Both sub-compact · John Deere against Kioti
John Deere 1023E vs Kioti CS2220
| Spec | John Deere 1023E | Kioti CS2220 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$15,759 | ~$15,939 |
| What that price is | MSRP, base build | MSRP, base build |
| Size class | Sub-Compact | Sub-Compact |
| Transmission | Hydrostatic | Hydrostatic |
| Engine hp | 21.5 hp | 21 hp |
| PTO hp | 15.3 hp | 16.3 hp |
| Loader lift | 836 lbsat the pivot pin | 1,062 lbsat the pivot pin |
| Three-point lift | 681 lbs24 in behind the lift points | 700 lbsmeasuring point not recorded |
| Hydraulic flow | 6.3 GPM | 7.0 GPM |
| Drive | 4WD | 4WD |
| Engine | Yanmar | Daedong |
| Weight | 1,345 lbs | 1,554 lbs |
| Fuel tank | 5.6 gal | 6.7 gal |
| 4WD | Yes | Yes |
| Front loader | Yes | Yes |
| Cab available | No | No |
| Hydrostatic | Yes | Yes |
| Power steering | Yes | Yes |
| Cruise control | No | No |
| Warranty | 6 yr / 2000 hr powertrain | 6 yr / unlimited hr powertrain |
A highlighted cell wins its row on the rule named above the table: more power, lift, capacity or flow, or a lower price. A lift row is left unwon whenever the two makers measured in different places, or where either of them did not say — a figure quoted at the pivot pin and one quoted 500 mm ahead of it describe the same loader and differ by roughly a third, so ranking them against each other would invent a result. Prices are typical list and move with dealer packages.
From owner discussion and long-term write-ups
What owners of each one say
John Deere 1023E
What they like
- It's the cheapest way into a new John Deere, and frequent 0% financing deals put it within reach of ordinary homeowners
- It shares the 1025R's frame, axles, and attachment compatibility, so the 120R loader and AutoConnect deck all fit
- The Yanmar diesel is the same family as the 1025R's, and the gap between them is about 2 hp
- The Twin Touch hydrostatic pedals make it one of the friendliest first tractors for a total beginner
- It's light enough to tow with a half-ton truck and a basic utility trailer
- For mowing, snow removal, and light loader chores on a few acres, it does 90% of what the 1025R does for $2,000 less
What they complain about
- The stripped E-trim deletes cruise control, tilt steering, the suspension seat, and fender lights that make the 1025R nicer to live with
- Position control on the 3-point is replaced by a simpler system, so repeatable implement height settings are harder to dial in
- At 21.5 HP and 15.3 PTO HP it's among the weakest tractors on the lot, and thick grass or heavy loader work will slow it down
- The 681 lb 3-point lift rules out heavier rear implements entirely
- Owners who start doing serious loader work almost universally wish they'd bought a 2-series or bigger
- A Kubota BX2380 or Kioti CS2520 at similar money offers comparable or better specs, so the value case rests heavily on the green badge
Kioti CS2220
What they like
- 1,062 lb at the pivot pin is more loader than most 21 hp machines carry, and it beats Kioti's own heavier CS2230 by nearly 200 lb
- 73.7 in of loader lift height clears the side of a pickup bed
- 7.0 gpm total flow, up from the CS2210's 6.5, for no change in engine or emissions class
- 72-month powertrain coverage with no hour limit, plus 24 months bumper-to-bumper including labor and no deductible
- Tier 4 Final without a DPF because it stays under 25 hp
- 1,554 lb still trailers behind a half-ton and will not rut a lawn
What they complain about
- 21 hp has to move that 1,062 lb loader, so a full bucket of wet material will bog the engine long before it overloads the arms
- 700 lb at the 3-point is identical to the cheapest CS - the rear end did not grow with the front
- No cab offered at this hp point
- At $15,939 it lands within about $500 of the CS2230, which trades away loader capacity for a larger 1,233 cc engine at the same 21 hp