Bosch AdvancedRotak 36-660 Review – UK Tested

The Bosch AdvancedRotak 36-660 has been one of the UK’s best-selling cordless lawn mowers for several years, and it’s not hard to see why. It sits in a sweet spot – significantly cheaper than premium cordless mowers like the EGO LM1903E, but a meaningful step up from budget options in terms of brand reliability, parts availability and build quality. It uses Bosch’s 36V lithium-ion battery platform, which is one of the most widely used garden tool battery systems in the UK.

We tested the AdvancedRotak 36-660 on a 180m² garden in West Yorkshire over a full summer season – a medium-small UK lawn with a gentle slope on one side and a mix of open sun and partial shade. Here is what we found.

Overview and first impressions

The Bosch AdvancedRotak is a compact, lightweight machine that makes an immediately good impression in terms of ease of use. At 14kg it is noticeably lighter than most comparable cordless mowers and significantly lighter than any petrol equivalent. It folds down compactly for storage and the single-handed height adjustment is one of the smoothest we have tested at any price point.

Build quality is solid for the price bracket. The plastic components feel durable rather than flimsy, and the 40-litre grass box – while on the smaller side – attaches and detaches cleanly. The 36V battery slides in with a reassuring click and the battery charge indicator is clearly visible during use.

The 36cm cut width is the narrowest of the three mowers in our comparison test, which is the most significant practical limitation for anyone with a lawn over 150m². More passes means more time – on a 200m² lawn the 36cm cut takes noticeably longer than a 48cm mower would. For a compact garden this is a non-issue, but it’s worth factoring in before buying.

The handle ergonomics deserve particular mention. The AdvancedRotak’s grip position and button layout are well thought out – the blade engagement lever falls naturally under the fingers and the power button requires a deliberate two-step action to prevent accidental starts, which is a sensible safety detail. After a full season of use the handle showed no loosening or wear at the fold joints, which on cheaper mowers is one of the first components to deteriorate.

Specifications and scores

How it performed in our tests

We ran the Bosch AdvancedRotak through the same nine test scenarios used on the EGO LM1903E to allow direct comparison. The results reflect a mower that performs very well within its design parameters but shows clear limitations at the edges of those parameters – particularly in wet grass and on slopes.

In ideal conditions – short, dry grass on flat ground – the AdvancedRotak is an excellent performer. The start-up is instant, the blade engagement is smooth and the cut is even across the full 36cm width. The 40-litre grass box fills faster than larger boxes on bigger mowers, but the box empties cleanly without clogging and the latch mechanism is one of the most positive and reliable we tested at any price point.

The long wet grass test was where the Bosch showed its most significant limitation. After five days of continuous rain the lawn was heavily saturated, and the AdvancedRotak’s 36V motor visibly struggled – the blade speed dropped noticeably and we had to slow down considerably to avoid the motor cutting out. In those conditions it completed the cut but required patience. In normal UK conditions this level of saturation is relatively rare, but it is worth factoring in if your garden is prone to waterlogging.

The slope test without self-propulsion was manageable on a gentle 15-degree incline but tiring on a 200m² lawn. Anyone with a significantly sloped garden should seriously consider spending the extra on a self-propelled model.

Battery life – real world results

On our 180m² test lawn the Bosch completed the cut with approximately 35% battery remaining in normal conditions – well within the 300m² claim for dry grass. In wet grass this dropped to around 20% remaining, still completing the cut comfortably. We pushed the test further to simulate a 260m² lawn in wet conditions and finished with the battery indicator in the red but the cut completed.

The 4Ah battery charges in approximately 55 minutes – slightly slower than the EGO but perfectly acceptable for typical weekly use. The battery is compatible with other Bosch 36V garden tools including their string trimmer and leaf blower, which is a genuine advantage for anyone building out their garden tool collection.

Cut quality and limitations

On a regularly maintained lawn in normal conditions the Bosch AdvancedRotak produces a clean, even cut. The finish is noticeably good for the price – the blade design and deck shape combine to produce consistent results with no clumping in dry conditions. The height adjustment lever is single-handed and moves through all six positions with one thumb, which makes it practical to switch between cutting heights mid-session without stopping.

The absence of a rear roller means there are no traditional lawn stripes – the cut looks even and healthy but flat. For most homeowners this is not a concern, but if you specifically want the striped lawn look you need to either spend more on a mower with a rear roller or accept it won’t be achievable with this model.

The narrower 36cm cut width is genuinely noticeable on any lawn over 150m². On our 180m² test lawn it added approximately 20-25% more time to each cut compared to a 48cm mower on the same lawn. Over a full season of weekly cuts that adds up to several hours of additional mowing time. This is not a dealbreaker for a small garden but it is worth knowing.

Final verdict – is it worth it?

The Bosch AdvancedRotak 36-660 is a genuinely good cordless mower for the right garden. For a small, regularly maintained UK lawn of up to 200m² on reasonably flat ground, it does the job cleanly, quietly and without fuss at a very competitive price. The Bosch brand reliability and widespread availability of spares and batteries is a meaningful advantage over cheaper alternatives that may be difficult to service or find parts for after a few years.

Its limitations are real but predictable. The 36cm cut width, absence of self-propulsion and difficulty with very wet grass mean it is clearly suited to a specific use case – the smaller, well-maintained suburban garden – and less suited to anything outside those parameters. Buy it for the right garden and it will serve you well for years. Buy it for the wrong garden and you will find yourself wishing you had spent the extra on the EGO.

Judged against its intended use case, the value delivered is exceptional. No other cordless mower at this price point from a major brand matches the Bosch for ease of use, weight and storage convenience. The 36V platform longevity and parts support give it a service life to match the investment. For gardeners who are replacing a corded electric mower with something more practical, the AdvancedRotak is the most straightforward and satisfying upgrade available at this price.

The one caveat worth repeating is the wet grass limitation. UK summers include extended wet spells, and if your lawn sits on clay or drains poorly, the Bosch will struggle on those days in a way that the EGO simply does not. For a typical free-draining suburban lawn in a reasonably dry part of the UK this is not a meaningful issue. For a north-facing, clay-heavy garden in a high-rainfall area, it is worth factoring in before deciding.