Head to head
Champion 100535 27" Two-Stage vs Cub Cadet 2X 26 IntelliPOWER
vs
Quick take: The Champion 100535 27" Two-Stage costs $120 less; the Champion 100535 27" Two-Stage clears a wider 27" path per pass; the Champion 100535 27" Two-Stage has heated grips for the January mornings this all exists for.
| Spec | Champion 100535 27" Two-Stage | Cub Cadet 2X 26 IntelliPOWER |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$1,189 | ~$1,309 |
| Rating | — | 4★ (307) |
| Type | Two-Stage Gas | Two-Stage Gas |
| Power | 301cc Champion OHV | 243cc Cub Cadet IntelliPOWER OHV |
| Clearing Width | 27" | 26" |
| Intake Height | 23" | 21" |
| Throw Distance | up to 40 ft | up to 40 ft |
| Weight | 234 lb | 270 lb |
| Starting | 120V electric + recoil | 120V electric + recoil |
| Heated Grips | Yes | No |
| Drive & Handling | Six forward and two reverse speeds with Champion's Power Turn steering, which unlocks one wheel to bring the machine round. Dash-mounted chute control and twin LED headlights. | 6 forward / 2 reverse speeds through a friction disc, with trigger power steering on each grip for one-hand pivots. Overhead-crank chute spins 200 degrees in about 2.5 turns, and a single remote lever sets pitch. Dual LED headlights cover the bucket for pre-dawn runs. |
| Warranty | 2-year limited | 3-year residential, 5-year auger gearbox |
Pros & cons
Champion 100535 27" Two-Stage
- ✓23-inch intake matches three-stage machines costing several hundred more
- ✓Heated grips and power steering at a price where both are usually optional
- ✓301cc is a genuinely large engine for this money
- ✓Twin LED headlights come standard
- ✓6 forward and 2 reverse speeds, not a simplified two-speed drive
- ✗Two-year warranty against three from Cub Cadet and five from Toro's HD line
- ✗Support is a call centre, not a dealer with parts on a shelf
- ✗Published weights disagree wildly — one retailer lists 121.5 lb, which is impossible for a 27-inch two-stage; 234 lb is the credible figure
- ✗Champion's snow line has far less owner history behind it than Ariens or Toro
- ✗A 40-foot throw from 301cc is unremarkable; the Ariens Platinum 30 SHO manages 55 on similar displacement
Cub Cadet 2X 26 IntelliPOWER
- ✓Excellent feature set for the money — power steering, dual LEDs, remote pitch
- ✓Throws cold dry snow a genuine 40 feet
- ✓21-inch intake height handles end-of-driveway plow piles
- ✓5-year auger gearbox warranty is unusual at this price
- ✓Serrated steel augers self-feed well into crusted drifts
- ✗243cc engine gets bogged down running full-width in deep wet snow
- ✗Chute clogging in slushy conditions is a recurring owner complaint
- ✗No heated grips — Ariens Deluxe models include them at similar money
- ✗MTD-built; forum consensus is Ariens/Toro outlast it long-term
- ✗Skid shoes and scraper bar are thin and wear quickly on gravel