John Deere 1025R vs Kubota BX23S
Quick take: The John Deere 1025R costs $4,000 less; the John Deere 1025R has more engine power (23.9 vs 21.6 hp); the John Deere 1025R has more loader lift (905 vs 739 lbs).
| Spec | John Deere 1025R | Kubota BX23S |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $20,500 | $24,500 |
| Rating | 4.7★ (1,400) | 4.6★ (1,100) |
| Category | Sub-Compact | Sub-Compact |
| Transmission | Hydrostatic | Hydrostatic |
| Engine HP | 23.9 hp | 21.6 hp |
| PTO HP | 18 hp | 17.7 hp |
| Loader Lift | 905 lbs | 739 lbs |
| 3-Point Lift | 681 lbs | 680 lbs |
| Hydraulic Flow | 6.4 GPM | 6.2 GPM |
| Drive | 4WD | 4WD |
| Engine | Yanmar | Kubota |
| Weight | 1543 lbs | 1808 lbs |
| Fuel Tank | 5.4 gal | 6.6 gal |
| 4WD | Yes | Yes |
| Loader | Yes | Yes |
| Cab | No | No |
| Hydrostatic | Yes | Yes |
| Power steering | Yes | Yes |
| Cruise control | Yes | No |
| Warranty | 6 yr / 2000 hr powertrain | 6 yr / 2000 hr powertrain |
Pros & cons
John Deere 1025R
- ✓The AutoConnect drive-over mower deck is genuinely a 5-minute on/off job you do without leaving the seat, unlike Kubota's BX where you crawl underneath to hook things up
- ✓The 120R loader and 60D deck quick-attach system is the best-in-class engineering reason most owners pick this over a Kubota BX
- ✓Dealer network is enormous - almost everyone has a Deere dealer within 30 minutes for parts and warranty, which is a huge deal when you break a hydraulic line
- ✓Independent PTO with the flip of a lever means you can stop moving without killing the mower or tiller, something budget tractors fumble
- ✓Resale value is legendary - people routinely sell used 1025Rs for 80-90% of what they paid after several years of use
- ✓The hydrostatic transmission with Twin Touch pedals is smooth and forgiving, ideal for first-time tractor owners doing loader work
- ✓Cruise control on the HST is a back-saver for long mowing sessions, and it's standard not an upcharge
- ✓Build quality feels a notch above the competition - the sheet metal, seat, and controls all feel more finished and durable
- ✗Premium pricing - you pay a real Deere tax versus a comparably specced Kubota BX2380 or Mahindra eMax that costs $2,000-4,000 less loaded
- ✗Only 23.9 HP means it can bog down in heavy loader work or thick brush - it's a light-duty machine and owners who push it wish they'd bought a 2-series
- ✗The 3-point lift of 681 lbs is modest, so heavier rear implements like a big box blade or post-hole digger max it out
- ✗Deere locks you into their proprietary Quik-Park loader and AutoConnect deck, so third-party attachments are limited and pricey
- ✗Loaded pricing with loader, deck, and backhoe pushes toward $25K, which is a lot of money for a sub-compact many owners note
- ✗The small 5.4-gallon fuel tank means frequent refills during a full day of work
- ✗Tier 4 emissions and the compact engine bay make some DIY maintenance more fiddly than older simpler tractors
- ✗Ground clearance is low, so it struggles on rough or rutted terrain compared to a true compact like the 2025R or 3025E
Kubota BX23S
- ✓The factory-integrated backhoe is the whole reason to buy this - it's a real digging machine, not a bolt-on afterthought, and it swings and digs like a mini-excavator
- ✓Kubota builds their own engine, so you're not relying on a third-party powerplant, and the D902 has a bulletproof reputation among owners
- ✓The curved-boom loader gives noticeably better dump clearance and reach than the straight-boom loaders on some competitors
- ✓The backhoe swing frame doubles as a rear ballast so you don't need to add weights for loader work
- ✓Kubota's dealer support and parts availability are second only to Deere, and the resale holds strong
- ✓Removing and reattaching the backhoe is a manageable one-person job for occasional loader-only use
- ✓The build is heavy for a sub-compact at over 1,800 lbs, giving it good stability and traction for its size
- ✓Cross-drilled rear axles allow independent left/right brakes for tight turns, a genuinely useful feature owners rave about
- ✗At 21.6 HP it's the weakest engine of the popular sub-compacts, so with the backhoe weight it can feel underpowered doing loader and PTO work
- ✗The TLB package pushes the price well past $24K, making it the most expensive way into a sub-compact by a wide margin
- ✗No AutoConnect-style drive-over mower deck - fitting the mid-mount deck is more of a hassle than the Deere 1025R system
- ✗The backhoe adds a lot of length and weight, hurting maneuverability and ride quality when you're not actually digging
- ✗PTO horsepower of 17.7 limits it on wider mowers, tillers, and snowblowers compared to a 3-series compact
- ✗Loader lift of 739 lbs at the pin is fairly modest once you account for a heavy bucket
- ✗The dual-pedal HST and swing-out backhoe controls have a learning curve for total beginners
- ✗Kubota's premium positioning means you'll pay near-Deere money without the massive Deere dealer footprint in some rural areas