Honda Miimo 500 Robotic Lawn Mower: Price, Manual, Review

The Honda Miimo 500 is one of the more expensive robotic lawn mowers on sale. Although it has a lot of key features (such as silent running and different cutting modes), it also lacks some, like Bluetooth or WiFi control, that cheaper models are starting to offer.

On the other hand, Honda has a long association with robotics and electric vehicles, making it a natural first choice for those looking for reliability and innovation.

The HRM 500 is the middle model in the Miimo range, and has a bigger battery, allowing it to mow a larger area than the 300 series, but lacks some of the features (such as smartphone control) enjoyed by the model above it.

Honda Miimo 500 Robotic Lawnmower Features

The HRM 500 has some interesting features that mark it a cut above (pun intended) mowers like the Flymo 1200R:

• Ability to cut in stripes;
• Up to 5 programmable 'start points';
• Special 'edge cutting' mode.

It's also nearly silent, and has blades that bend rather than snap when they hit a solid object like a rock.

Honda Miimo 500 Reviews

Here's a run-down of opinions across the various review sites:

• UK's Alphr has a comprehensive review which confirms the silent operation, and notes that, if you employ a gardener, they would have to cut the lawn over 60 times before paying back the purchase price (source: Alphr.com.)

• C|Net called it "an adorable Roomba for your lawn" (source: C|Net.com), citing innovative features such as timers and variety of cutting modes.

• The UK's Which? magazine praised its good looks, but lamented a 'luxury' price tag (see Which? online).

• The German site Testberichte gave it a score of 1.9 'Good' (source: Testberichte.de) with lower scores going to the operating instructions (poor) and time between charges (average).

• The Netherlands-based Rientes Tuinmachines was also impressed, noting the mulching capability and giving precise instructions on laying the perimeter wire (see their web site.)

It's worth noting that there aren't any Amazon.co.uk reviews at the time of writing.

Honda Miimo 500 Manual

The manual can be downloaded from Honda's site.

A quick glance through it doesn't confirm Testberichte's assertion that it is a difficult read. In fact, I found it both clear and comprehensive.

Alphr also noted that it requires a Honda technician to install: however, the installation is very well covered in the manual. I'd recommend doing it yourself, if only so that you know how to fix it if something goes wrong!

The manual also confirms some of the more advanced features, such as:

• Setting mowing start points (Page 19)
• Setting the Work Calendar (Page 22)
• Setting the work timer by start point and season (Pages 27-29)
• Programming 'Quiet Times' (Page 30)
• Settings for narrow passages, and other configurations (Pages 32-37)

All in all, from the opinions, manual, and various videos, it's clear that the mower has a lot to recommend it. The level of customisation is beyond anything that I've seen in other robotic mowers, but it's unlikely that anyone with a regular shaped garden will ever need most of them!

Honda Miimo 500 Price

The HRM 500 is quite expensive. Amazon lists it at around £2,200 and Alphr at £1,900; which puts it at around 3-4 times more expensive than the Flymo 1200R.

However, the Flymo is noisier, has fewer mowing patterns, and can only start from a random point (or the end of the return wire). It also doesn't have the customisation that the Honda has, which makes it easy to install, but useless for complex lawn designs.

Oh, and the Honda is better looking.

Of course.