Head to head
Cub Cadet 3X 28 IntelliPOWER vs Cub Cadet 3X 26 IntelliPOWER
vs
Quick take: The Cub Cadet 3X 26 IntelliPOWER costs $300 less; the Cub Cadet 3X 28 IntelliPOWER clears a wider 28" path per pass.
| Spec | Cub Cadet 3X 28 IntelliPOWER | Cub Cadet 3X 26 IntelliPOWER |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$1,899 | ~$1,599 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Three-Stage Gas | Three-Stage Gas |
| Power | 357cc Cub Cadet IntelliPOWER | 357cc Cub Cadet IntelliPOWER OHV |
| Clearing Width | 28" | 26" |
| Intake Height | 23" | 21" |
| Throw Distance | — | up to 40 ft |
| Weight | 279 lb | 270 lb |
| Starting | Push-button electric + recoil | 120V electric + recoil |
| Heated Grips | Yes | Yes |
| Drive & Handling | Six forward and two reverse speeds with power steering. The third stage is an accelerator spinning perpendicular to the augers, feeding the impeller roughly ten times faster than the augers alone. | 6 forward / 2 reverse friction-disc all-wheel drive with trigger power steering on both grips for one-finger pivots. Overhead crank spins the chute 200 degrees in 2.5 turns, a remote lever sets pitch, and heated grips plus dual LED headlights are standard on 16 x 4.8-inch X-Trac tires. |
| Warranty | 3-year residential, 5-year auger gearbox | 3-year residential, 5-year auger gearbox |
Pros & cons
Cub Cadet 3X 28 IntelliPOWER
- ✓The accelerator genuinely changes how the machine handles packed plow ridges
- ✓23-inch intake swallows drifts the 2X 28 has to take in layers
- ✓357cc is a significant step up from the 2X 28's 272cc
- ✓Heated grips, power steering and LED lighting all standard
- ✓Five-year auger gearbox warranty
- ✗279 lb, and the extra stage adds a wear point a two-stage does not have
- ✗$220 more than the 2X 28 for a benefit that only shows up in packed snow
- ✗Cub Cadet does not publish a throw distance for this model
- ✗Pointless on a driveway that never gets plowed in
Cub Cadet 3X 26 IntelliPOWER
- ✓Clears deep powder measurably faster than same-width two-stage machines
- ✓Heated grips, trigger power steering and dual LEDs all standard
- ✓IntelliPOWER governor keeps the 357cc pulling in loaded snow
- ✓5-year auger gearbox warranty covers the extra drivetrain complexity
- ✓Throws a dense, far stream — 30-40 feet in cold conditions
- ✗Wet snow packs between accelerator blades — clogging is the top owner complaint
- ✗Eats shear pins in icy or crusted snow; keep spares on hand
- ✗Owner-forum consensus: a good impeller beats a third stage
- ✗Some owners report snow ribbons left at the bucket edges