Tier B — Petrol garden tiller Garden tiller
Stihl MH 600
Stihl's powerful upper-mid tiller: a 212 cc STIHL EHC 600.0 engine rated 4.4 kW (6.0 PS) driving a 79 cm working width, with two forward gears plus reverse and an oil-bath air filter for dusty work, at 68 kg.
Indicative price
£950–£1,350
Specifications verified.The specifications here have been checked against the manufacturer's published figures and/or dealer listings. The price is still sourced from dealer quotes — confirm it against a live quote before you buy.
Who it's for
Best for: Larger plots and tougher ground where extra engine power matters.
Strengths
- Strong 212 cc / 4.4 kW engine for harder soil
- Two forward gears plus reverse
- Oil-bath air filter suits dusty conditions
- Adjustable handlebar and braking system
Trade-offs
- Heavy at 68 kg
- Mid working width for the power
- Premium price
Where the MH 600 sits in Stihl's range
Stihl's petrol tillers run from the MH 445 (3 hp, 45 cm) and the MH 560 (4 hp, 60 cm), through the wide-but-light MH 585 (3.1 hp, 85 cm), to the MH 600 here, the MH 685 (4.4 hp, 85 cm) and the two 7.1 hp flagships, the MH 710 at 97 cm and the MH 700 at 120 cm. The MH 600's position is unusual: at 6 hp on 79 cm it has more engine behind each centimetre of tine than either 85 cm machine beside it, and that is the whole reason to buy it.
Width sells tillers, but power per centimetre is what decides whether the machine digs or bounces on your ground. The MH 585 covers 85 cm on 3.1 hp and is the right machine for a big plot of light, already-worked soil. The MH 600 gives up a little width and adds nearly double the power, and at 68 kg it has the mass to keep its tines in clay or stony ground. If your soil is the problem rather than the size of the plot, this is the Stihl to look at.
Engine, gearbox and the details that matter
The STIHL EHC 600.0 is a 212 cc unit rated 4.4 kW. The feature to notice is the oil-bath air filter: on a dry allotment in July a tiller works in its own dust cloud, and an oil bath traps that far better than a paper element. Keep it topped up and the engine will outlast the tines. Two forward gears give a slow, deep pass for breaking ground and a faster one for a seedbed; the reverse is genuinely useful on a 68 kg machine backed into a corner.
The adjustable handlebar and the braking system round it off. The bar lets a tall or short operator set the machine to run level, and the brake is what holds it back so the tines dig instead of running away on hard ground. If you are cross-shopping with the flagship, our Stihl MH 710 review covers the 97 cm machine above it.
Who should not buy the MH 600
Anyone with raised beds, a small garden or a plot with lots of paths: 68 kg and 79 cm is a full-plot machine. Anyone on light, free-draining soil that a lighter tiller already handles — the MH 585 does that job for less money and less effort. And anyone whose real problem is width on a very large open area, where the MH 700's 120 cm makes more sense.
The right buyer has a full-size allotment or a smallholding vegetable patch on heavy or stony ground, wants a machine that will dig rather than skate, and is prepared to pay a premium for Stihl's dealer network and parts supply. Compare it with the wider field in our best rotavator for clay soil and best petrol rotavator guides before deciding.
Buying in the UK: dealer and used
Stihl sells through approved dealers, and the £950–1350 range here is a dealer quote rather than a list price, so confirm it locally. Even if you order online you will collect from or be supplied through a dealer who prepares the machine and handles warranty, and the dealer is also your source for tine sets later.
Used MH 600s are a good buy because Stihl owners tend to service them, but check the essentials. Run both forward gears and reverse under load and listen for anything beyond a steady whine; a reverse that engages reluctantly is the common complaint on tillers of this type. Pull the oil-bath filter and confirm it has oil in it and is not full of sludge. Look for oil weeping at the gearbox and tine shaft seals, check the handlebar adjuster locks firmly, and measure the tines — worn-short tines make a 68 kg machine bounce, and a full set is a real cost. Start it cold: a healthy 212 cc Stihl fires in a couple of pulls.
Specifications
| Category | Garden tiller |
|---|---|
| Type | Rear-tine · Petrol garden tiller |
| Power source | Petrol |
| Engine | STIHL EHC 600.0 (212 cc, 4.4 kW) |
| Power output | 6 hp / 4.4 kW |
| Working width | 79 cm |
| Weight | 68 kg |
| Status | Current model |
| Indicative price | £950–£1,350 |
| Price basis | Dealer quote |
Rear-tine machine. Width and weight determine how much ground you cover and how manoeuvrable it is — heavier machines bite harder but ask more of you to turn and transport.
MH 600 — your questions
How much does the Stihl MH 600 cost?
The indicative price is £950–£1,350, based on dealer quotes. Always confirm against a live quote — these figures are estimates pending verification.
What size plot is the MH 600 suited to?
Larger plots and tougher ground where extra engine power matters. With a 79 cm working width it covers ground quickly on larger plots and smallholdings.
Is the MH 600 petrol, diesel or electric?
It is petrol (STIHL EHC 600.0 (212 cc, 4.4 kW)). That means strong sustained power for breaking and turning ground, with routine fuel and oil maintenance.
Stihl MH 600 or MH 685 — which should I buy?
The MH 685 gives 85 cm on 4.4 hp; the MH 600 gives 79 cm on 6 hp and costs less. On light or already-worked soil where width is what saves time, the MH 685 makes sense. On clay, stony ground or a plot that sets hard in summer, the MH 600's extra power per centimetre is worth more than the few centimetres of width, and it is the better value of the two.
Is the Stihl MH 600 good for clay soil?
It is one of the better tillers in its class for it. The 212 cc engine on a 79 cm width, the 68 kg mass and the low forward gear together let it dig into heavy ground where lighter, wider machines bounce. It will not match a counter-rotating tiller for depth on truly compacted ground, but for a clay allotment worked each year it is a sound choice.
