Husqvarna 572 XP Review

First Impressions: A Logger’s Tool, Not a Toy

I’ve been running saws for over a decade, and when the Husqvarna 572 XP first hit the market, I was skeptical. The 70cc class is crowded with proven workhorses, and any new contender has to earn its place. After spending several months with this saw in everything from dense hardwood stands to storm cleanup, I can say without hesitation: the 572 XP is a serious commercial tool. It’s not a weekend warrior saw. It’s built for guys who make a living with a chainsaw in their hands. The first thing you notice when you lift it is the weight. It’s not the lightest 70cc saw out there, but it feels dense, balanced, and purposeful. There’s no plastic fluff. Every component feels like it was engineered for a long, hard life. But let’s get into the specifics, because this saw has some real standout traits, and a couple of quirks that might matter to you.

How I Put the 572 XP Through Its Pace

I didn’t run this saw in a clean shop or on a few test cuts. I used it for three full months as my primary felling and bucking saw. My test site was a mixed hardwood forest in the Northeast, with oak, maple, and beech ranging from 18 to 36 inches in diameter. I also did a week of storm cleanup on a farm where the wood was dirty, sandy, and full of fence wire remnants. That’s where the air filtration really got tested. I ran the saw with a 24 inch bar and a full skip chain for most of the work, and I swapped to a 28 inch bar for a few bigger trees. I did not use a 20 inch bar, because that’s not what this saw is built for. I also deliberately ran it through three full tanks of fuel without stopping to clean the air filter, just to see how the AutoTune system handled the gradual restriction. I used standard 50:1 mix with Husqvarna XP oil and 89 octane ethanol free fuel. No special treatment. I wanted to see how it would perform for a working logger who doesn’t have time to baby a saw.

Performance: Where the 572 XP Shines

High Torque Output and Real World Cutting

The headline feature of this saw is the torque. Husqvarna calls it “Xtreme Torque,” and for once, the marketing isn’t exaggerated. In the cut, this motor pulls hard from idle to full throttle. I’ve run saws that need to be wound up to get into the powerband. The 572 XP is not one of them. When you bury the bar in a 24 inch oak, the saw doesn’t bog. It digs in and keeps the chain speed steady. The power delivery is smooth and linear. There’s no sudden surge that throws your cut off. It’s predictable, which is critical when you’re making precision felling cuts. I was able to bore cut with confidence because the saw didn’t stall when the nose was buried. The chain speed is good, but not insane. It’s not a racing saw. It’s a torque monster that will pull a long bar through dense wood without overheating. I ran a 28 inch bar on it for a week, and it handled it fine for bucking, though for felling big timber, I’d still prefer a 395 XP or something bigger. But for a 70cc saw, the torque is class leading.

AutoTune: A Love Hate Relationship

Let’s talk about the AutoTune system. This is a computer controlled carburetor that adjusts the fuel mixture in real time based on altitude, temperature, and air filter condition. In theory, it’s brilliant. In practice, it works very well, but it has a learning curve. The saw starts easily when cold with the choke, and it idles perfectly once warm. The AutoTune compensates for a dirty air filter better than any manual carb I’ve used. I ran the saw for two full days without cleaning the filter, and the performance degraded only slightly. A manual carb would have required constant retuning or risked running lean. That’s a huge win for production cutting. However, the system is not instant. If you suddenly change altitude by a thousand feet, the saw might stumble for a few cuts before it adjusts. It’s not a problem if you stay in one area, but if you move from valley to ridge frequently, you’ll notice a brief hesitation. Also, the AutoTune requires the saw to be at operating temperature to self calibrate. If you start it cold and immediately bury the bar, it might run rich and smoke a bit. That’s normal. Let it warm up for 30 seconds and you’re fine. The biggest downside is that you cannot field tune it. If you want a leaner or richer mix, you need the dealer’s software. For me, that’s fine. I trust the factory calibration. But for old school guys who like to tweak, this might be a turn off.

Excellent Air Filtration: A Game Changer for Dirty Work

This is the part that surprised me most. The 572 XP uses a two stage air filter system. There’s a large surface area main filter, and a pre filter that catches the big particles. The pre filter is easy to clean with a quick tap. The main filter is washable and durable. I’ve run saws where you have to stop every hour to clean the filter. On the 572 XP, I went three full days of cutting in dusty, dirty conditions before I felt the need to clean it. That’s a massive productivity boost. The filter housing also has a rubber seal that actually seals. No dust leaking past into the carburetor. I opened the intake after a week of heavy use, and it was spotless. For commercial guys who cut near the ground or in dirty wood, this is a killer feature. It directly translates to longer engine life and less downtime. I cannot overstate how important this is. If you’ve ever lost a saw to dust ingestion, you know the value of a good filtration system.

Build Quality and Value: A Commercial Grade Investment

Durable Construction

The chassis is a magnesium alloy crankcase with a reinforced handle. It feels solid. There’s no flex in the handle when you’re torquing on a stuck bar. The side cover is metal, not plastic. The chain tensioner is a side access design, which is standard now, but it’s well engineered. You can adjust the chain with one hand, and it holds tension well. The anti vibration system is decent, but not class leading. It’s better than a Stihl 462 in my opinion, but not as smooth as some of the older Husqvarna models. After a full day of cutting, my hands were tired, but not numb. That’s acceptable for a commercial saw. The starter cord is robust. I didn’t break it, and I’ve broken cords on cheaper saws. The fuel cap and oil cap are tool less and seal well. I didn’t have any leaks, even when the saw was on its side. The chain brake is a point of contention. It is stiff. Very stiff. When new, you need a firm hand to engage it. It loosens up a bit after a few weeks, but it never becomes easy. Some guys might see this as a safety feature, because it won’t accidentally engage. But if you’re doing a lot of limbing and need to frequently release and re engage the brake, it gets annoying. I got used to it, but it’s worth noting.

Value: You Get What You Pay For

I won’t quote a price because they vary by dealer and region, but the 572 XP sits at the premium end of the 70cc class. It is not cheap. But consider what you’re getting: a saw that will last years with proper maintenance, a system that prevents lean seizures, and a filtration system that protects your investment. When you factor in the reduced downtime, the lower risk of engine failure, and the torque that lets you cut faster, the cost per hour of operation is actually quite good. I would not recommend this saw for a homeowner who cuts a few cords a year. It’s overkill. But for a professional or a serious firewood cutter who puts in 50 plus hours a season, the 572 XP will pay for itself in reliability. The resale value is also strong. Husqvarna commercial saws hold their value well because they are repairable and parts are widely available.

Who Should Buy the Husqvarna 572 XP?

This saw is for the professional faller, the arborist, and the dedicated firewood producer. If you cut every day, or even every week, and you need a saw that starts, cuts, and keeps running without constant attention, this is your tool. It excels in hardwood and big timber. It’s also a great saw for storm cleanup because the air filtration handles debris and dust so well. I would not recommend it for occasional use. It’s heavy, it’s expensive, and the AutoTune system is wasted on someone who uses a saw twice a year. If you are a homeowner with a few acres and a wood stove, look at the 550 XP or even the 545. The 572 XP is too much saw for light duty. It’s also not ideal for climbing arborists who need a lightweight saw for limbing. It’s a ground saw. A felling saw. A bucking saw. If that’s your work, this is one of the best options on the market right now.

My Verdict: A Flawed Champion

I’ll be honest. The Husqvarna 572 XP is not perfect. The chain brake is stiff. The weight is noticeable after a long day. And the AutoTune system, while brilliant, can be frustrating if you don’t understand how it works. But the pros far outweigh the cons. The torque is exceptional. The air filtration is the best I’ve seen on a production saw. The build quality inspires confidence. This saw feels like it was designed by people who actually cut wood for a living. It’s not a marketing gimmick. It’s a tool. If you are in the market for a 70cc commercial saw, you should absolutely consider the 572 XP. It competes directly with the Stihl 462, and in my opinion, it edges it out in torque and filtration, while falling slightly behind in weight and chain brake ergonomics. It comes down to personal preference. For me, the 572 XP is the saw I reach for when the work is hard and the conditions are dirty. It has earned a permanent spot in my truck. I would buy it again without hesitation.