Honda pressure washers are extremely popular. My favorite pressure washer with a reliable Honda engine is the Simpson Megashot 2800 PSI pressure washer.
There are a few reasons why Honda is the small engine provider of choice for a lot of these brands: they’re extremely reliable (just like their cars), everyone recognizes them, and they are flat out powerful.
Today, I’m going to walk you through an overview of Honda pressure washer engines then highlight which Honda pressure washers are our favorites.
Let’s get started!
Best Honda Pressure Washers, Ranked:
- Simpson MegaShot 2800 PSI 2.3 GPM
- Craftsman 3300 PSI 2.4 GPM Gas Pressure Washer
- Simpson PowerShot 3300 PSI 2.5 GPM
- Simpson MSH3125 MegaShot 3200 PSI
- Ryobi 3100 PSI 2.3 GPM Pressure Washer
How I tested these Honda pressure washers
I have been using pressure washers for decades. Basically, my “friend” would always get me to come help him with pressure washer and paint jobs – he owned his own business. That’s when I really started to pick up on the power differences in pressure washers and did some early stage testing.
Now I own and have tested over a dozen pressure washers and love my job. When I’m testing these pressure washers, I am always looking to evaluate the actual PSI that comes out, portability, convenience, and of course what type of job I am doing.
Best Honda Pressure Washers: Ranked
I’m going to rank the Honda pressure washer engine primarily from the lens of a normal homeowner looking for a powerful, reliable pressure washer that is likely available at their local home improvement store. I’ll also throw in a bonus ranking for the best Honda commercial pressure washer. Let’s get after it.
1. Simpson MegaShot 2800 PSI 2.3 GPM pressure washer
The Simpson MegaShot 2800 PSI 2.3 GPM (MS60773) pressure washer made the top of our list for a few reasons. For starters, it is in the sweet spot for power for the average homeowner. 2800 PSI isn’t going to blast away the most insane paint stains, but it will definitely be enough to get your driveway clean.
What I really appreciate after reviewing a bunch of electric pressure washers with similar PSIs is just how much more efficient gas pressure washers are when it comes to gallons per minute. While this Simpson MegaShot pressure washer is in the same power ballpark as many electric pressure washers, it does so much more efficiently with more volume to help tackle jobs more quickly.
Here are some more features we love about this Honda pressure washer:
- Never Flat tires which means you won’t have to worry about keeping the air pumped up, or heaven forbid, replacing the tires
- A 25 foot hose that’s very durable
- The lovely Honda GCV170 engine
- 4 quick connect nozzles that make changing out tips extremely easy (just don’t lose them)
- A steel frame that keeps it upright and is crazy durable
Oh – and the best part is that it comes in at just over $350 and can be bought at Home Depot online.
There’s a reason this one is so popular. It has everything the average homeowner could want in a pressure washer that’s built to last.
2. Craftsman 3300 PSI 2.4 GPM Gas Pressure Washer
If you’re looking for a power upgrade from the Simpson pressure washer above, you may be looking for the Craftsman 3300 PSI 2.4 GPM pressure washer. Craftsman is a dominant brand in the lawn tool space because they make everything. Mowers, blowers, chainsaws and way, way more.
But they also make some sweet pressure washers. This one is very similar to the Simpson that we ranked number one but has 20% more PSI and 0.1 more GPM. It isn’t going to be a crazy noticeable difference when you use it, but you’ll be able to feel the power when you start applying it to the pavement. This one can definitely be used for some paint stripping, so be careful if that’s not what you’re going for. I’ve used a pressure washer similar to this to get some old paint off of my front porch and it worked like a charm.
Here are a few other features that stand out with this Honda pressure washer:
- The powerful Honda GCV200 engine
- 1 foot tall never-flat wheels – super easy to move around and won’t get popped.
- 5 quick connect nozzles, including a “second story nozzle” that shoots the water high up for window cleaning
- A large soap tank on board
- Easy storage
- A 30 foot hose for 5 feet of extra reach above the Simpson
It was honestly tempting to get this bad boy as number one on our list, but at just under $500 I thought it might be out of most folks’ budgets (including mine).
All-in-all, if you can make the leap to this one it is going to be just a s reliable and comes with even more power. It’s also available at Lowe’s or online at several places.
3. Simpson PowerShot 3300 PSI 2.5 GPM pressure washer
This one is a big leap from the other two because it can truly serve in both a commercial and residential setting. It’s a great mixture of power, beauty, and versatility.
Let’s start with looks – the dang thing just looks cool. It comes with big, thick, rubber tires that allow you to take it over gravel or other rough terrain. Never Flat tires are amazing for around the house, but get you into trouble for uneven surfaces.
But what you can’t see is the work Simpson took to make the plunger pump deliver even higher pressure at the tip of the nozzle. The hose itself is 1/16th of an inch bigger, allowing for maximum water delivery to help demolish whatever is in its path.
Here’s what stood out to us about the Simpson PowerShot:
- It has a Honda GX200 engine
- Has PowerBoost technology (the improved plunger pump)
- A thicker hose
- The all-terrain tires
One major drawback to this one is that it doesn’t come with a soap tank and doesn’t have a variable speed design. So basically it can only be used for pure power delivery. It’s like Shaquille O’Neal – only has one speed and that is pure power.
This thing can be picked up from Home Depot online or in-store for a really good price.
4. Simpson MSH3125 MegaShot 3200 PSI Gas Pressure Washer
Have to love what Simpson has here and I’m honestly surprised to see this one at such a good deal.
Earlier in this ranking I spoke about how the Honda GCV200 series is a step up from the GCV190. But the GCV190 motor was still a beast and was a part of some of the most popular pressure washers and lawn mowers of all time.
The MegaShot 3200 PSI pressure washer has a GCV190, and while it isn’t the newest, shiniest thing on the block, it still has insane performance. Here’s what I love about the Simpson MegaShot:
- Same thick tires as the one above
- Great PSI at 3200 and equally great GPM at 2.5
- 5 Quick connect heads
- A great warranty
- A 25 foot hose
But the best part – this thing is currently on sale at Amazon for about $320.
It’s also for sale at Home Depot – make sure to price compare!
5. Ryobi 3100 PSI 2.3 GPM Pressure Washer
While this one barely missed our list of our favorite Ryobi pressure washers, it is still a solid choice. Ryobi makes some great products and while they aren’t as commercially focused or experienced as Simpson or Craftsman, they make some great budget friendly pressure washers.
But there’s still a lot to like about this one. Here are some of our favorites:
- Honda GCV170 engine
- 5 nozzles just like the others
- Onboard soap tank
- A 35 foot hose, which is significantly longer than the others
- 12 inch Never Flat tires
On paper, this thing is sweet. While I would rather take the Simpson home with me and introduce it to my parents, this one is a great alternative if you are a Ryobi loyalist.
My neighbor owns this one and sadly one of the O-Rings broke on the hose intake connection point. While this is anecdotal and a one-time occurrence, I can’t help but question the long-term durability of this Ryobi pressure washer.
Either way, this pressure washer comes in at just around $450 and is available at Home Depot.
Why we review pressure washers
The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site.
As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.
What features to look for in a Honda pressure washer
Honda pressure washers make it relatively easy to knock off one of the biggest must-haves on your list: a reliable and powerful engine. But there are a few other things we recommend truly making sure are available when searching for a new pressure washer.
Nozzles Matter
- When choosing a pressure washer, you should pay attention to the nozzles included in the package. Two types of spray nozzles are available, adjustable spray nozzles that can be controlled and quick-connect nozzles with predefined spray patterns.
- The predefined spray patterns typically come in different angles, allowing for you to quickly switch between a broad, lower pressure spray or a narrow, higher pressure stream.
- Quick connect nozzles are super convenient, but they’re almost like airpods – you can lose them!
Soap tank availability
- Additionally, you may want to consider a soap tank-equipped pressure washer. Some of these pressure washers have “foam cannons” where you can simply add some soap and it will mix it in with the water. Pretty cool.
- I recommend a soap tank for cars and windows.
Wheels on pressure washers
- Despite these seemingly minor features, they can have a big impact, especially with larger units. No sense in lugging around one of these in your yard and tripping all over the place.
- Some pressure washers have a tendency to flip over and be top heavy, so make sure the base is sturdy.
- If you’re on the job site, keep an eye out for never-flat tires that will protect the wheels in case there are spare nails laying around.
Hose types
- There’s a big difference between how easy or difficult it is to use a pressure washer based on the kind of hose that comes with it. Stiff, rigid hoses make it extremely difficult to have any maneuverability without messing up the job or knocking over the base.
- Length is also important for pressure washer hoses as you can end up in a tight spot, literally, if you don’t have enough reach.
- Check out the two great pressure washer hoses that we compared for an upgrade
Don’t want to buy? Check out your options for renting a pressure washer.
Honda GCV170 vs GCV200 Pressure Washer Engines
You may remember the old GCV160 and GCV190 from Honda, particularly in a lot of their older lawn mowers, like the Honda HRN mower.
With the new Honda GCV170 and GCV200 pressure washers, they’ve simplified the design of their engines and added a few upgrades to help distinguish them even further from the competition.
Let’s check out the upgrades:
GCV170 and GCV200 Pressure Washer Engine Upgrades
I’m going to try to keep it not too technical here, but the GCV170 and GCV200 have some very fuel efficient upgrades in addition to making them more compact, lightweight, and easy to start and maintain, including:
- Overhead valve configuration allowing for increased power output
- More torque across the entire spectrum of RPMs
- An Auto Choke System
- Bigger fuel opening to reduce spills
- Easy access maintenance points
- Cycloflow technology which makes the engine easier to start
- It’s lighter
GCV170 vs GCV200 engine comparison
The major difference between the GCV170 and the GCV200 Honda pressure washer engines is in how much power they can put out across the range of RPMs.
At 2500 RPMs, the GCV170 puts out about 4 HP whereas the GCV200 puts out 4.5. At the top of the range, the 170 puts out nearly 5 HP whereas the GCV200 is going to be above 5.5.
Both are marked improvements above the GCV160 and GCV190, respectively.
Here’s a cool chart that Honda put out to highlight the differences:
GPM and PSI on electric pressure washers
GPM stands for gallons per minute. This measures how quickly water is leaving the end of the electric pressure washer. PSI stands for pounds per square inch and is a measure of pressure that is being applied out of the electric pressure washer.
If this is confusing to you, you’re not alone. In reality, if you are looking for power, you want both. They work hand-in-hand to deliver water from the machine at a high rate and effective and efficient volume.
For reference, a pressure washer can have a high PSI but a low GPM, meaning it is able to have a high pressure but generally not over a large area. Having both a high PSI and high GPM means that it’s coming out fast and it’s producing a more effective stream.
Likewise, you can also have a low PSI and higher GPM. This is a good ratio for cleaning cars because you get a lot of water at a safer pressure.
Final words about Honda pressure washers
What is there to say? You still drive by 1984 Honda Civics every day. Honda builds stuff that is meant to last. But their small engines are set apart because they aren’t only super reliable – but freakishly powerful as well.
You’re in good hands with Honda pressure washers – especially if you are checking out the new GCV200 or GCV170 series from them.
