Chainsaw technologies have only gotten better over the years. And honestly, when you pick up a brand-new chainsaw from the market and compare it to an older model you have while sitting in your home, you can notice the differences.
The other day, I decided to treat myself to something from the new Husqvarna mark II model. But seeing as how chainsaws are expensive, and I already have a 460 Rancher sitting pretty in my shed, I didn’t want to go overboard at my expense. In the end, I settled on the 545 mark II, which was pretty close to what I had spent on the 460 Rancher when I bought it.
But lo and behold, the improvements that they made with the 545 mark II practically blew me away. Don’t get me wrong – I am still pretty happy with the 460 Rancher, but the 545 is just plain better.
Now I’m sure many of you are in the same boat and considering how the 545 mark II improves over the 460 Rancher – I decided it’s a good opportunity for me to showcase some of their differences. And that’s what brings us here.
Let’s start with a quick chart highlighting some of the key differences between the Husqvarna 545 Mark II and 460 Rancher.
Husqvarna 545 Mark II Vs 460 Rancher (Quick Overview)
| Key Factor | Husqvarna 545 Mark II | Husqvarna 460 Rancher |
|---|---|---|
| Powerhead Weight | 11.7 pounds | 13.2 pounds |
| Displacement | 50.1 cc | 60.3 cc |
| Fuel Capacity | 17.92 oz. | 14.87 oz. |
| Engine Power | 3.6 hp | 3.6 Hp |
| Bar Length | 16 – 20 inches | 18 – 24 inches |
| Price | CHECK LATEST PRICE | CHECK LATEST PRICE |
Main Features of the Husqvarna 545 Mark II
- Lightweight and Efficient
The Husqvarna 545 mark II is a powerful and efficient chainsaw in a lightweight, compact form factor. With this model, the manufacturers optimized their X-Torq engine technology to provide more power at less fuel cost.
- Auto-Tune
With the Auto-Tune technology in the Husqvarna mark II, the engine is automatically optimized to deliver the best performance. So you won’t have to worry about adjusting the carburetor all that much.
- Excellent Cooling System
The cooling system in the Husqvarna 545 mark II is optimized to keep the engine running more efficiently without the risk of overheating. In other words, your chainsaw engine will perform better and last longer.
Main Features of the Husqvarna 460 Rancher
- Powerful X-Torq Engine
The true highlight of the 460 Rancher is its powerful and efficient X-Torq engine. It delivers amazing power output while reducing fuel usage and emissions by a significant margin.
- Air Injection Technology
The Husqvarna 460 Rancher features a centrifugal air cleaning system that breaks down larger debris and expels them out of the system. So your air cleaner doesn’t get clogged up as often and also requires fewer replacements.
- LowVib Technology
Shock-absorbing dampeners between the chassis and engine of the 460 Rancher chainsaw reduce the amount of vibration you feel while operating it. This is a game changer in how it feels when you handle the chainsaw.
Read Also: Husqvarna 555 Vs 460 Rancher: Which Is Right For You?
Differences Between Husqvarna 545 Mark II and 460 Rancher
While the two chainsaws share many similarities in terms of features, the performance they offer is quite different. And on top of that, the price difference between the two is pretty big, which begs the question – is it worth the upgrade?
Well, that’s for you to decide. So let me give you a thorough comparison between the Husqvarna 545 mark II and the 460 Rancher based on my testing of the two chainsaws to help make things as easy for you as possible.
- Weight and Handling
Weight is always the first thing I check when I get a new chainsaw. Since I use chainsaws for property maintenance mostly, I prefer using a lightweight chainsaw that lets me move from one tree branch to another, whacking away when needed. But some people, loggers mostly, prefer a heavy chainsaw.
A heavy chainsaw feels nice when you are felling large trees. It also gives you good leverage and balance as the tree comes falling down. But when you want to keep light on your feet, a lighter chainsaw will feel much better.
I am pretty happy with how the 460 Rancher feels in my hand. It has a nice weight to it without becoming too heavy to handle. Moving around with it doesn’t feel awkward. But working long hours with it does get a bit tiring. That’s where I noticed the first major improvement in the 545 mark II.
The 460 Rancher weighs around 13.2 pounds, while the newer 545 mark II weighs only a measly 11.7 pounds. That’s one and a half pounds of weight difference which is pretty significant. And it also does that without compromising on the power department.
Now, you might argue that the weight difference isn’t much, or you could always take a break if you get tired. But taking a break means your projects will take more time to get finished. So, if you ask me, the Husqvarna 545 mark II is the clear winner here.
Winner: Husqvarna 545 mark II
- Engine Power and Performance
For most people, the engine power is what matters the most. Now I’m not like most people, and I don’t believe that the raw engine power of a chainsaw is its be-all, end-all. Other features, such as its ergonomics, fuel efficiency, or even its simplicity, all dictate the overall quality of the chainsaw.
But then again, if you are a logger and want to chop off large oak wood, then you would be better off with a powerful chainsaw instead of a fuel-efficient one. For daily activities, though, a moderately-powerful chainsaw should suffice.
When checking out the engine of the newer Husqvarna 545 mark II, I noticed something interesting. The chainsaw delivered the same 3.6 HP output as the 460 Rancher. However, the engine is smaller in the 545 mark II.
The Husqvarna 460 Rancher features a heavy-duty 60.3 cc engine which was the primary contributor to its weight. However, the engine in the 545 mark II is only 50.1 ccs which is quite a bit smaller.
Despite the difference in their displacement capacity, the engine in the two chainsaws, in fact, produces a similar level of power output. This speaks volumes about how well-optimized the engine in the Husqvarna 545 is, and that’s why I think this chainsaw deserves the win here.
Winner: Husqvarna 545 mark II
- Fuel Capacity and Efficiency
With their newer chainsaw models, Husqvarna put a lot of focus on their fuel efficiency and capacity. Now, don’t get me wrong, their X-Torq engine is already pretty efficient. But by tweaking the engine and optimizing its performance, they really ramped up the efficiency of the new models.
I’m sure you are starting to notice a trend here, the Husqvarna 545 mark II once again trumps over the 460 Rancher, leaving it in the dust. The older 460 Rancher features a 14.87 oz. fuel tank that had a decent uptime thanks to its efficient engine design and fuel usage.
However, the 545 mark II comes with a bigger, 17.9 oz. tank. And since the engine displacement is lower in the 545, it also eats up less fuel giving you drastically improved runtime.
Now, technically, both of these chainsaws are powerful enough to handle any sort of application, including some lightweight forestry. However, their true power lies in their simplicity and how you can use them for basic chores around the house almost on a daily basis.
With that in mind, fuel efficiency should be one of your main priorities when choosing your chainsaw. And the Husqvarna 545 mark II is a no-brainer in that regard.
Winner: Husqvarna 545 mark II
- Bar Length Compatibility
Bar length is not something people often think about when looking at a new chainsaw. And when they eventually bring it home and notice that it’s not compatible with their desired bar lengths, it’s too late. Make no mistake – the bar compatibility of a chainsaw matters quite a bit.
One thing that was a letdown for me with the 545 mark II was that it’s not compatible with any bars over 20 inches. In its defence, though, this model serves as a direct upgrade over the 445 Rancher, which has a similar range of bar compatibility as this one.
The 460 Rancher takes the lead here since you can use up to 24-inch bars with the chainsaw without running into any trouble. Of course, if you want the newer generation chainsaws without giving up its bar compatibility, you could always go with the Husqvarna 560 mark II. But that’s obviously going to cost you more.
Then again, if your main intention with the chainsaw is doing property maintenance, the added bar length of the 460 doesn’t matter much. It only starts to affect performance when you step up to cut thicker logs with your chainsaws. For most people, that’s not very regular.
Still, credit where credit is due, the Husqvarna 460 Rancher wins this battle.
Winner: Husqvarna 460 Rancher
- Ergonomics and Other Features
The newer 545 mark II chainsaw features a slimmed-down design making it much easier to handle than the previous model. Now, I’m not saying that the 460 Rancher is a bulky chainsaw. But even then, you will notice a big difference with the handling of the newer model.
The 545 mark II also comes with an Auto-Tune feature along with better cooling to prevent engine overheating. This means you will be able to push the engine harder without worrying about your chainsaw burning up. With the 460 Rancher, you need to be a bit more careful.
I am a huge fan of the 460 Rancher, but the truth is the 545 mark II offers a much better experience to the user.
Winner: Husqvarna 545 mark II
- Price
Sometimes price can be the only thing that decides which chainsaw you can buy. Even when you have a big budget, you shouldn’t just throw around your money on getting the most expensive saw in the market – that’s just not a smart way of looking at things.
I believe that instead of looking at the price of a chainsaw, you should look at its value. And frankly, the price difference between the Husqvarna 545 mark II and the 460 Rancher aren’t really all that major to make a huge deal. The newer model is only around 40 dollars more expensive than the 460 Rancher.
Even if you are short on cash, I would recommend saving up a bit for the newer model instead of settling because of the improved features and efficiency of the 545 mark II offers. But if you are looking at it solely from a price perspective, the Husqvarna 460 is the winner.
Winner: Husqvarna 460 but the 545 mark II offers more value.
Read Also: Husqvarna 455 Vs 460 Rancher: The Clash of Titans
The Bottom Line
While I do love the 545 mark II, the 460 Rancher isn’t a bad chainsaw at all. And you need to remember that both of these chainsaws are by the same brand and share some similarities. The 460 Rancher, in essence, serves as a stepping stone for the Husqvarna 545 mark II
But then again, you can’t really ignore the fact that the 545 mark II is a much better chainsaw with better efficiency and engine performance. And since it’s not all as expensive as the 460 Rancher, it really makes no sense to settle for the older model.
Of course, if you already have a 460 Rancher sitting in your home, then you won’t really get a major boost in performance with the 545 mark II. So, if the choice is between the two chainsaws, I would recommend going with the 545 mark II. But if you are eyeing it as an upgrade, then you are better off saving your money.
I hope my thorough comparison between the Husqvarna 545 mark II and 460 Rancher could help you understand what both of them offer. Good luck!
