Honda UMK 425 vs Makita EM2651UH: 4-stroke duel

The Honda UMK 425 and Makita EM2651UH sit in almost exactly the same class: both are 25 cc-ish 4-stroke petrol brush cutters built for homeowners who are tired of mixing 2-stroke oil into every tank. Neither is a bramble-buster — both are sized for grass and light growth — so this isn’t a power contest. It’s a choice between Honda’s famous small-engine pedigree and Makita’s lighter, more affordable take on the same idea.

At a glance

	Honda UMK 425	Makita EM2651UH
Engine	Honda GX25, 25 cc, 4-stroke	25.4 cc, 4-stroke (MM4)
Power	0.72 kW (~1 hp)	~0.77 kW
Weight	~6.0 kg	~5.5 kg (lighter)
Fuel	Pure petrol, no mixing	Pure petrol, no mixing
Included kit	Tap&Go head + 3-tooth blade + harness	Standard head; blade separate
Reputation	Legendary GX-series reliability	Solid Makita 4-stroke reliability
Price position	Premium (≈€330)	More affordable (≈€280)

Engine and power: nearly a tie

On paper, the two engines are close enough that the difference won’t be felt in the field. The Honda’s GX25 produces about 0.72 kW, while Makita’s MM4 unit edges it out slightly at roughly 0.77 kW — both numbers land in the same “fine for grass and light growth, don’t expect to shred brambles” territory. If you’re choosing based on which engine will muscle through denser scrub, neither is really the answer; that’s a job for a 35–40 cc machine from either brand’s range instead.

Weight and handling

This is where a real, if modest, gap appears. The Makita EM2651UH comes in at approximately 5.5 kg, against the Honda UMK 425’s roughly 6.0 kg. Half a kilo doesn’t sound like much, but across a long maintenance session — especially one run off a simple shoulder strap rather than a full harness — lighter genuinely means less fatigue. Neither machine is heavy by petrol standards, so this is a tie-breaker rather than a dealbreaker, but it nudges slightly in Makita’s favor for anyone prioritizing all-day comfort.

What’s in the box

Here the Honda pulls ahead in a way that partly explains its higher price: the UMK 425 is typically sold with a Tap&Go trimmer head, a 3-tooth metal blade, and a harness included, so it’s ready to cut grass or light woody growth straight out of the box. The Makita EM2651UH is generally sold with its standard cutting head, and a blade is often a separate purchase. If you already own accessories from another machine, that difference matters less; if you’re starting from scratch, Honda’s bundle can offset some of the price gap.

Reliability reputation

Honda’s GX-series small engines have built a genuine, decades-long reputation for reliability — the same family of engine turns up in tillers, generators, and pumps worldwide, and that pedigree is a large part of why the UMK 425 commands a premium price. Makita’s MM4 4-stroke doesn’t have quite the same brand mythology behind it, but it’s a well-regarded, solidly engineered engine in its own right, with nothing in its track record to suggest it’s the weaker choice — it’s simply less famous outside brush-cutter circles.

Price and value

The Honda UMK 425 sits at a clear premium, around €330, while the Makita EM2651UH is typically more affordable, around €280. That roughly €50 gap buys you the Honda name, the GX25’s reputation, and the included blade and harness — a reasonable trade for buyers who want the most trusted small engine on the market and don’t mind paying for it. Buyers who are comfortable with Makita’s solid (if less mythologized) 4-stroke engineering, and who don’t mind sourcing a blade separately, get a lighter machine for less money.

Choose the Honda UMK 425 if…

• You want the single most trusted name in small 4-stroke engines
• You’d rather have blade and harness included than buy them separately
• You’re happy paying a premium for long-term reliability and resale confidence
• A slightly heavier machine isn’t a concern for your typical session length

Choose the Makita EM2651UH if…

• Budget matters and you want to save roughly €50 without a real performance trade-off
• You want the lighter of the two machines for long sessions on a shoulder strap
• You already have compatible accessories and don’t need a bundled blade and harness
• You’re comfortable trusting Makita’s solid, if less storied, 4-stroke engineering

Which should you buy?

For most homeowners, this comes down to priorities rather than performance, since the Honda UMK 425 and Makita EM2651UH cut almost identically. Choose the Honda if you want the strongest reliability reputation in the small-engine world and appreciate having a blade and harness included in the price. Choose the Makita if you’d rather save money, shave off half a kilo, and are comfortable buying accessories as you need them. Either way, remember both machines are sized for grass and light growth — if brambles or scrub are a regular feature of your land, you’ll want to look at a larger-displacement model from either brand instead of splitting hairs between these two.