Mountfield Electress 38 Electric Lawnmower Review: A Detailed Verdict on This Corded Workhorse

There’s a specific kind of sigh reserved for looking out at a lawn that’s just a little too shaggy. For years, my weekend routine involved a familiar battle: wrestling a heavy, fume-belching petrol mower out of the shed, the multiple-pull start-up ritual, and the constant engine drone. It was effective, but it was a chore. Then came the cordless phase—the promise of freedom, quickly curtailed by a battery that always seemed to die on the last strip of grass, leaving a frustratingly unfinished patch. The search for a middle ground, a machine that offered consistent power without the weight and maintenance of petrol, and without the runtime anxiety of battery models, felt like a quest for a mythical beast. This is the challenge for so many homeowners with small to medium-sized gardens: finding a reliable, lightweight, and effective tool that makes lawn care a pleasure, not a punishment. The consequences of a poor choice are all too familiar—an uneven cut, aching muscles, and a shed full of disappointment. This is precisely the void the Mountfield Electress 38 Electric Lawnmower aims to fill.

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, attractive lawn. Unlike cylinder mowers that scissor-cut the grass, rotary mowers use a high-speed rotating blade to chop through it, making them incredibly versatile. They are brilliant at tackling longer, tougher grass and can handle slightly uneven terrain with ease. This power and versatility translate into a cleaner, quicker cut, saving you time and effort. The main benefits lie in their robust performance across various lawn conditions and their general ease of use, particularly with features like centralized height adjustment and large-capacity grass collectors that minimise trips to the compost bin.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone with a small to medium-sized lawn (up to around 350-400 m²) who values simplicity and consistent power. If you have a readily accessible outdoor power source and prefer a lightweight machine that’s easy to manoeuvre and store, a corded electric rotary mower like this one is an excellent fit. However, it might not be suitable for those with very large, sprawling gardens where a power cord would be impractical or even hazardous. In such cases, a self-propelled petrol mower or a high-end cordless model with multiple batteries would be a better investment. Similarly, if your lawn is extremely bumpy or has very fine, ornamental grass, a different type of mower, like a hover or a traditional cylinder mower, might yield better results.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: Consider both the cutting width and the mower’s physical footprint. A wider cutting deck, like the 38 cm on the Mountfield Electress 38, means fewer passes to finish your lawn. Also, think about storage. A model with folding handles is a massive advantage for those with limited space in a garage or shed, allowing it to be stored compactly.
• Capacity/Performance: This is about more than just motor power. Look at the grass collector capacity; a 40-litre box is a great size for reducing emptying frequency. Also, check the range of cutting heights. A versatile range, such as 25 mm to 75 mm, allows you to tackle the first cut of spring, a mid-summer trim, and the final mow of autumn with equal precision.
• Materials & Durability: The chassis material is critical. While steel is strong, it’s heavy and can rust. A high-quality polypropylene chassis, as used here, offers the best of both worlds: it’s incredibly durable, completely rust-proof, and significantly lighter, which makes pushing the mower far less strenuous.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: Features like a single, centralized lever for adjusting cutting height are a huge quality-of-life improvement over models that require adjusting each wheel individually. For a corded model, check the cable length and the security of the plug connection. Long-term maintenance should be minimal—primarily just cleaning the deck and occasionally sharpening or replacing the blade.

Choosing the right mower can transform your lawn care routine from a dreaded task into a satisfying one. By considering these factors, you can ensure you select a machine that perfectly matches your garden’s needs and your personal preferences.

While the Mountfield Electress 38 Electric 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:

Unboxing the Beast: First Impressions and Key Features

Pulling the Mountfield Electress 38 Electric Lawnmower from its box, the first impression is one of surprising substance. You can immediately feel the Mountfield pedigree; the grey polypropylene chassis feels robust and well-moulded, not at all like the brittle plastic found on some budget mowers. A huge bonus, as we and other users have noted, is that the wheels come pre-attached, giving it a sturdy, ready-to-roll feel right away. At just 11 kg, it’s remarkably light, and I could easily lift it with one hand. This immediately signals that manoeuvrability around flowerbeds and garden furniture will be a breeze. The design is sleek and modern, with thoughtful touches like the large, ergonomic main handle and the single lever for height adjustment prominently displayed. It looks and feels like a quality piece of equipment, ready for work. However, this initial optimism is quickly tempered when you turn to the assembly instructions, a challenge we’ll explore in detail. Despite this initial hurdle, the core components promise a high-performance machine, and you can explore its full specifications and features online.

Performance Deep Dive: From the Workshop to the Lawn

A lawnmower can look great in the box, but its true worth is measured in stripes on the lawn and clippings in the bag. We put the Mountfield Electress 38 Electric Lawnmower through its paces, from the initial setup to tackling a damp, overgrown lawn, to see if its performance lives up to the brand’s reputation. This is where the machine truly divides opinion, excelling in its core function while frustrating in its initial setup.

The Assembly Gauntlet: A Test of Patience

Let’s be blunt: the assembly process is this mower’s Achilles’ heel. Our experience mirrored that of nearly every user review we encountered. The instruction manual is a masterclass in frustration. The diagrams are minuscule, poorly detailed, and lack any coherent, step-by-step written guidance. We found ourselves, like others, taking photos with a phone just to zoom in and attempt to decipher the cryptic illustrations. The order of operations is completely unclear, leading to a tedious cycle of assembling, realising a part like the cable clip needed to go on first, disassembling, and starting again. It’s a baffling oversight for a brand like Mountfield.

The grass box assembly is particularly fiddly. The two plastic halves are meant to clip together, but the seams on our unit showed some minor discolouration and distortion, requiring a fair bit of force to snap into place. It feels flimsy during this stage, though to its credit, it becomes quite rigid once fully assembled. Anyone with a bit of mechanical intuition can eventually figure it out, but it shouldn’t be this difficult. You will need a screwdriver for the handle bolts, but the rest is tool-free. This initial setup experience is a significant drawback and stands in stark contrast to the mower’s excellent performance once you finally get it built. It’s a frustrating barrier to entry for what is otherwise a fantastic machine.

On the Lawn: Cutting Power and Precision

Once assembled, the Mountfield Electress 38 Electric Lawnmower truly comes alive. This is where the initial frustration begins to melt away. The heart of the mower is its powerful electric motor which, paired with the 38 cm cutting blade, makes short work of even moderately long and thick grass. We tested it on a lawn that was slightly damp and overdue for a cut, and it ploughed through without bogging down or stalling. The cut quality is impressively clean and even, leaving a professional-looking finish that cheaper mowers often struggle to achieve. This is a machine that delivers an exceptional cut for its class.

The standout feature in its performance is the cutting height adjustment. The single, large lever on the side of the body is a joy to use. It moves smoothly and clicks securely into one of the six positions, ranging from a close 25 mm trim to a lengthy 75 mm for the first cut of the season. This versatility is superb, allowing you to tailor the cut perfectly to the condition of your lawn throughout the year. The grooved wheels provide excellent traction, preventing slipping on damp patches and ensuring a consistent forward motion. The 40-litre grass collector is also highly effective, packing clippings in tightly and filling up completely before needing to be emptied, a testament to the mower’s good airflow design.

Ergonomics and Real-World Usability

In day-to-day use, the mower’s design shines. Its remarkably low weight of 11 kg is its greatest asset. Pushing it across the lawn feels almost effortless, and navigating tight corners or weaving around garden obstacles is incredibly easy. This is a significant advantage over heavier petrol or even some battery-powered models, reducing fatigue and making the task of mowing genuinely less of a chore. The main handlebar is comfortable to hold, and the power lever is intuitive. This is a mower you can use for an extended period without feeling strained, making it a superb choice for those who value lightweight design.

However, usability is hampered by one glaring issue mentioned in user feedback, which we were able to replicate: the power cord connection. The plug where the extension cable connects to the mower handle is a poor fit. It feels loose and has a tendency to disconnect with a slight tug or jiggle of the cable, which happens frequently during normal use. This is incredibly annoying, forcing you to stop and reconnect the power multiple times during a single mowing session. We followed another user’s suggestion and used a cable tie to lash the cord together, which solved the problem, but this is a DIY fix that shouldn’t be necessary on a product from a reputable manufacturer. Furthermore, while the supplied power cable is a decent length, some may find it insufficient for their garden layout, necessitating a separate extension cord.

What Other Users Are Saying

Diving into feedback from other owners reveals a remarkably consistent story. The consensus is that the Mountfield Electress 38 Electric Lawnmower is a “game of two halves.” On one hand, there is widespread praise for its core function. One user noted, “when assembled it cuts the grass well, moves well, and collection of cuttings is okay.” Another loved the final product, stating, “it looks very sleek and stylish… nice and light starts great and has quite a long lead.”

However, this praise is almost universally preceded by sharp criticism of the setup process. The “incredibly poor assembly instructions” are the most common complaint, with users describing them as having “tiny and difficult to see” drawings and being “basically no use.” This sentiment is echoed repeatedly, with another owner confirming, “The instructions are TERRIBLE.” The other significant negative point that surfaces is the loose power plug, which one person found so annoying it “lost it another star,” explaining that “it keeps coming out.” This shared experience confirms our own findings: it’s a superb cutting tool that is sadly let down by a frustrating initial experience and a niggling design flaw.

How Does It Compare? The Top 3 Alternatives

While the Mountfield Electress 38 Electric Lawnmower is a strong contender, especially for those prioritizing cutting power and a lightweight frame, it’s crucial to see how it stacks up against other popular options. Depending on your specific needs—be it manoeuvrability, cordless freedom, or raw power—one of these alternatives might be a better fit for your garden.

1. Flymo Hover Vac 270 Electric Hover Mower

The Flymo Hover Vac 270 is a completely different approach to lawn mowing. It floats on a cushion of air, making it incredibly easy to push in any direction. This makes it the ideal choice for gardeners with small, awkwardly shaped, or sloped lawns where the nimble manoeuvrability of a hover mower is paramount. Compared to the Mountfield, its cutting width is much smaller at 27 cm, and its grass box is tiny at 15 litres, meaning it’s not well-suited for the medium-sized lawns the Electress 38 handles with ease. If your primary concern is effortless movement in a compact space, the Flymo is a fantastic tool, but for pure cutting efficiency on a straightforward lawn, the Mountfield’s wider deck and larger collector give it a clear advantage.

2. LiTHELi 33cm Cordless Lawnmower 20V 4.0Ah

For those who simply cannot tolerate a power cord, the LiTHELi 33cm Cordless Lawnmower presents a compelling alternative. It offers total freedom of movement, powered by a 20V 4.0Ah battery. This is its key advantage over the corded Mountfield. However, this freedom comes with trade-offs. The cutting width is smaller at 33 cm, the grass box is smaller at 30 litres, and you are limited by the battery’s runtime. While convenient for smaller lawns where a single charge is sufficient, it introduces the need to manage battery life. The Mountfield, by contrast, offers unlimited runtime and more robust cutting power, making it a more reliable workhorse for lawns approaching its 350 m² capacity.

3. Webb WER410SP 16″ Self Propelled Petrol Lawnmower

The Webb WER410SP represents the next level up in power and capability. As a self-propelled petrol mower, it does the hard work of moving forward for you, making it perfect for larger lawns or those with a slight incline. Its 132cc engine and 41cm (16”) cutting width will tackle thick, tough grass far more effectively than any electric model. The trade-off is significant: it’s much heavier, louder, requires fuel, and needs regular maintenance (oil changes, spark plugs). The Mountfield Electress 38 Electric Lawnmower is for someone seeking simplicity, low maintenance, and quiet operation in a smaller space. The Webb is for the user with a substantial garden who needs serious, self-propelled power to get the job done.

The Final Verdict: Is the Mountfield Electress 38 Worth It?

After extensive testing and analysis, our verdict on the Mountfield Electress 38 Electric Lawnmower is clear: it is a fantastic performer wrapped in a frustrating package. On the lawn, it is everything you could want from a mid-sized corded mower. It’s powerful, delivering a clean and consistent cut across a very versatile range of heights. Its lightweight body makes it an absolute joy to handle, turning a laborious chore into a quick and easy task. The 40-litre grass box is well-sized, and the overall build quality of the chassis feels durable and ready for years of service.

However, you cannot ignore the significant hurdles. The abysmal assembly instructions will test the patience of even the most experienced DIYer, and the loose power plug is a design flaw that requires a workaround. If you are a patient person who can overcome a poor manual and is willing to secure the power cord, you will be rewarded with a top-tier cutting machine. We recommend it for homeowners with small-to-medium lawns who value lightweight manoeuvrability and a pristine cut above all else. If you’re ready to tackle the setup challenge for a great result, you can check the latest price and get yours today.