Head to head
Ariens Platinum 30 SHO vs Ariens Deluxe 30
vs
Quick take: The Ariens Deluxe 30 costs $500 less; the Ariens Platinum 30 SHO throws snow farther (up to 55 ft).
| Spec | Ariens Platinum 30 SHO | Ariens Deluxe 30 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$2,399 | ~$1,899 |
| Rating | — | 4.5★ (119) |
| Type | Two-Stage Gas | Two-Stage Gas |
| Power | 414cc Ariens AX | 301cc Ariens AX |
| Clearing Width | 30" | 30" |
| Intake Height | 21" | 21" |
| Throw Distance | up to 55 ft | up to 50 ft |
| Weight | 274 lb | 276 lb |
| Starting | 120V electric + recoil | 120V electric + recoil |
| Heated Grips | Yes | Yes |
| Drive & Handling | Six forward and two reverse speeds through the Disc-O-Matic friction drive, with Auto-Turn steering — lean into a turn and the machine pivots, with no trigger releases to pull. | 6 forward/2 reverse Disc-O-Matic drive, Auto-Turn steering, and 16-inch directional tires — the 276 lb heft plants it in EOD piles but Auto-Turn still spins it at pass ends. Dual-belt impeller drive; 200-degree remote chute and deflector from the dash. Handwarmers are standard. |
| Warranty | 3-year residential, 5-year gear case | 3-year residential |
Pros & cons
Ariens Platinum 30 SHO
- ✓414cc and the SHO impeller move a genuinely large volume — Ariens rates it at 82 tons per hour
- ✓Handwarmers and a remote deflector are standard, unlike the Toro flagship
- ✓Auto-Turn pivots without trigger releases, which matters on a 274 lb machine
- ✓Five-year gear case warranty on a cast-iron case
- ✓30-inch width cuts a two-car driveway in noticeably fewer passes than a 24
- ✓LED headlight and an in-dash chute lever rather than the Deluxe line's crank
- ✗Auto-Turn is sensitive to uneven tire pressure and skid-shoe setup and will pull to one side if they drift
- ✗274 lb and 32 inches wide — measure the shed door before buying
- ✗55-foot throw trails the Toro 1428 OHXE's 65 feet
- ✗Overkill for a single-car driveway in a moderate-snow state
Ariens Deluxe 30
- ✓30-inch swath cuts session time by roughly a fifth vs a 24-inch on big flat driveways
- ✓Heated handgrips come standard on this trim — not optional like the smaller Deluxes
- ✓62-72 tons/hour capacity and 50 ft throw with the 14-inch impeller
- ✓276 lb of steel plants the bucket into hard EOD piles without riding up
- ✗Same 301cc engine as the 28 SHO pulling a wider bucket — bogs sooner in deep wet snow
- ✗30-inch bucket won't fit narrow walks and gates that a 24 clears easily
- ✗$1,899 is deep into Platinum 24 SHO territory, which throws farther in deep snow