Garden-Review Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Powerful, durable, and backed by Hyundai reliability — just be ready for the noise and the weight.
If you’ve ever had to dig out a mature tree stump by hand, you’ll know it’s one of the most back-breaking jobs in gardening. After wrestling with one too many oak stumps last autumn, I decided to call in some heavy artillery — Hyundai’s 14hp Petrol Stump Grinder (HYSG150-2).
This chunky blue beast promises to turn stubborn stumps into mulch faster than you can say “goodbye, tree roots.” But how does it really perform when you fire it up in the garden? Here’s what I found after putting it through its paces.
First Impressions
Let’s start with the basics: the HYSG150-2 is a heavy-duty grinder powered by a 420cc 4-stroke Hyundai engine, delivering a very healthy 14 horsepower. It’s built to chew through stumps up to 36 inches across and grind down about a foot below the surface — plenty for most gardens.
At around 110kg, it’s no featherweight, but that’s actually a good thing. The weight gives it stability when you’re working on uneven or damp soil. Just don’t expect to lift it into a van without a ramp or a mate.
It’s fitted with nine tungsten carbide-tipped teeth, which are razor-sharp and replaceable — perfect for those hidden stones or stubborn hardwoods that would laugh off a standard blade.
Putting It to Work
My test site was a mix of ash, cherry, and one gnarly old sycamore stump that had been sitting there mocking me for two years.
Starting it up is straightforward — just petrol, oil, and a good old-fashioned recoil pull. It’s a 4-stroke, so no mixing fuel and oil, which is a relief. Once running, it’s loud (rated at 112 dB, so ear defenders are essential), but that growl gives you confidence.
With the throttle up and the wheel brake engaged, I started slicing side-to-side over the stump. The grinder made steady progress, spitting out chunky wood chips like a woodpecker on caffeine. The engine didn’t bog down, even on thick sections, and with a bit of rhythm you can grind down a medium-sized stump in around 10–15 minutes.
The adjustable handlebars are well thought out, allowing good leverage for pivoting cuts. The pneumatic tyres handled the uneven ground surprisingly well too.
What It’s Great At
Power & Performance:
That 14hp engine really earns its keep. It has enough grunt to deal with anything from fruit trees to mature oaks without stalling every few seconds.
Build Quality:
Hyundai’s build feels solid — steel frame, simple belt-driven cutter wheel, and the controls are laid out sensibly. You don’t get the sense anything’s going to snap off mid-job.
Carbide Teeth:
The tungsten teeth bite hard and last well. You’ll still want spares on hand, but they don’t blunt easily even on dense roots.
Depth of Cut:
Getting 12 inches below the surface is more than enough for replanting or laying turf over the spot.
Support:
Hyundai’s UK warranty (three years) and readily available parts are a huge comfort, especially compared to lesser-known imports.
What Could Be Better
It’s not perfect. Here’s what I’d flag up after a few stumps’ worth of testing:
- It’s heavy. Great once in position, but shifting 110 kg up a garden slope will test your core strength.
- It’s noisy. Wear proper protection — your neighbours will thank you too.
- Manual start only. No electric start option, so expect a bit of a workout on frosty mornings.
- Rocks are the enemy. Like all grinders, hidden stones can chip those pricey carbide teeth, so clear the area first.
Fuel consumption is reasonable, but you’ll definitely notice it if you’ve got a full day’s work ahead.
This Hyundai Stump Grinder i isn’t a toy — it’s a serious bit of kit. I cleared three stumps (two ash, one sycamore) in just over an hour, something that would have taken me the better part of a weekend with hand tools.
It’s powerful, reliable, and well-balanced, and the results speak for themselves — clean, level ground, no digging, no mess. It’s definitely aimed at landscapers, tree surgeons, or dedicated DIYers who do regular stump removals rather than the odd weekend job.
The Verdic?
The Hyundai HYSG150-2 is a brilliant middle-ground between small DIY grinders and professional contractor rigs. It’s built tough, packs enough punch for most domestic jobs, and has the support network to back it up.
If you’ve got a garden full of old roots, this machine will save your back, your shovel, and probably your sanity.
Garden-Review Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Powerful, durable, and backed by Hyundai reliability — just be ready for the noise and the weight.
Read more about Stump Grinders and how this Hyunndai Model Compares with other machines in out Stump Grinder Buying Guide
Where to buy?
At the time of writing this stump grinder was on offer from £1,249.99 to £999.99 available from Hyundai Power Products Directly, select retailers and Amazon.
Garden Review UK 
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