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AL-KO Lawn Mower Review - 2022-2023

Written By: William
Last Updated on January 25, 2023

AL-KO Highline 527 VS Lawn Mower Review

AL-KO Easy Flex 34.8Li Cordless Battery Powered Lawnmower, Supplied with 2X 20V / 2.5Ah Batteries & Double Charger, Compact and Suitable for Mowing Small lawns, 34 cm Cutting Width
8.2/10Our Score
  • 2 x 20V / 2 5Ah Batteries and double charger included
  • Lightweight plastic mower body for easy manoeuvring
  • Compact space saving storage position
  • Perfect for maintaining small garden lawns
  • 34cm cutting width and 30 litre grass collection bag

AL-KO is a German company founded in 1931 that prides itself in producing quality, long-lasting products. They make everything from car parts to air conditioning units and, of course, gardening equipment as well. With such an expansive manufacturing heritage behind them, it is easy to imagine that they could make a mower that can make short work of garden maintenance.

To find out if this is the case, we will look at the pros, cons and many features of the highline 527 VS to see if it is worth your money.

AL-KO Easy Flex 34.8Li Cordless Battery Powered Lawnmower, Supplied with 2X 20V / 2.5Ah Batteries & Double Charger, Compact and Suitable for Mowing Small lawns, 34 cm Cutting Width
8.2/10Our Score
  • 2 x 20V / 2 5Ah Batteries and double charger included
  • Lightweight plastic mower body for easy manoeuvring
  • Compact space saving storage position
  • Perfect for maintaining small garden lawns
  • 34cm cutting width and 30 litre grass collection bag

Pros:

  • Mows, mulches, collects and discharges cuttings out the side
  • Large 70L grass box with an easy to use fill indicator and MaxAirFlow technology
  • Integrated standing function simplifies storage by allowing for vertical storing
  • Easy to reach controls allow ergonomic adjustment of speed and cutting height

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Cons:

  • Electric key start not available in this particular model

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Key Features:

  • Briggs & Stratton 675EXi 163cc engine
  • 2.6 kW Power
  • 51cm cutting width
  • 4INONE Function: Mowing, Collecting, Mulching, Side Discharge
  • Variable speed drive
  • Wheels with double ball bearings
  • Recoil starting procedure
  • 7 stage cutting height from 30-80mm
  • 70L grass collector volume
  • Weight: 36.3kg
  • 5-year warranty

AL-KO Easy Flex 34.8Li Cordless Battery Powered Lawnmower, Supplied with 2X 20V / 2.5Ah Batteries & Double Charger, Compact and Suitable for Mowing Small lawns, 34 cm Cutting Width
8.2/10Our Score
  • 2 x 20V / 2 5Ah Batteries and double charger included
  • Lightweight plastic mower body for easy manoeuvring
  • Compact space saving storage position
  • Perfect for maintaining small garden lawns
  • 34cm cutting width and 30 litre grass collection bag

Variable Speed Wheel Drive

The “VS” in 527 VS stands for variable speed. This refers to the fact that the wheels of the lawn mower can be driven to any speed between 2.5 and 4.5km/h, meaning that the mower can propel itself along at these speeds without requiring you to actively push it (although you still need to hold the handles to guide it).

The range of speeds available makes sure that you can always mow at a pace which is comfortable for you in given conditions, this is particularly useful if you are cutting on an incline.

Max Airflow Deck

In order to maximise space usage and prevent blockages, the mower was designed with a tall steel plate deck and widened discharge channel that improves airflow by 42% compared to conventional designs.

This means that unlike with most lawn mowers, grass always flies to the very back of the grass catcher, ensuring that it is only filled from the rear without getting stuck compacting near the discharge channel.

Additionally, there is a removable service flap for easy maintenance.

AL-KO Easy Flex 34.8Li Cordless Battery Powered Lawnmower, Supplied with 2X 20V / 2.5Ah Batteries & Double Charger, Compact and Suitable for Mowing Small lawns, 34 cm Cutting Width
8.2/10Our Score
  • 2 x 20V / 2 5Ah Batteries and double charger included
  • Lightweight plastic mower body for easy manoeuvring
  • Compact space saving storage position
  • Perfect for maintaining small garden lawns
  • 34cm cutting width and 30 litre grass collection bag

Briggs and Stratton 675EXi

A lightweight and efficient Briggs and Stratton engine is included to give you more power for less fuel. The 163cc engine is easy to start and provides an excellent 2.6kW of power with its overhead valves.

To improve convenience, ReadyStart technology is included meaning that you can quickly start the engine with the recoil pull cord without needing to prime the engine first.

Quietness is also a priority with a super lo-tone muffler allowing the motor to be quieter than others in its class.

Mulching Plug

An optional mulch plug is included which blocks the discharge chute and dices the clippings further underneath the lawn mower. The guided deflector then spreads the chopped clippings out the side away from the mower for use as a completely natural fertiliser.

This plug was designed to be mounted without tools and its usage means that there is no need to collect and dispose of grass or leaves after mowing, raking will be a thing of the past.

AL-KO Easy Flex 34.8Li Cordless Battery Powered Lawnmower, Supplied with 2X 20V / 2.5Ah Batteries & Double Charger, Compact and Suitable for Mowing Small lawns, 34 cm Cutting Width
8.2/10Our Score
  • 2 x 20V / 2 5Ah Batteries and double charger included
  • Lightweight plastic mower body for easy manoeuvring
  • Compact space saving storage position
  • Perfect for maintaining small garden lawns
  • 34cm cutting width and 30 litre grass collection bag

Large 70L EasyClick Collector

It couldn’t be easier to attach the grass collector to the lawn mower with EasyClick technology. The guide rail quickly allows you to securely attach the collector and stops the risk of trapped fingers during usage.

If that wasn’t enough, the grass catcher itself is designed to be aerodynamic, compact and simple to empty, greatly reducing the hassle of its usage. In order to allow you to monitor the fill level of the collector while you mow, a useful indicator has been integrated into the collector.

Central Height Adjustment

Adjusting the cutting height has never been easier with a large, spring assisted handle being built in an easy to reach position in the central portion of the mower deck. With this handle you can easily adjust the cutting height across 7 stages between 30 and 80mm, so you can always achieve the optimal height to keep your glass healthy each season.

AL-KO Easy Flex 34.8Li Cordless Battery Powered Lawnmower, Supplied with 2X 20V / 2.5Ah Batteries & Double Charger, Compact and Suitable for Mowing Small lawns, 34 cm Cutting Width
8.2/10Our Score
  • 2 x 20V / 2 5Ah Batteries and double charger included
  • Lightweight plastic mower body for easy manoeuvring
  • Compact space saving storage position
  • Perfect for maintaining small garden lawns
  • 34cm cutting width and 30 litre grass collection bag

EasyDrive Cockpit

Every control of the mower is easy to access with the EasyDrive cockpit, the ergonomic handlebar provides access to all the important functions of the mower including the variable speed and power.

The handle is also soft grip and fully height adjustable to help you stay comfortable with extended usage. Pushing the Highline 527 VS is also guaranteed to be smooth on every surface with XXL wheels containing double ball bearings.

What’s included in the box?

1 x Highline 527 VS Lawn Mower

1 x Mulching Plug

1 x 70L EasyClick Collector

1 x Instruction Manual

AL-KO Easy Flex 34.8Li Cordless Battery Powered Lawnmower, Supplied with 2X 20V / 2.5Ah Batteries & Double Charger, Compact and Suitable for Mowing Small lawns, 34 cm Cutting Width
8.2/10Our Score
  • 2 x 20V / 2 5Ah Batteries and double charger included
  • Lightweight plastic mower body for easy manoeuvring
  • Compact space saving storage position
  • Perfect for maintaining small garden lawns
  • 34cm cutting width and 30 litre grass collection bag

Conclusion

It goes without saying that if you want a beautiful looking lawn then you need to get a great lawn mower. Overgrown grass, or even grass that is cut badly, is the fastest way to make your garden turn from a serene paradise into a frustrating green mess.

While it may be tempting to get a cheap electric mower to stave off your garden nightmares, petrol power really is the way to go if you want a long lasting mower that can tackle anything you can throw at it (and as an added benefit, you won’t need to worry about running out of juice or faffing around with lengthy power cords).

The highline 527 VS sits near the top of the stack of traditional petrol-powered lawn mowers and, not to oversell it but this mower combines the best of German engineering with plenty of features to produce the best petrol mower you can get for under £500.

This is especially evident if you have a large garden (the manufacturer suggests gardens up to 1800m2), in this situation this lawn mower is a no brainer. It’s large 51cm cutting width makes short work of lawns and the lawn mower allows you to mow, collect, mulch and discharge grass with ease.

The mulching feature especially is rare in this price range and we definitely don’t need to tell you about the potential benefits of mulching!

If you are after a lawn mower that is effective and easy to use (and let’s be honest, we all want this) then the highline 527 VS should stand at the top of your list.

The mower has everything you need to maintain a clean and healthy garden and the variable speed movement means that you can adjust the movement speed if you don’t feel like pushing.

The only major omission we can this of is the lack of electric start but, considering the price, it is hard to feel too disappointed. If this feature is important to you then AL-KO still has you covered as you can move up to the Highline 528 VSI instead.

AL-KO Easy Flex 34.8Li Cordless Battery Powered Lawnmower, Supplied with 2X 20V / 2.5Ah Batteries & Double Charger, Compact and Suitable for Mowing Small lawns, 34 cm Cutting Width
8.2/10Our Score
  • 2 x 20V / 2 5Ah Batteries and double charger included
  • Lightweight plastic mower body for easy manoeuvring
  • Compact space saving storage position
  • Perfect for maintaining small garden lawns
  • 34cm cutting width and 30 litre grass collection bag

About the author 

Written by William
I have always had a passion for gardening and that with a background in selling lawn mowers for the past 10 years, I have become very knowledgeable in all types of gardening tools. The site TheBestMowers.co.uk was created as a hub where I can review and write about all of the tips around gardening.
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