Quick verdict
A 24-inch two-stage gas blower with a 212cc engine, 20-inch intake, 120V push-button electric start and self-propelled drive with reverse. It suits a two-car driveway in a climate that gets a few real storms a year and a buyer who wants no pull cord. The caveat is the listing itself, which gives two different speed counts, and the value-brand assembly that owners say needs a once-over.
Strengths
- 212cc engine on a 24-inch two-stage deck
- 120V push-button electric start, no pull cord needed
- Self-propelled with reverse gears
- 13-inch snow tires
- Maker rates it for up to 12 inches of snow
Weaknesses
- Listing conflicts on speed count: six forward in the title, four in the features
- 20-inch intake, an inch shorter than its sibling
- No warranty term, weight or chute control type stated
- Value-brand fit and finish
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
Who this snow blower is for
This is the second PowerSmart 24-inch 212cc two-stage in the brand’s lineup, and the headline is the starter: a 120V push-button electric start with no priming or pulling. It is aimed at the same buyer as the rest of the value two-stage class, a two-car driveway, a sidewalk, a handful of real storms a winter, and a budget that stops short of the dealer brands, with a tilt toward anyone who has fought a pull cord on a cold morning and does not want to again.
This review is based on the maker’s published specifications and on recurring owner feedback. We have not run this product ourselves.
What you get
The listing gives a 212cc engine, a 24-inch clearing width, a 20-inch intake height, 13-inch snow tires, a 120V push-button electric start and self-propelled drive with reverse. PowerSmart quotes a clearing rate of 2400 pounds per minute, a throw of up to 45 feet and a depth rating of up to 12 inches, and says the electric start works at minus 20 F. The speed count is inconsistent: the title lists six forward and two reverse, the feature text four forward and two reverse. Weight, chute control type, headlight, recoil backup and warranty are all unstated.
Clearing power and throw distance
The 212cc engine is the same displacement as the sibling model and the class norm for 24 inches, with enough torque to keep the impeller loaded in wet snow. The 20-inch intake is an inch shorter than the other PowerSmart 24, which matters only at the plow ridge; fallen snow up to a foot is well within it. The 2400 pound per minute and 45-foot figures are the maker’s maximums under ideal conditions. In cold powder the throw will be long; in wet spring snow expect roughly half, which still puts snow past the edge of the driveway rather than back on it.
Drive, speeds and traction
Self-propelled drive with two reverse gears is what separates a two-stage from a single-stage for a heavy machine: you steer it rather than push it. Whether there are four or six forward speeds, the ones that count are the slowest, for deep wet snow, and a walking pace for a light dusting. The 13-inch tires are standard for the width and grip packed snow well. There is no mention of trigger steering or a differential, so expect to heave the handlebars at the end of each pass.
Build, starting and ergonomics
PowerSmart builds to a price and the consistent owner note across the brand’s two-stage blowers is that the machine arrives needing its fasteners tightened and cables set. Done once, it tends to run through the season; skipped, it rattles. The push-button electric start is the ergonomic win here, since a 212cc engine on a cold morning is a hard pull for many people. The cord to plug it in is a short run from the garage outlet and is unplugged before you clear.
Living with it
Add oil before the first start and change it early. Use fresh fuel with stabilizer, run the carburetor dry in spring, keep spare shear pins, and lubricate the chute so wet snow does not pack. Read the manual for the actual gear count and for any warranty term, since the listing gives neither.
Alternatives to Consider
The other PowerSmart 24-inch 212cc two-stage adds an inch of intake height and lists a recoil backup start for little difference in price. The Troy-Bilt Storm 2420 is the established value brand at this size with a published warranty. The Cub Cadet 2X 24 adds a stronger build and a dealer network for a step up in cost.
Verdict
Buy this PowerSmart 24 in. 212cc two-stage if push-button starting is the feature you care about most, the driveway is two cars wide and you are willing to go over the machine with a wrench before the first storm. Skip it if the speed-count confusion bothers you or you want a published warranty, where the Troy-Bilt is the safer buy.
Full specifications
PowerSmart 24 in. 212cc Two-Stage Self-Propelled Gas Snow Blower with Push-Button Electric Start FAQs
The listing title says six forward and two reverse; the feature text says four forward and two reverse. Either is workable on a two-car driveway, but confirm on the product page or the manual if the slow crawl speed matters to you.
The listing describes only the 120V push-button electric start. Most gas two-stage blowers also carry a recoil starter, but it is not mentioned here, so confirm before buying if you clear snow where no outlet is close.
PowerSmart states the electric start works at minus 20 F. Keep the oil at the right winter grade and the fuel fresh with stabilizer; electric start only spins the engine, it does not fix stale gas.
For a foot of fallen snow, yes. For the ridge a city plow leaves, which can be taller and dense, take it in low gear and half-width bites. An inch more intake on the sibling model helps a little but does not change the technique.
