The only one I am familiar with is the Mantis mini electric tiller. But you want to break new soil, I don't think it is going to be strong enough, it will take forever. But if you are willing to spend a lot of time, it will eventually get there. Good thing is you can use it for other thing like cultivating, dethatching etc. I have the gas Mantis and it work very good in dethatch and cultivating. So it can be a long term equipment.

I also have a front tine tiller by Poulan which is the same as the front tine Craftsman selling in Sears. It is about $320 or so and it work. A lot faster than the Mantis. But problem is after you break the soil the first time, it is not very useful anymore. The Mantis is a lot more useful.

I still would get the gas Mantis, it is more portable, it's not that hard to use.

Breaking up hard soil takes a real rototiller and multiple passes. Once you've done this a few times you can get by with one of the smaller units.

Maybe you should consider renting.

In a really small lot and small area, you could use a shovel to just loosen the soil and then use a mini-tiller. I have done this many times with mine in really hard soil because it speeds up the tilling.

Before I bought my front tine, I thought about renting. Problem is costing a lot to rent if you want to take it easy and split into two or three days. It's hard work!!! That will almost cost as much as my front tine. So I decided to buy instead. I have till my yard 3 times already, well worth the money.( I was so lazy I just left the yard bare, that's why I have to retill over and over!!)

Well, after reading a bunch of reviews on the Mantis, it seems like most people, especially those with small yards, are very happy with it... There are a few who had pretty serious problems, so I'll be reviewing the warranty pretty thoroughly...

I think I'll give it a shot next month.
Thanks for the input.

I bought direct from Mantis. It is a little more than if you buy outside, but the service is very good. Somehow my gear box jam which I never heard of before. I called them, they just tell me to take the gear box out which is very easy, they are going to ship a brand new one to me and I just have to pack the old one in the box that comes with the new one and they will arrange to pick it up. Simple.

Echo and Redmax have minitiller also but it is the same except Redmax use their own engine. Everything else is exact.

You have other option, Honda make FG110 which seemed pretty good and Stihl have the Yard Boss.

If you are worry about Mantis, they sell extended warrante also. I think you'll be happy, I am. Turn out I use it the most, dethatching, digging holes for planting, cultivating weeds. I use it all the time.

I have not seen any bad review other than the Echo engine version is hard to start. I think people just don't know how to start the engine. I have the Echo HC151 which have the same engine, it take getting use to, but I have a formula to start it in 3 pulls everytime. I think I am the first one that have gear box jam!!!