Cobra Self Propelled Petrol Lawnmower Review 2024

After completing several reviews for various Petrol Lawnmowers in the UK, we also wanted to complete our review for the Cobra Self-propelled Petrol Lawnmowers to see what features they can offer and also what are the best lawnmowers choices in these categories.

To give you more than just one recommendation, we have selected what we believe to be three of their more popular choices as their wide range of petrol lawnmowers can be difficult to choose from to be honest – there are so many!

View also: Our Mountfield 827H Ride on Mower review here

View: Updated Cobra Petrol Lawnmower Prices

Review Focus

The focus of our review will be on the electric start Cobra MX534SPCE 21 inch petrol self-propelled lawnmower and we will compare it to the lower priced Cobra M40SPC 16 inch self-propelled petrol lawnmower and also the Cobra MX534SPH 21 inch petrol self-propelled lawnmower that comes designed with the Honda engine.

Some of these key features such as the 4 speed settings and the electric start button instead of the pull cord will be a very important part of this review.

Cobra Self-propelled Petrol Lawnmower Review

Cobra MX534SPCE 53cm Petrol Self Propelled Lawnmower (4 Speed Drive & Push Button Start)

Without a doubt, one of our favourite petrol self-propelled lawnmowers from Cobra is the Cobra 53cm or 21 inch Petrol Self Propelled Lawnmower MX534SPCE that offers the 4 speed drive options and also an electric push button start system so you don’t have to worry about the pull cords (though the pull cord is in place as backup which is good to know) It is designed with the Cobra Y196V 196cc engine and the speed levels operate from 2.5 up to 3.9 km per hr.

It offers a decent 21 inch or 53cm mowing path and there are 6 mowing heights available that range from 2.5cm up to 7.5cm. It’s a heavy machine at 43kg so it’s not for everyone but as least you have the self-propelled support and multiple speed options to get you around the lawn in no time at all.

In addition, you can use the mulch plug to return the re-cut smaller clippings back into the soil as a natural fertiliser or you can add the side discharge chute and place the grass clipping in rows for more informal areas. These options help to reduce mowing times by 15-25% from what we have seen and this lawnmower comes backed with a 2 year warranty for peace of mind.

Price Guide: £370 - £420

View also: Our Mountfield SP185 Petrol Lawnmower review

Pros for the Cobra MX534SPCE Petrol Lawnmower

• The electric key start worked perfectly so there was no need to use any pull cord – a nice bonus to have (though the pull cord is there as back up also)
• It takes a while to get used to the different gear box speed settings but after 15 minutes it gets a lot easier so you can use the slower speeds for difficult areas and the faster speeds for flat open terrain. It can suit people who either like slow mowing paces or a slightly faster mowing pace.
• There are tons of power in this Cobra 196cc engine and it deals with difficult mowing conditions with ease including damp grasses where many other petrol lawnmowers would struggle.
• You can collect, mulch or use the side discharge so you have multiple choices from the same machine.
• Collection of the grass clipping was excellent and there is plenty of space in the grass 65 litre box as well as the grass full indicator to keep you in the know while you are mowing.
• It has the Autochoke and a bottle of SAE30 oil comes with the delivery to help get you started

Cons for the Cobra MX534SPCE Petrol Lawnmower

• As it so heavy, it is difficult to manoeuvre it around obstacles such as trees, flower beds and playground equipment so you need to develop a technique of adjusting the speed levels to suit over time – practice makes perfect!
• The lowest mowing height is 2.5cm which may not be low enough for some people who prefer a deeper and tighter cut to the ground level
• There are no rear rollers included for the striped effect
• The fastest speed setting may be a little too slow for faster and quicker mowing gardeners

Optional Extras

When you are buying a lawnmower like this, there are several optional extras you can get to help you manage this lawnmower and all of your various gardening and mowing jobs. Examples would be the Cobra MX534SPH swing blade assembly which costs around £50 extra, an ear and face mesh visor and ear defenders which cost around £20 or a fuel kit 250ml which costs around £10.

You can also source some extra SAE30 Engine Oil in a 0.6L pack that costs around £10 extra or even a lawnmower cover from B&S that costs around £25. These options are all available online plus they can be sourced from a supplier Mowers Online UK who are based in Gloucester below

Speed Levels

With the 4 speed gear box, you can choose to use lower speeds around difficult terrain, obstacles and slopes and then use the faster speeds for level open terrain. This Cobra 196cc engine gives you these 4 speed options as follows: Speed setting 1 is 2.5 km/hr, speed setting 2 is 3.2 km/hr, speed setting 3 is 3.6 km/hr and the last speed setting 4 is 3.9 km per hour.

Alternative Cobra Self Propelled Lawnmowers

If you need to look beyond the Cobra MX534SPCE and perhaps consider a lower priced alternative with less features and lower powered engines, then check out the recommendations below summarised briefly as follows that may be of interest to you…

1, Cobra M40SPC 40cm Petrol Self Propelled Lawnmower

Overview

Lower priced self-propelled alternative

Designed with a Cobra DG450 135cc engine

Smaller grass collection capacity 50 litres

Mowing heights range from 2.5 - 7.5cm

Includes a free starter engine oil

Narrower mowing width of 40cm

Single speed setting of 3.2 km/hr

No side discharge or mulch plug

Price Guide: £200 - £250

2, Cobra MX534SPH 53cm Petrol Self Propelled Lawnmower

Overview

Designed with a Honda GCV170 engine

Also has 4 speed settings available

Same mowing width of 53cm

Grass collection box also has 65L capacity

Also has mulching and side discharge options

2 year warranty protection provided

For larger lawns over 500m2 / 600m2

6 mowing heights 2.5cm to 7.5cm

Price Guide: £420 - £470

Read also: Our Webb Petrol Lawnmower review

Cobra Self Propelled Petrol Lawnmower Comparison Table

To add further clarity on how these Cobra self-propelled petrol lawnmowers compare, you should check out the comparison table below where you can see all the features including the power levels and engine types side by side

View also: Our Mountfield HP41 & SP41 Petrol Lawnmowers review

Conclusion

Would we buy the Cobra MX534SPCE Petrol self-propelled Lawnmower with 4 speeds? Absolutely yes and it will tick all the boxes for many people out there. Yes it is a solid robust and heavy machine to work with but you have the self-propelled support to get you around the lawn so mowing becomes less of a chore and more of an energetic walk.

We liked the side discharge and mulching options, we liked the electric starting that worked perfectly and we certainly enjoyed the power under our arms from this 196cc engine as this mowing machine works like a beast and simply ploughs through all types of grasses including difficult areas without any fuss whatsoever.

Higher Power Level

Where other petrol lawnmowers struggle, this Cobra MX534SPCE cuts through it with ease so we would highly recommend it to the wider public especially for those of you who need extra power and the price tag is very competitive to be fair.

Further information, prices and reviews can also be checked out below from an alternative supply base in Gloucester who offer a 90 day money back guarantee for additional peace of mind

Cobra Self Propelled Petrol Lawnmower Feedback

Have you ever used any of these Cobra petrol self-propelled Lawnmowers before? If so, please share your own feedback and experiences with the wider mowing community by leaving a comment in the comment box section provided below…