and heavier, which affects maneuverability in tight spaces and requires more storage room in your shed or garage. Measure your narrowest passages and your storage area before committing.
• Capacity/Performance: For cordless mowers, battery voltage (V) and amp-hours (Ah) are king. Higher voltage, like this model’s 80V system, generally means more power, comparable to a small petrol engine. The grass collector capacity, in this case a generous 65 litres, dictates how often you’ll have to stop to empty clippings, directly impacting your efficiency.
• Materials & Durability: Look at the cutting deck material. Alloy steel, as used in the Hyundai 80V Self Propelled Lawnmower, is far more robust and durable than the plastic decks found on cheaper models. It resists impacts and flex, ensuring a consistent blade height and a longer lifespan for the machine. Check for solid-feeling handles and robust wheels.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: A self-propelled feature is a huge plus for ease of use, but also consider the ergonomics. How is the height adjusted? Is it a single lever or four individual ones? Are the handles comfortable and foldable for storage? Cordless mowers have a massive advantage in maintenance, requiring little more than cleaning and blade sharpening, with no oil changes, spark plugs, or fuel to worry about.

Considering these factors will ensure you choose a mower that not only cuts your grass well but also fits your physical needs, your garden’s layout, and your long-term expectations.

While the Hyundai 80V Self Propelled Lawnmower is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: Unboxing a Blue Beast

The arrival of the Hyundai 80V Self Propelled Lawnmower was an event in itself. The box is substantial, hinting at the machine’s heft within. Upon opening it, we were immediately struck by the build quality. This isn’t a flimsy, plastic-heavy machine. The main body is constructed from thick, powder-coated alloy steel, giving it an immediate sense of durability that inspires confidence. As one user noted, Hyundai is a trusted brand in petrol equipment, and that robust engineering DNA is clearly present here. The assembly was refreshingly simple; it was mostly a case of unfolding and locking the handles into place, attaching the grass collector, and slotting in the batteries. The whole process took less than ten minutes without needing to glance at the manual more than once.

The mower feels solid, stable, and purposeful. The large wheels turn smoothly, and the single-lever height adjustment feels positive and secure as it clicks through its six positions. The one minor point that felt slightly out of step with the rest of the premium build was the plastic battery compartment lid. While it’s perfectly functional, it lacks the same reassuring solidity as the steel deck and metal handles. It’s a small detail, but noticeable. Powering it up for the first time is a quiet, civilized affair—a turn of the key, a press of a button, and a pull of the Operator Presence Control (OPC) lever brings the blade to life with a powerful hum, a world away from the roar of a petrol engine. It was clear from the start that this was a serious piece of kit, ready for a serious challenge. You can see its full feature set and specifications to get a better sense of its construction.

Deep Dive: Performance Under Pressure

A mower can look great in the shed, but its true worth is only revealed out on the lawn. We put the Hyundai 80V Self Propelled Lawnmower through its paces on a variety of grass conditions, from well-maintained sections to overgrown, slightly damp patches, to see if its performance matched its powerful specifications. We focused on three key areas: the raw cutting power and quality, the real-world experience of the self-propelled system, and the all-important battery life that makes or breaks any cordless tool.

Unleashed Power: The 80V Cutting System

The heart of this machine is its 80V brushless motor, and we can confirm it is impressively potent. Paired with the 45cm steel blade, the mower scythed through grass with an authority that genuinely rivals small petrol engines. On our standard lawn area, it glided forward, leaving a crisp, clean finish. Where it truly shone, however, was in a tougher, longer patch of grass we’d left to grow for this very test. Lesser cordless mowers would bog down, their blades slowing to a crawl. The Hyundai, in contrast, barely flinched. We could hear the motor draw more power to maintain blade speed, but it never stalled or cut out. This finding was echoed by a user who praised its ability to power through long cuts without issue. The power is not just a number on a box; it translates to tangible, time-saving performance in the real world.

The six cutting heights, adjustable from 25mm to 75mm via a single, chunky lever, offer excellent versatility for different seasons and grass types. That said, we did note one user’s disappointment that the lowest 25mm setting wasn’t as short as their old mower. In our tests, we found the 25mm setting to be accurate, but it’s true that this isn’t a “bowling green” mower designed to scalp a lawn. It’s designed for a healthy, domestic cut, and for that, the range is perfectly suited. The 65-litre grass box is another huge benefit. It’s surprisingly spacious and features a hard top to keep dust down and a fill-level indicator, allowing us to mow for long stretches before needing to empty it, which is a key part of the excellent design focused on efficiency.

The Self-Propelled Experience: A Double-Edged Sword

The self-propelled feature is, on paper, a massive ergonomic win. On long, straight runs and gentle inclines, it’s fantastic. The mower pulls itself along at a comfortable walking pace, requiring you only to steer. It turns a laborious push-mow into a pleasant stroll. However, the design of the engagement system presents some significant real-world challenges, confirming the frustrations voiced in user feedback. The mower is rear-wheel drive. With most powered mowers, you execute a tight turn by pressing down slightly on the handles to lift the front wheels and pivot on the stationary rear wheels. With this Hyundai, the drive wheels are the ones you need to pivot on, making this manoeuvre impossible without disengaging the drive.

This leads to the second issue: the drive engagement lever. It’s a separate bar that sits a fair distance below the main handle bar (the OPC lever). To operate it, you have to stretch your hand in a slightly unnatural way. When you need to make a turn, you release this bar to stop the drive, manoeuvre the heavy 36kg machine, and then re-engage. This constant stop-start action in a garden with lots of flowerbeds or obstacles becomes tedious. Worse still, as one user acutely pointed out, when you release the drive bar and turn, it’s positioned perfectly to catch on your hip or clothing, giving an unexpected and potentially dangerous jolt of power mid-turn. This ergonomic quirk is the machine’s biggest weakness and something potential buyers with complex-shaped lawns must seriously consider.

Battery Life and Charging Reality

This is the most critical and controversial aspect of the Hyundai 80V Self Propelled Lawnmower. The machine is powered by two 40V 2.5Ah batteries working in series to deliver the 80V output. Hyundai provides estimated run times: up to 40 minutes in light, dry conditions and as low as 20 minutes in heavy, wet conditions. Our testing revealed that these figures are optimistic but not entirely unfounded. On a short, dry, and flat section of lawn, we could see the 30-40 minute mark being achievable. However, the moment we moved to longer, thicker grass and engaged the self-propelled drive continuously, the battery drain increased dramatically.

We can absolutely sympathise with the user who reported getting only 10 minutes of mowing. If you’re tackling a very overgrown or damp lawn for the first cut of the season, the motor and drive system will be working at their absolute maximum, and this will drain the batteries at an astonishing rate. It highlights a critical rule for high-power cordless tools: runtime is entirely conditional. For a medium-sized lawn (approx. 200-400 sq metres) that is regularly maintained, we found we could complete the job on a single charge with power to spare, aligning with another user’s positive experience. The included charger replenishes both batteries in around 80-90 minutes, so planning your mow might involve a coffee break if you have a very large property. For those with larger gardens, investing in a second set of batteries might be a practical, albeit expensive, necessity. You can check the latest price and what’s included in the package online.

What Other Users Are Saying

Synthesizing feedback from other owners provides a well-rounded picture that confirms many of our own findings. There is a strong positive sentiment around the core build quality and power of the machine. One user explicitly stated it has the “build quality expected from Hyundai,” feeling “solid” with its all-metal frame and a motor that “glides effortlessly” without cutting out. This mirrors our experience of its robust, petrol-like performance on demanding grass.

However, the negative points raised by users are significant and consistent. The most prominent complaint revolves around battery life, with one user calling it “very disappointing” after only managing to cut a small 8x10m area before the batteries died. This highlights the vast difference between ideal-condition performance and the reality of a challenging lawn. Another critical point is the ergonomics of the self-propelled drive, described by one owner as “intensely awkward to use,” citing the difficulty in turning and the poorly positioned drive bar. Finally, the issue of the lowest cutting height not being low enough for some users’ preferences was also raised, indicating a disconnect between expectation and performance for those seeking a very short, manicured finish.

How Does the Hyundai 80V Compare to the Alternatives?

The Hyundai 80V Self Propelled Lawnmower is a powerful contender, but it exists in a competitive market. It’s crucial to see how it stacks up against other options that might better suit different needs and budgets.

1. Flymo EasiGlide 330 V Hover Mower

The Flymo EasiGlide is a completely different proposition. As a corded hover mower, its primary advantages are its light weight and incredible manoeuvrability. It floats on a cushion of air, making it effortless to glide in any direction, which is ideal for small, intricate gardens. However, it is tethered by a 10m cable, limiting its range, and its 1700W motor and 33cm cutting width are significantly less powerful than the Hyundai’s. This is a great choice for someone with a small, relatively flat lawn who prioritises ease of movement and storage over raw power and cutting capacity.

2. Einhell GE-CM 18/30 Li Solo Cordless Lawnmower

The Einhell mower represents the entry-level cordless market. Running on a single 18V battery (sold separately), it’s designed for simplicity and small spaces. With a 30cm cutting width and a 25L grass box, it’s significantly smaller than the Hyundai. It’s a push mower, not self-propelled, making it best for flat lawns up to around 150m². Someone would choose the Einhell over the Hyundai if they have a very small garden, limited storage space, and are on a tighter budget, especially if they already own other tools from Einhell’s Power X-Change battery platform.

3. Greenworks 48V Self-Propelled Cordless Lawnmower

The Greenworks 48V model is the most direct competitor to the Hyundai. It is also a self-propelled cordless mower with a nearly identical 46cm cutting width and a slightly smaller 55L collector. Its 48V power system (using two 24V batteries) is less powerful on paper than Hyundai’s 80V, but it may offer a better balance of power and runtime for some users. This machine is for the buyer who wants the benefits of a large, self-propelled cordless mower like the Hyundai but perhaps wants to consider a strong alternative from another reputable brand. The choice between the two may come down to specific deals, brand preference, or subtle differences in features and ergonomics. It’s a worthy alternative for those who find the Hyundai’s power overkill or its ergonomic flaws to be a dealbreaker. We think it’s worth comparing the features of the Hyundai directly against this strong competitor.

Our Final Verdict: A Powerful But Flawed Workhorse

After extensive testing, our verdict on the Hyundai 80V Self Propelled Lawnmower is one of qualified recommendation. There is no denying its core strengths: it is built like a tank with a durable steel deck, and its 80V motor delivers formidable cutting power that can genuinely replace a petrol mower for even challenging domestic lawns. When you’re mowing a large, open area in a straight line, it is an absolute joy to use, quietly and effortlessly eating up the ground while you simply guide it along. The large collection bag and single-lever height adjustment are excellent quality-of-life features.

However, the machine is held back by two significant flaws. The highly variable battery life under load means that users with particularly tough or large lawns may be disappointed, and the awkward ergonomics of the rear-wheel-drive and its control lever make manoeuvring in complex gardens a frustrating chore. We would recommend this mower to someone who has a large, simple, and regularly maintained lawn where its power and straight-line self-propulsion can truly shine. If your garden is full of tight turns, flowerbeds, and obstacles, the ergonomic issues may outweigh the benefits. It’s a powerful beast, but one that you need to be sure you can tame. If its strengths align with your needs, you can find the best price and order yours here.