Mowrator S1 2WD vs 4WD: Which One Do You Need?

Last updated: October 2026

Choose the 2WD if your steepest ground is under 45% (24°) and the grass is kept reasonably short. Choose the 4WD for slopes up to 75% (37°), tall or rough growth, obstacles up to 3.94 inches, or if you want the snow plow. Both share the same 21 inch deck, 1,985 W cutting power, battery system and remote.

What do the two share?

Per Mowrator, both versions of the S1 have:

• Remote control. You steer. Neither is autonomous. See is Mowrator autonomous?
• A 21 inch deck with 1,985 W of peak cutting power and 6.0 ft-lb of torque.
• A swappable 56V LiFePO4 battery: up to 1.5 hours on the 12Ah pack or 2.25 hours on the 18Ah, rated for 1,500+ cycles.
• Leaf handling. With the mulching blade, both vacuum, shred and bag leaves at 931 CFM into a 70 L bag.
• The same warranty: 2 years or 2,000 hours of residential use, whichever comes first, on the machine, remote and battery.

How do they differ?

Towing figures are Mowrator's tested values on hard flat surfaces.

How steep is your ground?

This is the first question, because it can decide the matter on its own.

• Under 24°: either works. The 2WD is within its rating.
• 24° to 37°: 4WD.
• 37° to 40°: 4WD Wide Wheels edition.
• 40° to 50°: 4WD Grip Tread edition.

Measure, do not estimate. People tend to overestimate gentle slopes and underestimate steep ones. Our guide: how to measure lawn slope. Leave margin: wet grass and loose soil reduce grip on any machine.

What are the 4WD tire editions?

Mowrator sells the 4WD in three setups, and the slope rating changes with the tire.

The Grip Tread edition comes with two pairs of Grip Tread tires plus four standard drive wheels, so you can match tires to the job. Mowrator notes that Grip Tread tires stiffen below 14°F (-10°C) and perform worse after long exposure to damp.

Tires are also sold separately, so a standard 4WD can be upgraded later.

How tall is the grass you cut?

Mowrator rates the 2WD for grass up to 27 inches tall and the 4WD for up to 51 inches. If you mow a kept lawn weekly, this does not matter. If you reclaim field edges, cut a meadow strip twice a year or tackle a lot that got away from someone, the 4WD's figure is the one you need.

How rough is the ground?

The 4WD clears obstacles up to 3.94 inches, per Mowrator: roots, ruts and curb edges. Four driven wheels also mean that when one wheel is in a hole or on a root, three others are still pushing. On smooth lawn the 2WD is fine. On orchard floors, pasture edges and ditch banks, choose the 4WD.

Do you want to plow snow?

Then it is the 4WD. Mowrator's Snow Plow Kit uses the all-wheel drive and does not fit the 2WD. The kit is a 31.5 inch blade that angles from -20° to 20°, lifts from 0 to 5.5 inches, and includes snow chains. It suits light to moderate snow. You can buy the machine and kit together as the S1 4WD Snow Plow Bundle. See the remote control snow plow.

What about towing?

Both take the Trailer Hitch Kit, which clamps on without drilling and adjusts from 320 to 480 mm high. Mowrator's tested towing force on hard flat ground is 30 kg for the 2WD (40 kg with counterweight) and 45 kg for the 4WD (55 kg with counterweight). The 4WD pulls about half again as much.

Is the 2WD good enough for most lawns?

For a typical suburban or rural lawn with gentle slopes, yes. Per Mowrator the 2WD covers about 0.5 acre an hour at up to 3.4 mph, handles wet grass and uneven ground on deformable grip tires, and climbs 45% (24°). That is steeper than most lawns.

The 2WD's case is simple: if you will never need the 4WD's extras, you do not need to pay for them.

When is the 4WD worth it?

• Any slope over 24°.
• A slope near 24° that is often wet.
• Tall, rough or rarely cut growth.
• Rooty or rutted ground.
• Snow plowing.
• Heavier towing.
• You want headroom, because your needs may grow.

Which battery should you pick?

Both models take either pack, and they swap in seconds.

For more than about three-quarters of an acre, choose the 18Ah or keep a spare 12Ah. Climbing and tall grass use more energy than flat mowing, so 4WD owners on hills tend toward the larger pack. The Wide Wheels and Grip Tread editions include the 18Ah.

What else should you know?

• Remote range: up to 400 meters per Mowrator, with 100 meters recommended for visibility.
• Blades: self-sharpening, high-lift and mulching, all in 3-packs, all fit both models.
• Bag: the 70 L Auto Dumping Bag fits both.
• Winter: store the battery indoors and keep it above 70%. See robot lawn mower winter storage.

Which one for which property?

What is the short answer?

Measure your steepest slope. Under 24° on a kept lawn: 2WD. Anything steeper, rougher, taller or snowier: 4WD, with the tire edition that matches the angle.

See the S1 2WD and S1 4WD, or browse Mowrator mowers. Free shipping on most Mowrator products, usually 7 to 10 business days. Send us your slope and lawn size for a recommendation by email.

Still not sure which fits your property?

Tell us about your steepest slope, grass height and whether you want to plow snow and a Yard Automation Pro will reply by email with a recommendation, or tell you honestly if none of our machines fits. Book a free consultation, or call +1 423-927-3776, 9am to 5pm EST. You can also try the Find Your Robot quiz and cost calculator.