Head to head
Toro SnowMaster 724 QXE vs Toro Power Clear 821 QZE
vs
Quick take: The Toro Power Clear 821 QZE costs $200 less; the Toro SnowMaster 724 QXE clears a wider 24" path per pass.
| Spec | Toro SnowMaster 724 QXE | Toro Power Clear 821 QZE |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$1,199 | ~$999 |
| Rating | — | 4.5★ (631) |
| Type | Single-Stage Gas | Single-Stage Gas |
| Power | 212cc Toro Premium OHV | 252cc Toro Premium OHV |
| Clearing Width | 24" | 21" |
| Intake Height | 18" | 12.5" |
| Throw Distance | up to 40 ft | up to 40 ft |
| Weight | 125 lb | 95 lb |
| Starting | 120V electric + recoil | 120V electric + recoil |
| Heated Grips | No | No |
| Drive & Handling | Personal Pace self-propel — push harder and it speeds up, ease off and it slows, with no speed lever to set. The in-line auger pulls the machine forward as it cuts, which is why a 24-inch machine weighs 125 lb instead of 200. | Same Power Propel paddle drive as the 721 - the paddles yank it forward hard enough to feather your grip on ice - but the 252cc engine keeps paddle speed up in deep snow. The 210-degree chute turns via a chute-mounted handle and the Zip Deflector flips throw height with a palm tap. At 95 lbs it's the heaviest Power Clear, yet turns one-handed. |
| Warranty | 3-year residential | 2-year full |
Pros & cons
Toro SnowMaster 724 QXE
- ✓Clears a 24-inch path at a walking pace most two-stage machines can't match
- ✓125 lb means one person can load it, hang it on a garage wall bracket, or turn it around without effort
- ✓Personal Pace removes the speed-lever fiddling that slows a conventional two-stage on a mixed driveway
- ✓Quick Stick chute control moves rotation and pitch in one motion
- ✓120V plug-in electric start, so it fires in January without a pull
- ✗Paved surfaces only — the auger touches the ground and will throw gravel
- ✗No heated grips at any price in the SnowMaster line
- ✗18-inch intake is shorter than a two-stage, so a deep plow berm has to be taken in layers
- ✗At $1,199 it costs more than the Power Max 824 OE, which is the more capable machine in deep snow
Toro Power Clear 821 QZE
- ✓Chews through deep, dense snow noticeably faster than the 721 E
- ✓40-foot throw distance rivals mid-size two-stage machines
- ✓Power Propel drive pulls it forward - your job is steering
- ✓Zip Deflector changes throw height with one touch
- ✓Electric start plus recoil; commercial-grade engine components
- ✗At $999 it overlaps discounted entry two-stage prices
- ✗Front-heavy - the nose dives on uneven pavement transitions
- ✗12.5-inch intake still limits it in foot-deep storms
- ✗Chute handle requires reaching down mid-pass
- ✗No gravel, no headlight, no hand warmers