Troy-Bilt Vortex 2890

Three-Stage Gas Snow Blowers / Three-Stage Gas: Best for heavy snow up to 18 inches

This three-stage, gas-powered Troy-Bilt has a 28-inch clearing width and comes with electric start. It also has single-lever chute control.

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CR Expert Take

How did it perform in our owner surveys and expert lab testing?

Overall Score

The Overall Score for this model incorporates our expert lab test results, as well as ratings for that brand’s reliability and owner satisfaction from our annual product owner survey of members.

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Current Range of Tested Three-Stage Gas Snow Blowers

What goes into the Overall Score?

OWNER SURVEYS

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Removal speed

/ 5

Plow pile removal

/ 5

Throwing distance

/ 5

Surface cleaning

/ 5

Handling

/ 5

Noise

/ 5

Controls

/ 5

Width (in.)

/ 5

Detailed Test Results

The Troy-Bilt Vortex 2890 scored excellent for removal speed and was excellent at removing the plow pile at the end of the driveway, which can be a challenge for some machines. Throwing distance was excellent; this matters most if you have a wide driveway. Surface cleaning--how much snow was left on the surface--was very good. Handling, which is how easy the machine is to maneuver (including turns), was excellent. Ease of using the various controls--such as speed, chute, and auger--was excellent. Requires the use of hearing protection. We found the heated handgrips to be a nice option. The single-lever chute control speeds up changing the discharge direction.

About

The Troy-Bilt Vortex 2890 is part of the Snow Blowers test program at Consumer Reports. In our lab tests, Three-Stage Gas Snow Blowers models like the Vortex 2890 are rated on multiple criteria, such as those listed below.

Width: The snow blower's clearing width, or swath, in inches.

Removal speed: How quickly models could remove snow without laboring; We push single-stage machines as quickly as possible before the machine labors.

Plow pile removal: How quickly the snow thrower can remove a simulated pile of snow left by a municipal plow at the end of a driveway.

Brand Reliability & Satisfaction

#? in Reliability of all Three-Stage Gas Snow Blower Brands

Did the brand perform consistently well over time?

PREDICTED RELIABILITY SCORE

/ 100

Predicted brand reliability scores are based on the likelihood of newly purchased three-stage gas snow blowers experiencing a problem, adjusted for extended warranty or service contract status and product usage, by the end of the 5th year of ownership. Higher scores mean better reliability. Ranked #? of 3

Would our members recommend this brand?

OWNER SATISFACTION SCORE

/ 100

Brand owner satisfaction scores are based on how likely owners are to recommend their three-stage gas snow blower to their friends and family. Ranked #? of 3

Source: Consumer Reports' 2022, 2023, and 2024 Spring Surveys

Features & Specs

Features

Electric start

Yes

Multiple speeds

Yes

Single hand controls

Yes

Freewheel steering

Yes

Single lever chute adjustment

Yes

Headlight

Yes

Heated handgrips

Yes

Specs

Engine size

357-cc

Warranty (yrs.)

Engine type

Four cycle

Price & Shop

Troy-Bilt Vortex 2890

CR Expert Take

Overall Score

What goes into the Overall Score?

Detailed Test Results

About

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