John Deere 2025R vs Kubota B2601

John Deere

John Deere 2025R

$22,500

4.6★ (620)

Kubota

$22,500

4.6★ (580)

Quick take: The Kubota B2601 has more engine power (25.5 vs 24.2 hp); the John Deere 2025R has more loader lift (1,023 vs 948 lbs).

✓Much stronger 1,150 lb 3-point lift than the 1025R, so it handles heavier rear implements like box blades and rotary cutters far better
✓The 220R loader lifts over 1,000 lbs, a meaningful upgrade over the 1025R for material handling
✓Keeps the beloved AutoConnect drive-over mower deck, so you still mount the deck without leaving the seat
✓The longer wheelbase and extra weight give it a more planted, stable feel than the 1025R for loader and slope work
✓Same huge Deere dealer network and legendary resale value as the rest of the family
✓Cruise control standard on the HST makes long mowing sessions much easier on the operator
✓Independent PTO and Twin Touch pedals give the refined, beginner-friendly operation Deere is known for
✓It's a genuine step up in capability while still fitting in a standard garage and trailer easily

✗It costs noticeably more than a 1025R for only a modest bump in engine HP, so many owners debate whether it's worth the jump
✗Still only 24.2 engine HP and 18 PTO HP, so the power is unchanged from the 1025R - you're paying mostly for lift and size
✗The tiny 5.4-gallon fuel tank carries over, meaning frequent refueling on big jobs
✗Deere's proprietary loader and deck lock you out of cheaper third-party attachments
✗Fully equipped it pushes past $22K, encroaching on 3025E territory which has more real power
✗Ground clearance is still fairly low for rough terrain compared to a 3-series
✗The premium Deere pricing means a comparably capable Kubota LX or Kioti CK often costs less
✗For the money, some owners feel they should have stepped up to a 3025E for the extra engine grunt

✓It hits the sweet spot between the BX and L series - more ground clearance, lift, and stability than a BX without the size and cost of an L2501
✓Kubota's in-house D1105 diesel is a famously durable engine, and staying under 25 PTO HP means no DPF regen hassle
✓The mid-PTO supports a belly mower deck, so unlike the Standard L it can do real finish mowing plus loader work
✓The 1,411 lb 3-point lift at 24 inches doubles what a BX2380 can hoist, opening up full-size Category 1 implements
✓Cruise control comes standard on the HST, which even the pricier L2501 doesn't offer
✓The LA435 loader with quick-attach and skid-steer-style coupler option makes bucket and fork swaps painless
✓It's light enough at 1,632 lbs to tow behind a half-ton truck on a modest trailer, a real plus for owners who move it between properties
✓Kubota's dealer network and resale value are top-tier, and used B2601s sell nearly as fast as they're listed

✗At 19.5 PTO HP it can run out of steam with a 5-foot rotary cutter in thick brush - owners doing heavy cutting wish for an L3901
✗The 948 lb loader lift trails value rivals like the Kioti CK2620 that lift nearly twice as much for similar money
✗It's priced close to the bigger Standard L2501, so buyers who don't need the mid-PTO often step up for the extra frame
✗The light 1,632 lb chassis needs ballast and careful loading before it feels planted doing loader work
✗The 6.1-gallon fuel tank is small, meaning refills during a full day of chores
✗R4 industrial tires that most buyers choose are hard on lawns despite the machine's mowing ambitions
✗No telescoping 3-point link arms standard, so hooking up implements solo is fiddlier than it should be
✗Kubota premium pricing means a comparably equipped Yanmar SA425 or Kioti costs meaningfully less