Automower 320 NERA
Limited evidenceRead the findings →The entry to Husqvarna's big-lawn NERA range, following a satellite boundary, a buried wire or both. It's aimed at large, steep, open lawns. There's no camera, radar or edge disc, so clear the lawn first and trim the borders by hand.
Updated
See the alternatives below, or switch market.
Where it sits in Husqvarna’s range
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What we know
Nord-Domotique, a French blogger who promotes Husqvarna's ambassador scheme, tested it with the add-on satellite kit and liked it: precise boundaries, quiet running and easy cleaning, after early docking trouble that two updates fixed. Notebookcheck reported its launch, and the rest comes from Husqvarna's specifications: a 50% slope rating, about 135 minutes per charge, and corrections over Wi-Fi at no extra cost, which means Wi-Fi across the whole lawn.
Nord-Domotique, hands-on, Aug 2023 (Tested with the add-on satellite kit and reference station; The blogger promotes Husqvarna's ambassador scheme, so this isn't an independent test.)
Satellite boundary or wire
Husqvarna says it can follow a virtual boundary, a physical wire, or both, so you can lay wire only where satellite reception is poor. Corrections come over Wi-Fi at no extra cost, which means Wi-Fi across the whole lawn; otherwise a dealer can fit a cellular kit or a separate reference station. Nord-Domotique used the reference station and found it needs a clear view of the sky, mounted at least 2.5m up, and that moving it means redoing the setup.
Docking trouble, fixed by updates
Early in its test, Nord-Domotique found the mower struggled to get back into its charging station, until two software updates in a row sorted it out. After that, it reports the mower picked up again by itself after a fortnight's holiday, even with the grass long, and ran very quietly. That's one mower, reported by a blogger with ties to Husqvarna.
Built for big, steep lawns
This is a heavy-duty mower. Husqvarna rates it for slopes of 50% inside the lawn and 25% at the boundary, credits a front axle that isn't fixed for better grip on rough ground, and quotes about 135 minutes' mowing per charge, with the cutting height set electrically from 20 to 60mm.
No camera and no edge disc
Husqvarna lists no object detection for this model, so it has no camera or radar to spot toys, hoses or animals before it reaches them. Clear the lawn before it runs. There's no rear edge disc either, unlike the 310E NERA and the 405VE NERA, so expect to trim the borders by hand. Nord-Domotique found it handled narrow passages from 60cm wide.
Still to be proven
The only hands-on account, from Nord-Domotique, isn't independent, so a few things are open. How well it cuts. Whether it really grips on a 50% slope and runs for the 135 minutes Husqvarna quotes. How it copes under trees, where satellite reception tends to drop. And whether the docking fix holds for every unit, not just one blogger's mower.
Our take
Should you buy the Automower 320 NERA?
Best for: Large, open lawns with a clear view of the sky. Skip it if: You want a mower with independent tests of this exact version.
hold off unless you are happy to buy on Husqvarna's name for a big, steep, open lawn kept clear of clutter. For a big-lawn mower with tests behind it, the Husqvarna Automower 435X AWD NERA has two long tests and the Segway Navimow X420 has three.
The 320 NERA is the entry to Husqvarna's NERA range for large lawns, rated for 3,300m² in stripes. It can run inside a virtual boundary by satellite, with corrections sent over your Wi-Fi at no extra cost, or inside a physical wire, and you can mix the two where reception is poor. Husqvarna rates it for steep slopes. It has no camera, no radar and no edge disc.
The only hands-on account is from Nord-Domotique, a French blogger who promotes Husqvarna's ambassador scheme. He tested it with the add-on satellite kit and liked its precise boundaries, quiet running and easy cleaning, after early docking trouble that two software updates fixed. Corrections come over Wi-Fi, so you need Wi-Fi across the lawn, or a dealer can fit a cellular kit or a separate reference station.
Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Does it need a boundary wire?
No, but you can use one. It supports a virtual boundary drawn in the app and a physical wire, and you can combine them where satellite reception is weak, per the specifications. Nord-Domotique set three zones on its reference-station setup, one reached across a tarmac drive.
Does it need a clear view of the sky?
For wire-free mowing, yes, plus Wi-Fi across the lawn for corrections, per the specifications. Nord-Domotique mounted its reference station high with open sky all round and found it worked much better on the house wall than on its temporary spot.
Will it cope with my slope?
Husqvarna rates it for 50% inside the lawn and 25% at the boundary, per the specifications, which is steep for a two-wheel-drive mower. No independent tester has checked that yet, so treat it as the maker's figure.
Can it handle two lawns or a narrow passage?
Nord-Domotique says it mows through passages from 60cm wide, and it crossed a tarmac drive to reach a separate lawn. You can set several work zones and transport paths between them in the app, per the specifications.
How noisy is it for neighbours?
Husqvarna rates it at 58dB(A), per the specifications, which is quieter than the 308V and the 405VE NERA. Nord-Domotique found it very quiet in use, though nobody independent has measured it.
Alternatives
Other robot lawn mowers to compare.
Automower 435X AWD NERA
Why consider it: All-wheel drive for big, rough gardens up to 5,000m², and two long tests found a very even cut and dependable running.
The compromise: It runs over small objects and leaves a strip at the edges.
X4 series
Why consider it: Three tests found this big four-wheel-drive mower fast, sure-footed and kind to the turf on large, hilly lawns.
The compromise: It's heavy, too wide for narrow gaps, and edges are its weak spot.
LUBA 2 AWD
Why consider it: All-wheel drive and a 40cm cut for large, rough or sloping lawns, with dead-straight stripes.
The compromise: Setup had hiccups, and it needs open sky for its satellite aerial.
Specs
Full specifications
Each specification names its source. Manufacturer claims are not independent test results; unconfirmed figures are labelled.
Owner reviews
Do you own the Automower 320 NERA?
Tell people how it’s held up: cleaning, maintenance, faults and support. Owner accounts are shown separately from independent reviews.
Sources
Where this page’s findings come from
Editorial reviews
- Nord-Domotique: Test du robot tondeuse Husqvarna NERA 320 ↗Hands-on · Tested with the add-on satellite kit and reference station · The blogger promotes Husqvarna's ambassador scheme, so this isn't an independent test. (not counted towards our two-review minimum)
Sources
Videos
- Husqvarna: Husqvarna Automower® 320 NERA - Features and benefits ↗
- Automower Tobel: Husqvarna Automower 320 NERA ↗
- Search YouTube for Husqvarna Automower 320 NERA ↗Search results may include company demonstrations or similar models. Check the source and model name; a demonstration is not an independent performance test.