Both compact · John Deere against Yanmar

John Deere 2025R vs Yanmar YM225

John Deere 2025R

John Deere

John Deere 2025R

~$21,768

24.2 hp engine · 18 PTO−26% to the shaft
Yanmar YM225

Yanmar

Yanmar YM225

~$22,199

24.4 hp engine · 18.5 PTO−24% to the shaft

The John Deere 2025R lists about $431 lower; the Yanmar YM225 carries 18.5 hp to the PTO against 18; the Yanmar YM225 lifts 1,500 lbs on the loader against 1,023.

John Deere 2025R and Yanmar YM225 compared row by row. A highlighted cell takes that row on the stated rule: more power, lift, capacity or flow, or a lower price.
SpecJohn Deere 2025RYanmar YM225
Price~$21,768~$22,199
What that price isMSRP, base builddealer list, not MSRP
Size classCompactCompact
TransmissionHydrostaticShuttle
Engine hp24.2 hp24.4 hp
PTO hp18 hp18.5 hp
Loader lift1,023 lbsat the pivot pin1,500 lbsat the pivot pin
Three-point lift1,150 lbs24 in behind the lift points2,205 lbsat the ball ends
Hydraulic flow6.4 GPM10.0 GPM
Drive4WD4WD
EngineYanmarYanmar
Weight1,755 lbs2,800 lbs
Fuel tank5.4 gal10.5 gal
4WDYesYes
Front loaderYesYes
Cab availableNoNo
HydrostaticYesNo
Power steeringYesYes
Cruise controlYesNo
Warranty6 yr / 2000 hr powertrain10 yr / 3000 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 2025R

What they like

  • 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
  • Cruise control standard on the HST makes long mowing sessions much easier on the operator
  • It's a genuine step up in capability while still fitting in a standard garage and trailer easily

What they complain about

  • 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

Yanmar YM225

What they like

  • 1,500 lb loader lift at the pivot pin clears the sub-compact SA425 by 300 lb for roughly $800 more on the sticker
  • 24.4 hp keeps it a whisker under the 25 hp line, so no diesel particulate filter and no regeneration cycles
  • 10.5-gallon tank is nearly double the SA series' 6.1 gallons, which is the difference between a full working day and a fuel stop
  • Column-mounted synchronized reverser puts direction changes at hand height rather than on a floor lever, which counts on repetitive loader cycles
  • 2,205 lb 3-point capacity at the ball ends is well ahead of what 24 hp would suggest, so Category 1 implements are not the limiting factor
  • 10-year / 3,000-hour powertrain warranty carries across the whole Yanmar line, including this entry model

What they complain about

  • No hydrostatic option anywhere on the YM2 platform, so fine inching in tight spaces is harder than on an SA425 or a Kubota BX
  • 18.5 PTO hp from 24.4 gross is about a 24% drivetrain loss, leaving thin headroom for a 60-inch rotary cutter in heavy grass
  • The PTO is transmission-driven through an overrunning clutch rather than independent, so declutching stops the implement
  • Yanmar lists no cab for the YM2 series - a canopy kit is the extent of the weather protection
  • 2,800 lb bare weight is light against 1,500 lb of loader lift, making rear ballast effectively compulsory rather than optional
John Deere 2025R spec sheetYanmar YM225 spec sheet