Best riding mower between JD, Cub Cadet, and Husqvarna?

If you have much in the way of hills be very careful to read the reviews on the transmissions for each brand.

JD has known issues for instance with their big box store level riders with hills causing their transmissions to give out ahead of schedule.

If you can look at the X series mowers but you will have to go to an actual John Deere distributor to check them out.

In fact if you have hills id buy an X series used over a new Home Depot / Lowes level rider.

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Best riding mower between JD, Cub Cadet, and Husqvarna?

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Husqvarna and its not even close

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have a JD L110 (2004) with about 500hrs and haven't had any trans slippage issues. YMMV.

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Is your place flat or does it have hills?

I have relatives with JD tractors from Lowe’s/HD who have used them for 10-15 years without any issues on flat lots.

All the issues I’ve heard come from slippage related to driving them up/down hills.

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Husqvarna and its not even close

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I'm a DV but I'll explain, and it all relates to hills. Our lot is tricky, we have a point that is pretty steep. The 22v46 I have can neither head straight up or stop going down the thing. I have looked at how I could make the brake more effective, but no luck. I am sure the neighbors find it amusing when I give it a go, but I'm doing that much less since I had a high speed near turnover that I was able to save with a firmly planted foot in a move that hurt my ribs for a month. Anyway, flat or easy hills it's fine from a power standpoint.

But I also hate the deck, I have had to get a spot welded where it basically tore at one of the back supports. Being that my lot is on a big rock, I also have plenty of bare spots and crags where it cuts to close. Not really its fault, I have it at the highest setting in those spots, they just aren't smooth.

Engine has been fine, lashed the valves once because a pin got loose, and otherwise normal maintenance.

Husqvarna TS 248XD
Fabricated steel deck, locking differential, Kawasaki FR691V

All mid range mowers are about the same quality. The difference maker should be the service available on it.

Use to own 5 dealerships and sold Husqvarna, serviced JD home center units, and was a Cub Cadet dealer.
JD, made by JD. Took the plant tour.
Husqvarna is by Husqvarna.
Cub Cadet, made by MTD now owned by Stanley Black & Decker in Martin, TN.
Actually at one time better built in the entry level series than Husqvarna and JD.
JD and Husqvarna went to the cheaper composite transmission and MTD chose not to on the Cub Cadet.
Lower end units Troy-bilt, craftsman, yard machines at one time were made in Willard, OH.

They all have low end which is avaliable at the big box stores and the dealers sell them. Really no money in selling them. I brought them in truck load quantity to hopefully sell accessories or get service work.

Then you have a mid and upper range units.
1 or 2 of the Garden Tractors in HOP and Cub Cadet at one time had the locking differential. Really to help around hills in in a muddy situation in South LA.
These are typically dealer exclusives sold only at dealers.

Usually they have upgraded transmissions, engines, and decks.
Sold alot of the Cub Cadets with the drive shafts.
I still got one over twenty years old.
Mostly sold in NE United States where they used with mini tillers, snow plows, and leveling blade with weight kits.
I brought one in my stock for myself in 2014 and kept it on my floor plan until I had to pay for it. Sold that one to my neighbor on Toledo Bend and he still using it.
Those were expensive, but solid units even JD and HOP could not touch in quality.

Just everything going to Zero turns now as the upper end ones cost just as much as a prosumer zero turns or smaller stand on units.

Stanley Black and Decker bought Hustler, MTD which includes Cub Cadet.
I sold out right before this happened, so I really have not kept up with the changes.

Good stuff