Head to head
Ariens Platinum 30 SHO vs Husqvarna ST 330
vs
Quick take: The Husqvarna ST 330 costs $550 less; the Ariens Platinum 30 SHO throws snow farther (up to 55 ft).
| Spec | Ariens Platinum 30 SHO | Husqvarna ST 330 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$2,399 | ~$1,849 |
| Rating | — | 3.4★ (17) |
| Type | Two-Stage Gas | Two-Stage Gas |
| Power | 414cc Ariens AX | 389cc Husqvarna OHV |
| Clearing Width | 30" | 30" |
| Intake Height | 21" | 23" |
| Throw Distance | up to 55 ft | up to 40 ft |
| Weight | 274 lb | 274 lb |
| Starting | 120V electric + recoil | Electric key start + 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. | Friction-disc drive (6F/1R) with trigger power steering and a high-capacity belt system that resists the slip smaller Husqvarnas suffer. Heated grips, remote chute and deflector controls, and an included drift-cutter deflector extension; at 80 dB it's also notably quieter at the operator's ear than most big two-stages. |
| Warranty | 3-year residential, 5-year gear case | 3-year limited; 10-year gearbox/impeller |
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
Husqvarna ST 330
- ✓Big 389cc engine keeps chute velocity up even in wet, dense snow
- ✓Heated grips and quieter 80 dB operator noise make long sessions bearable
- ✓23-inch intake plus included drift extension handles deep storm totals
- ✓Undercuts Ariens Platinum 30 SHO by several hundred dollars
- ✓Trigger power steering tames the 274-lb chassis
- ✗Middling 3.4-star owner average (17 reviews, Acme Tools) — quality control is hit or miss
- ✗Included in the July 2023 CPSC auger-pulley recall; confirm the free fix on early units
- ✗Friction-disc/belt drive can slip under maximum load where hydro rivals don't
- ✗274 lb is ponderous in tight quarters despite power steering
- ✗Displacement is listed inconsistently across retailers (369cc vs 389cc), reflecting sloppy spec management